Till her that Squire befpake, Madame, my lief,
For Gods dear love be not fo wilful bent,
But do vouchfafe now to receive relief,
The which good fortune doth to you prefent.
For what boots it to weep and to wayment
When ill is chaunct, but doth the ill increase,
And the weak mind with double woe torment?
. When the her Squire heard fpeak, fhe 'gan appeafe
Her voluntary pain, and feel fome fecret eafe.
XVII.
Eftfoon fhe faid, ah gentle trusty Squire,
What comfort can I woeful wretch conceave,
Or why should ever I henceforth defire
To fee fair heavens face, and life not leave,
Sith that falfe traytor did my honour reave?
Falfe traýtor certes (faid the Fairy Knight)
I read the man, that ever would deceave
A gentle Lady, or her wrong through might:
Death were too little pain for fuch a foul delpight.
But now, fair Lady, comfort to you make,
And read who hath ye wrought this fhameful plight;
That fhort revenge the man may overtake,
Wherefo he be, and foon upon him light,
Certes (faid fhe) I wote not how he hight,
But under him a gray fteed he did wield,
Whofe fides with dapled circles weren dight;
Upright he rode, and in his filver fhield
He bore a bloody Crofs, that quartred all the field.
XIX.
Now by my head (faid Guyon) much I mufe
How that fame Knight fhould do fo foul amifs,
Or ever gentle Damzel fo abufe:
For may I boldly fay, he furely is
A right good Knight, and true of word ywis:
I prefent was, and can it witness well,
When arms he fwore, and ftreight did enterpris
Th'adventure of the errant Damozel,
In which he hath great glory won, as I hear tell.
Nathlefs he fhortly fhall again be tride,
And fairly quite him of th' imputed blame:
Elfe be ye fure, he dearly shall abide,
Or make you good amendment for the fame :
All wrongs have mends, but no amends of fhame.
Now therefore, Lady, rife out of your pain,
And fee the falving of your blotting name.
Full loth fhe feem'd thereto, but yet did fain;
For fhe was inly glad her purpose so to gain.
XXI.
Her purpose was not fuch as fhe did fain,
Ne yet
her perfon fuch as it was feen;
But under fimple fhew and femblant plain
Lurkt falfe Duessa, fecretly unfeen,
As a chafte virgin that had wronged been:
So had falfe Archimago her difguis'd,
To cloak her guile with forrow and fad teen;
And eke himself had craftily devis'd
To be her Squire, and do her fervice well aguis'd.
XXII.
Her late forlorn and naked, he had found,
Where she did wander in wafte wilderness,
Lurking in rocks and caves far under ground,
And with green mofs cov'ring her nakednefs,
To hide her shame and loathly filthiness;
Sith her Prince Arthur of proud ornaments
And borrow'd beauty fpoyld. Her natheless
Th'enchaunter finding fit for his intents,
Did thus reveft, and deckt with due habiliments.
XXIII.
For all he did was to deceive good Knights,
And draw them from pursuit of praise and fame,
To flug in floth and fenfual delights,
And end their days with irrenowned shame.
And now exceeding grief him overcame
To fee the Redcross thus advaunced high;
Therefore this crafty engine he did frame,
Against his praise to ftir up enmity
Of fuch as vertues like mote unto him allie.
So now he Guyon guides an uncouth way,
Through woods and mountains, till they came at last
Into a pleafant dale, that lowly lay
Betwixt two hills, whofe high heads overplact,
The valley did with cool fhade overcaft;
Through midft thereof a little river rold,
By which there fate a Knight with helm unlact,
Himself refreshing with the liquid cold,
After his travel long, and labours manifold.
XXV.
Lo yonder hé (cryd Archimage aloud)
That wrought the fhameful fact, which I did fhew;
And now he doth himself in fecret fhroud,
To fly the vengeance for his outrage dew;
But vain for ye fhall dearly do him rew,
So God ye fpeed, and fend you good fuccefs;
Which we far off will here abide to view.
So they him left, inflam'd with wrathfulness,
That ftreight against that Knight his fpear he did addrefs.
