And to him faid, Thou wicked man, whose meed
For fo huge mifchief, and vile villany,
Is death, or if that ought do death exceed,
Be fure that nought may fave thee from to dye,
But if that thou this Dame do prefently
Reftore unto her health and former ftate;
This doe and live, elfe dye undoubtedly.
He glad of life, that lookt for death but late,
Did yield himself right willing to prolong his date.
XXXVI.
And rifing up 'gan ftreight to overlook
Those curfed leaves, his charms back to reverse;
Full dreadful things out of that baleful book
He read and measur'd many a fad verse,
That horrour gan the virgins heart to pierfe,
And her fair locks up-ftared ftiff on end,
Hearing him thofe fame bloody lines rehearse;
And all the while he read, fhe did extend
Her fword high over him, if ought he did offend.
XXXVII.
Anon fhe 'gan perceive the house to quake,
And all the doors to rattle round about;
Yet all that did not her difmayed make,
Nor flack her threatful hand for dangers doubt:
But ftill with ftedfaft eye and courage ftout
Abode, to weet what end would come of all.
At laft, that mighty chain, which round about
Her tender waist was wound, adown 'gan fall,
And that great brazen pillour broke in pieces fmall.
XXXVIII.
The cruel fteel which thrill'd her dying heart,
Fell foftly forth, as of his own accord :
And the wide wound, which lately did difpart
Her bleeding breaft, and riven bowels gor'd,
Was clofed up, as it had not been bor❜d':
And every part to fafety full found,
As fhe were never hurt, was foon restor❜d.
Tho when she felt herself to be unbound,
And perfect whole, proftrate fhe fell unto the ground:
XXXIX.
Before Fair Britomart, fhe fell proftrate,
Saying; Ah noble Knight, what worthy meed
Can wretched Lady, quit from woeful state,
Yield you in lieu of this your gracious deed?
Your vertue felf her own reward fhall breed,
Even immortal praife, and glory wide.
Which I your vaffal, by your prowess freed,
Shall through the world make to be notify'd,
And goodly well advance, that goodly well was try❜d.
XL.
But Britomart, uprearing her from ground,
Said, gentle Dame, reward enough I ween
For many labours more than I have found,
This, that in fafety now I have you seen,
And means of your deliverance have been:
Henceforth fair Lady comfort to you take,
And put away remembrance of late teen;
Instead thereof know, that your loving make
Hath no lefs grief endured for your gentle fake.
XLI.
She much was cheard to hear him mention'd,
Whom of all living wights fhe loved best.
Then laid the noble championefs ftrong hond
Upon th' Enchanter, which had her diftreft
So fore, and with foul outrages oppreft:
With that great chain, wherewith not long ygo
He bound that Lady prifoner, now releast,
Himself she bound, more worthy to be so,
And captive with her led to wretchedness and woe,
XLII.
Returning back, thofe goodly rooms, which erst
She faw fo rich and royally array'd,
Now vanifht utterly, and clean fubverst
She found, and all their glory quite decay'd,
That fight of fuch a change her much difmay'd.
Thence forth defcending to that perlous porch,
Thofe dreadful flames fhe alfo found delay'd,
And quenched quite, like a confumed torch,
That erft all entrers wont fo cruelly to fcorch.
More eafie iffue now, than entrance late
She found; for now that feigned dreadful flame,
Which choakt the porch of that enchanted gate,
And paffage barr'd to all that thither came,
Was vanisht quite, as it were not the fame,
And gave her leave at pleasure forth to pass.
Th'Enchanter felf, which all that fraud did frame,
To have efforft the love of that fair Lafs,
Seeing his work now wafted, deep engrieved was.
But when the Victoress arrived there,
Where late fhe left the penfive Scudamour,
With her own trufty Squire, both full of fear,
Neither of them fhe found where fhe them lore:
Thereat her noble heart was ftonifht fore;
But moft, fair Amoret, whofe gentle spright
Now 'gan to feed on hope, which the before
Conceived had, to fee her own dear Knight,
Being thereof beguil'd was fill'd with new affright.
XLV.
But he fad man, when he had long in dreed
Awaited there for Britomarts return,
Yet faw her not nor fign of her good speed, His expectation to defpair did turn, Mifdeeming fure that her those flames did burn; And therefore 'gan advize with her old Squire, Who her dear nourflings lofs no lefs did mourn, Thence to depart for further aid t'inquire: Where let them wend at will, whilft here I do refpire.
|