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He faire the knight saluted, louting low,
Who faire him quited, as that courteous was :
And after asked him, if he did know
Of straunge aduentures, which abroad did pas.
Ah my deare Sonne (quoth he) how should, alas,
Silly old man, that liues in hidden cell,
Bidding his beades all day for his trespas,
Tydings of warre and worldly trouble tell?

Arriued there, the little house they fill,
Ne looke for entertainement, where none was:
Rest is their feast, and all things at their will;
The noblest mind the best contentment has.
With faire discourse the euening so they pas:
For that old man of pleasing wordes had store,
And well could file his tongue as smooth as glas;
He told of Saintes and Popes, and euermore

mell.

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With holy father sits not with such things to He strowd an Aue-Mary after and before.

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The drouping Night thus creepeth on them fast, And the sad humour loading their eye liddes, As messenger of Morpheus on them cast Sweet slombring deaw, the which to sleepe them biddes.

Vnto their lodgings then his guestes he riddes : Where when all drownd in deadly sleepe he findes,

He to his study goes, and there amiddes His Magick bookes and artes of sundry kindes, He seekes out mighty charmes, to trouble sleepy mindes.

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Had made a Lady of that other Spright,

And wakefull dogges before them farre do lye, And fram'd of liquid ayre her tender partes

Watching to banish Care their enimy,

Who oft is wont to trouble gentle Sleepe.
By them the Sprite doth passe in quietly,
And vnto Morpheus comes, whom drowned
deepe

[keepe.

So liuely, and so like in all mens sight,
That weaker sence it could haue rauisht quight:
The maker selfe for all his wondrous witt,
Was nigh beguiled with so goodly sight :
Her all in white he clad, and ouer it

In drowsie fit he findes: of nothing he takes

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Cast a blacke stole, most like to seeme for Vna fit.

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53

Loue of your selfe, she said, and deare constraint Lets me not sleepe, but wast the wearie night In secret anguish and vnpittied plaint,

Whiles you in carelesse sleepe are drowned quight.

Her doubtfull words made that redoubted knight Suspect her truth: yet since no'vntruthheknew, Her fawning loue with foule disdainefull spight He would not shend,butsaid,Deare dame Irew, That for my sake vnknowne such griefe vnto you grew.

54 Assure your selfe, it fell not all to ground; For all so deare as life is to my hart,

I deeme your loue, and hold me to you bound; Nelet vaine feares procure your needlessesmart, Where cause is none, but to your rest depart. Not all content, yet seemd she to appease Her mournefull plaintes, beguiled of her art, And fed with words, that could not chuse but please,

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Eftsoones he tooke that miscreated faire,
And that false other Spright,'on whom he spred
A seeming body of the subtile aire,

Like a young Squire, in loues and lusty-hed
His wanton dayes that euer loosely led,
Without regard of armes and dreaded fight:
Those two he tooke, and in a secret bed,
Couered with darknesseand misdeeming night,

So slyding softly forth, she turnd as to her ease. ( Them both together laid, to ioy in vaine delight.

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