XXVI.
Who feeing him from far fo fierce to prick,
His warlike arms about him 'gan embrace,
And in the reft his ready fpear did stick;
Tho' whenas ftill he faw him towards pace,
He 'gan rencounter him in equal race.
They been ymet, both ready to affrap,
When fuddainly that warriour 'gan abace
His threatned fpear, as if fome new mishap
Had him betide, or hidden danger did entrap.
XXVII.
And cryd, mercy Sir Knight, and mercy Lord,
For mine offence and heedlefs hardiment,
That had almoft committed crime abhord,
And with reprochful fhame mine honour fhent,
Whiles curfed fteel against that badge I bent,
The facred badge of my redeemers death,
Which on your fhield is fet for ornament:
But his fierce foe his fteed could stay uneathe,
Who (prickt with courage keen) did cruel battle breathe.
But when he heard him fpeak, ftreight way he knew
His error, and (himself inclining) faid,
Ah! dear Sir Guyon, well becometh you;
But me behoveth rather to upbraid,
Whofe hafty hand fo far from reason ftraid,
That almost it did hainous violence
On that fair image of that heavenly maid,
That decks and arms your fhield with fair defence: Your court'fie takes on you anothers due offence. XXIX.
So been they both attone, and doen uprear
Their bevers bright, each other for to greet;
Goodly comportance each to other bear,
And entertain themselves with court'fies meet.
Then faid the Redcrofs Knight, now mote I weet,
Sir Guyon, why with fo fierce faliance,
And fell intent ye did at earft me meet;
For fith I know your goodly governaunce,
Great cause (I ween) you guided, or fome uncouth chaunce.
XXX.
Certes (faid he) well mote I fhame to tell
The fond encheafon that me hither led.
A falfe infamous faitour late befell
Me for to meet, that feemed ill befted,
And plaind of grievous outrage, which he red
A Knight had wrought against a Lady gent:
Which to avenge he to this place me led,
Where you he made the mark of his intent,
And now is fled; foul shame him follow where he went.
XXXI.
So 'gan he turn his earneft unto game,
Through goodly handling and wife temperaunce.
By this his aged guide in prefence came;
Who foon as on that Knight his eye did glaunce,
Eftfoons of him had perfect cognizaunce,
Sith him in Fairy Court he late aviz'd;
And faid, fair Son, God give you happy chaunce, And that dear crofs upon your fhield deviz'd, Wherewith above all Knights ye goodly feem aguiz'd
Joy may you have, and everlasting fame,
Of late moft hard atchiev'ment by you done,
For which enrolled is your glorious name
In heavenly regifters above the fun,
Where you a Saint, with Saints your feat have won :
But wretched we, where ye have left your mark,
Muft now anew begin, like race to run,
God guide thee, Guyon, well to end thy wark, And to the wifhed haven bring thy weary bark. XXXIII.
Palmer, (him anfwered the Redcross Knight)
His be the praife, that this atchiev❜ment wrought,
Who made my hand the organ of his might;
More than good-will to me attribute nought:
For all I did, I did but as I ought.
But you, fair Sir, whofe pageant next enfews,
Well mote ye thee, as well can wish your thought,
That home ye may report thrice happy news;
For well ye worthy been for worth and gentle thews.
XXXIV.
So courteous conge both did give and take,
With right hands plighted, pledges of good will.
Then Guyon forward 'gan his voyage make,
With his black Palmer, that him guided ftill.
Still he him guided over dale and hill,
And with his steady staff did point his way:
His race with reafon, and with words his will,
From foul intemperance he oft did ftay,
And fuffred not in wrath his hafty steps to ftray.
In this fair wize they traveld long yfere,.
Through many hard affayes, which did betide; Of which he honour ftill away did bear, And fpred his glory through all countries wide. At laft, as chaunct them by a forest fide To pafs (for fuccour from the fcorching ray) They heard a rueful voice, that dearnly cride With piercing fhrieks, and many a doleful lay; Which to attend, awhile their forward fteps they stay.
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