Meseems I see Amintas' wretched fate,1 To whom sweet poets' verse hath given endless date. 7 Hether great Venus brought this infant fair, And trainèd up in true feminitee3: Than her own daughter Pleasure, to whom she 8 In which when she to perfect ripeness grew, 1 Amintas' wretched fate. This is supposed to allude to the untimely fate of Sir Philip Sidney. Hillard. 2 Psyche (breath or soul); a maiden beloved by Cupid and made immortal by Jupiter. launchèd with love's cruel 9 But she to none of them her love did cast, Who her would forced have to have forlore1 As ye may elsewhere read that rueful history. 1 Forlore, abandoned. VII. After separating from Satyrane, Britomart meets Scudamour, the husband of Amoret. Together they proceed to the house of the enchanter Busyrane. I O HATEFUL hellish snake! what fury first 2 O let him far be banishèd away, And in his stead let Love forever dwell! And ye, fair ladies, that your kingdoms make That was as true in love as turtle 5 to her make.6 1 Proserpine, Proserpina, the daughter of Ceres, who was carried down to Hades by Pluto to be his bride. 2 Tine, woe. 3 Embay, bathe. 4 Fell, gall. 5 Turtle, turtle-dove. 6 Make, mate. 3 Who, with Sir Satyrane, as erst1 ye read, Of that Argantè vile and vicious,1 From whom the Squire of Dames was reft 5 This all as bad as she, and worse, if worse ought were. 4. Whom when as Britomart beheld behind T'employ her puissance to his rescue, And pricked fiercely forward where she did him view. 5 Ne9 was Sir Satyrane her far behind, But with like fierceness did ensue 10 the chase; 1 Erst, first, formerly. 2 Hostless, inhospitable. 8 It was that Ollyphant, etc. This refers to an incident related in Book III, Canto VII. 4 Vicious, pronounced as a word of three syllables. 5 Reft, torn away. 6 Whilere, formerly. 7 Emmoved, moved. 8 Pricked, rode fast, using spurs. 9 Ne, nor. 10 Ensue, follow. 11 Resigned his former suit, i.e. gave up his former pursuit. They after both, and boldly bade him base,1 For he was long, and swift as any roe, And now made better speed t' escape his feared foe. 6 It was not Satyrane, whom he did fear, But Britomart, the flow'r of chastity; For he the pow'r of chaste hands might not bear, But always did their dread encounter fly : And now so fast his feet he did apply, The wood they enter, and search everywhere; 7 Fair Britomart so long him followèd, 6 And he thereby, wherever it in field was shown. 8 His face upon the ground did grovelling lie, As if he had been slumb'ring in the shade; 1 Bade him base, i.e. began in their turn to pursue the giant. 2 Sheer, clear. 3 Wallowed, rolled about as in mire. mail, Haberieon, habergeon, coat of 5 Winged boy, Cupid. 6 Depeincted, depicted, portrayed. |