To love another: Lo then, for thine ayd, So they to fight; the whiles the royall Mayd XLVIII. But that false Pilgrim, which that leasing1 told, Being in deed old Archimage, did stay And eke this battels end, will need another place.* 1 Leasing, falsehood. 2 Last decay, final destruction. XLVIII. 9. And eke this battels end.] The poet never redeems the promise here made to tell us the issue of this battle. Sir Satyrane reappears in the third book, canto VII. * In Una's residence with the Satyrs, the poet may give us to understand that Truth, in a corrupt age, may be found hidden among a rural population, and in "huts where poor men lie;" and in Sir Satyrane, to personify the restoring energy which resides in the heart of a virtuous people. The explanation, however, is suggested, not asserted. CANTO VII. The Redcrosse Knight is captive made, Prince Arthure meets with Una great- I. WHAT man so wise, what earthly witt so ware,' To seeme like Truth whose shape she well can faine, The guiltlesse man with guile to entertaine? 1. 1. II. Who when, returning from the drery Night, 1 Ware, cautious. 2 2 Foreby, near. What man, &c.] The narrative now returns to the Redcross Knight, who had escaped from the house of Pride, at the end of canto V. Disarmed all of yron-coted plate; And by his side his steed the grassy forage ate. III. Hee feedes upon the cooling shade, and bayes 1 Doe chaunt sweet musick, to delight his mynd: With fowle words tempring faire, soure gall with hony sweet. IV. Unkindnesse past, they gan of solace treat, V. The cause was this: One day, when Phoebe fayre 1 Bayes, bathes. VI. Hereof this gentle Knight unweeting1 was; Dronke of the streame, as cleare as christall glas: And mightie strong was turnd to feeble frayle. And cheareful blood in fayntnes chill did melt, VII. Yet goodly court he made still to his Dame, And trees did tremble. Th' Elfe, therewith astownd, And his unready weapons gan in hand to take. VIII. But ere he could his armour on him dight, Or gett his shield, his monstrous enimy That with his tallnesse seemd to threat the skye; Ne durst behold; his stature did exceed The hight of three the tallest sonnes of mortall seed. 1 Unweeting, ignorant. 2 Graile, gravel. 3 Eftsoones, immediately. 4 Crudled, congealed. 5 Swelt, caused a sensation of faintness. 6 Make, companion. IX. The greatest Earth his uncouth mother was, Who with his breath, which through the world doth pas, And fild her hidden caves with stormie yre, X. So growen great, through arrogant delight His mortall mace, wherewith his foemen he dismayde. XI. That, when the Knight he spyde, he gan advaunce With huge force and insupportable mayne,3 And towardes him with dreadfull fury praunce; Who haplesse, and eke hopelesse, all in vaine Did to him pace sad battaile to darrayne,4 Disarmd, disgraste, and inwardly dismayde; And eke so faint in every ioynt and vayne, Through that fraile fountain, which him feeble made, That scarsely could he weeld his bootlesse single blade. 1 Expyre, bring forth. 2 Snaggy, knotted. 3 Mayne, strength. 4 Darrayne, prepare 5 Disgraste, enfeebled, or debauched. |