Britomart

39 So there awhile they afterwards remained,
Him to refresh, and her late wounds to heal:

During which space she there as princess reigned;
And, changing all that form of common-weal,
The liberty of women did repeal,

Which they had long usurped; and, them restoring
To men's subjection, did true justice deal:

That all they, as a goddess her adoring,

Her wisdom did admire,1 and heark'ned to her loring.2

40 For all those knights, which long in captive shade Had shrouded been, she did from thraldom free; And magistrates of all that city made,

And gave to them great living and large fee3:
And, that they should forever faithful be,

Made them swear fealty to Artegall :

Who when himself now well recured did see,

He purposed to proceed, whatso befall,

Upon his first adventure which him forth did call.

41 Full sad and sorrowful was Britomart

For his departure, her new cause of grief;
Yet wisely moderated her own smart,
Seeing his honor, which she tend'red chief,5
Consisted much in that adventure's priefe 6:
The care whereof, and hope of his success,
Gave unto her great comfort and relief,

1 Admire, wonder at.

2 Loring, teaching.

3 Fee, possessions.

4 His first adventure; this was

to deliver Irena from the oppression of Grantorto.

5 Which she tend'red chief, i.e. for which she had cared most of all.

6 Priefe, proof, achievement.

That womanish complaints she did repress,

And temp'red for the time her present heaviness.

42 There she continued for a certain space,

Till through his want 1 her woe did more increase:
Then, hoping that the change of air and place
Would change her pain, and sorrow somewhat ease,
She parted thence, her anguish to appease.
Meanwhile her noble lord, Sir Artegall,
Went on his way, ne ever hour did cease,
Till he redeemèd had that lady thrall:

That for another canto will more fitly fall.

Spenser relates Artegall's further adventures, but does not again mention Britomart. However, since both Merlin and the priest of Isis have prophesied her happy union with the knight of Justice, we are not left in doubt regarding her future.

1 His want, i.e. her want of him.

TABLE OF PARALLEL REFERENCES.

THE following table indicates the particular Book and Canto of the Faery Queene in which each division of Britomart can be found.

The opening stanzas (pp. 1-3) form the Introduction to the third Book of the original poem.