Yet, looking round about him, none could see;
Yet did the smart remain, though he himself1 did
flee.

41 In such disquiet and heart-fretting pain

He all that night, that too long night, did pass.
And now the day out of the ocean main 2
Began to peep above this earthly mass,
With pearly dew sprinkling the morning grass :
Then up he rose like heavy lump of lead,
That in his face, as in a looking-glass,

The signs of anguish one mote plainly read,
And guess the man to be dismayed3 with jealous
dread.

42 Unto his lofty steed he clomb 5 anone,6

And forth upon his former voyage fared,7
And with him eke that agèd squire attone 8;
Who, whatsoever peril was prepared,
Both equal pains and equal peril shared :
The end whereof and dangerous event
Shall for another canticle 9 be spared :
But here my weary team, nigh over-spent,10
Shall breathe itself awhile after so long a went.11

1 He himself, i.e. Care who had tormented Scudamour.

2 Ocean main, that is, the great sea as distinguished from an arm or bay.

3 Dismayed, overpowered. 4 Jealous, suspicious, apprehensive.

5 Clomb, climbed.

6 Anone, anon.
7 Fared, went.
8 Attone, together.
9 Canticle, canto.

10 Over-spent, over-exhausted.
11 Went, journey.

4

XII.

Britomart encounters Artegall and Scudamour. Artegall wins her love. Scudamour learns of the disappearance of Amoret.

I WHAT equal torment to the grief of mind
And pining anguish hid in gentle heart,
That inly feeds itself with thoughts unkind,
And nourisheth her own consuming smart!
What medicine can any leech's 1art
Yield such a sore, that doth her grievance hide,
And will to none her malady impart !

Such was the wound that Scudamour did gride 2 :
For which Dan Phoebus self cannot a salve provide.3

2 Who having left that restless house of Care,

4

The next day, as he on his way did ride,
Full of melancholy and sad misfare a
Through misconceit,5 all unawares espied
An armed knight under a forest side
Sitting in shade beside his grazing steed;
Who, soon as them approaching he descried,
Gan towards them to prick with eager speed,
That seemed he was full bent to some mischievous

deed.

1 Leech's, physician's.

2 Gride, pierce.

3 For which Dan Phœbus self, etc. Dan, a title of respect placed before personal nouns. Phobus

Apollo and his son Esculapius were revered as the chief gods of healing.

4 Misfare, unhappiness.

5 Misconceit, misconception. • Prick, ride, using spurs.

3 Which Scudamour perceiving forth issued
To have rencount'red him in equal race1;
But, soon as th' other nigh approaching viewed
The arms he bore, his spear he gan abase

And void his course 2; at which so sudden case He wond'red much but th' other thus can 3 say: "Ah! gentle Scudamour, unto your grace

I me submit, and you of pardon pray,

That almost had against you trespassèd this day."

Small harm it were

4 Whereto thus Scudamour :
For any knight upon a ventrous knight
Without displeasance 5 for to prove his spear.

5

6

But read you, sir, sith7 ye my name have hight,
What is your own, that I mote you requite?"

ee

Certes,"
‚"9 said he, "ye mote as now excuse

Me from discovering you my name aright 10:
For time yet serves that I the same refuse 11;

8

But call ye me the salvage 12 knight, as others use."

ee

Then this, Sir Salvage Knight,” quoth he, "aread ; Or do you here within this forest wonne,13

1 To have rencountered him, etc., i.e. that he might encounter him at equal speed.

2 His spear he gan abase, etc., i.e. he lowered his spear and turned from his course.

8 Can say, gan say, did say.
4 Ventrous, adventurous.
5 Displeasance, displeasure.
6 Read, declare.

7 Sith, since.

8

Hight, called. 9 Certes, truly.

10 From discovering you, etc., i.e. from telling you my real name.

11 For time yet serves, etc., i.e. at the present time I have a reason for refusing to make myself known. 12 Salvage, wild, woodland. 13 Wonne, dwell.

That seemeth well to answer to your weed,1

Or have ye it for some occasion done?

That rather seems, sith knowen arms ye shun.” 2
"This other day," said he, "a stranger knight
Shame and dishonour hath unto me done ;

On whom I wait to wreak3 that foul despite,
Whenever he this way shall pass by day or night."

6 "Shame be his meed," quoth he, "that meaneth shame!

But what is he by whom ye shamèd were ?

"A stranger knight," said he, "unknown by name,
But known by fame, and by an heben 5 spear
With which he all that met him down did bear.

He, in an open tourney lately held,

Fro me the honour of that game did rear 6;
And having me, all weary erst,7 down felled,
The fairest lady reft,8 and ever since withheld." 9

7 When Scudamour heard mention of that spear,
He wist 10 right well that it was Britomart,
The which from him his fairest love did bear.
Tho gan he swell in every inner part

For fell despite,1 and gnaw his jealous heart,
That thus he sharply said: "Now by my head,
Yet is not this the first unknightly part,

Which that same knight, whom by his lance I read,2 Hath done to noble knights, that many makes him dread 3:

8 "For lately he my love hath fro me reft,

In shame of knighthood and fidelity;

The which ere long full dear he shall aby 1;
And if to that avenge by you decreed

This hand may help or succour ought supply,

It shall not fail whenso ye shall it need."

So both to wreak their wraths on Britomart agreed.

9 Whiles thus they cómmunèd, lo! far away
A knight soft riding towards them they spied,
Attired in foreign arms and straunge array:
Whom when they nigh approached, they plain descried
To be the same for whom they did abide.
Said then Sir Scudamour, "Sir Salvage Knight,
Let me this crave, sith first I was defied,
That first I may that wrong to him requite
And, if I hap to fail, you shall recure 5 my right.”