XLIII.

But threw his gauntlet, as a sacred pledg,
His cause in combat the next day to try:
So been they parted both, with harts on edg
To be aveng'd each on his enimy.
That night they pas in ioy and iollity,
Feasting and courting both in bowre and hall;
For steward was excessive Gluttony,
That of his plenty poured forth to all: [them call.
Which doen, the chamberlain Slowth did to rest

XLIV.

Now whenas darksome night had all displayd
Her coleblacke curtein over brightest skye;
The warlike youthes, on dayntie couches layd,
Did chace away sweet sleepe from sluggish eye,
To muse on meanes of hoped victory.

But whenas Morpheus had with leaden mace
Arrested all that courtly company,
Uprose Duessa from her resting place,

And to the Paynims lodging comes with silent pace :

XLV.

Whom broad awake she findes, in troublous fitt,
Fore-casting, how his foe he might annoy;
And him amoves with speaches seeming fitt,

Ah deare Sansioy, next dearest to Sansfoy,
Cause of my new griefe, cause of my new ioy;
Ioyous, to see his ymage in mine eye,
And greevd, to thinke how foe did him destroy,
That was the flowre of grace and chevalrye;
Lo, his Fidessa, to thy secret faith I flye."

XLVI.

With gentle wordes he can her fayrely greet,
And bad say on the secrete of her hart:
Then, sighing soft; "I learne that little sweet
Oit tempred is," quoth she," with muchell smart :
For, since my brest was launcht with lovely dart
Of deare Sansfoy I never ioyed howre,
But in eternall woes my weaker hart
Have wasted, loving him with all my powre,

And for his sake have felt full many an heavy stowre

LI.

XLVII.

"At last, when perils all I weened past,
And hop'd to reape the crop of all my care,
Into new woes unweeting I was cast

By this false faytor, who unworthie ware
His worthie shield, whom he with guilefull snare
Entrapped slew, and brought to shamefull grave.
Me silly maid away with him he bare,
And ever since hath kept in darksom cave;
For that I would not yeeld that to Sansfoy I gave.

XLVIII.

"But since faire sunne hath sperst that lowring clowd,
And to my loathed life now shewes some light,
Under your beames I will me safely shrowd
From dreaded storme of his disdainfull spight:
To you th' inheritance belonges by right
Of brothers prayse, to you eke longes his love.
Let not bis love, let not his restlesse spright,
Be unreveng'd, that calles to you above
From wandring Stygian shores, where it doth end.
lesse move."

XLIX.

Thereto said he, "Faire dame, be nought dismaid
For sorrowes past; their griefe is with them gone.
Ne yet of present perill be affraid;

For needlesse feare did never vantage none;
And helplesse hap it booteth not to mone.
Dead is Sansfoy, his vitall paines are past,
Though greeved ghost for vengeance deep do grone;
He lives, that shall him pay his dewties last,
And guiltie Elfin blood shall sacrifice in hast."

ما

"O, but I feare the fickle freakes," quoth shee,
"Of Fortune false, and oddes of armes in field."
Why, dame," quoth he, "what oddes can ever bee
Where both doe fight alike, to win or yield?"
"Yea, but," quoth she, "he beares a charmed shield,
And eke enchaunted armes, that none can perce;
Ne none can wound the man, that does them wield."
"Charmd or enchaunted," answerd he then ferce,
"I no whitt reck; ne you the like need to reherce.

"But, faire Fidessa, sithens Fortunes guile,
Or enimies powre, hath now captived you,
Returne from whence ye came, and rest a while,
Till morrow next, that I the Elfe subdew,
And with Sansfoyes dead dowry you endew."
"Ay me, that is a double death," she said,
"With proud foes sight my sorrow to renew :
Where ever yet 1 be, my secret aide

Shall follow you." So, pissing forth, she hún obaid,