LVII.

"There did I finde mine onely faithfull frend "In heavy plight and sad perplexitie, “Whereof I sorrie, yet myselfe did bend "Him to recomfort with my companie; "But him the more agreev'd I found thereby; "For all his ioy, he said, in that distresse, “Was mine and his Aemylia's libertie : "Aemylia well he lov'd, as I mote ghesse; "Yet greater love to me then her he did professe. LVIII.

"But I with better reason him aviz'd,

[thought "And shew'd him how through error and mis"Of our like persons eath to be disguiz'd, "Or his exchange or freedom might be wrought: "Whereto full loth was he, ne would for ought "Consent that I, who stood all fearelesse free, "Should wilfully be into thraldome brought, "Till Fortune did perforce it so decree; "Yet over-ruld at last he did to me agree.

LIX.

"The morrow next about the wonted howre, "The dwarfe cald at the doore of Amyas "To come forthwith unto his ladies bowre; "Insteed of whom forth came I Placidas, "And undiscerned forth with him did pas : "There with great ioyance and with gladsome glee "Of faire Poeana I received was,

"And oft imbrast, as if that I were hee, [mee. "And with kind words accoyd, vowing great love to

LX.

"Which I, that was not bent to former love, "As was my friend, that had her long refus'd, "Did well accept, as well it did behove, "And to the present neede it wisely usd; "My former hardnesse first I faire excusd, "And after promist large amends to make. "With such smooth termes her error I abusd, "Tomy friend's good more then for mine owne sake, "For whose sole libertie I love and life did stake. LXI.

"Thenceforth I found more favour at her hand; "That to her dwarfe, which had me in his charge, "She bad to lighten my too heavie band,

"And graunt more scope to me to walke at large. "So on a day, as by the flowrie marge "Of a fresh streame I with that elfe did play, Finding no meanes how I might us enlarge, "But if that dwarfe I could with me convay, "I lightly snatcht him up, and with me bore away. LXII.

"Thereat he shriekt aloud, that with his cry "The tyrant selfe came forth with yelling bray, "And me pursew'd; but nathemore would I "Forgoe the purchase of my gotten pray, "But have perforce him hether brought away." Thus as they talked, loe! where nigh at hand Those ladies two, yet doubtfull through dismay, In presence came, desirous t'understand

Tydings of all which there had hapned on the land.

LXIII.

Where soone as sad Aemylia did espie
Her captive lover's friend, young Placidas,
All mindlesse of her wonted modestie,

She to him ran, and him with streight embras
Enfolding, said, "And lives yet Amyas ?”
"He lives," quoth he, "and his Aemylia loves."
"Then lesse," said he, "by all the woe I pas,
"With which my weaker patience Fortune proves;
"But what mishap thus long him fro myselfe re-
LXIV.
[moves?"

Then gan he all this storie to renew,
And tell the course of his captivitie,

That her deare hart full deepely made to rew,
And sigh full sore, to heare the miserie
In which so long he mercilesse did lie:
Then, after many teares and sorrowes spent,
She deare besought the prince of remedie;
Who thereto did with readie will consent,
And well perform'd, as shall appeare by this event.

Siij

THE FAERY QUEENE.

BOOK IV. CANTO IX.

The Squire of Low Degree releast
Poeana takes to wife;

Britomart fightes with many knights;
Prince Arthur stints their strife.

I.

HARD is the doubt, and difficult to deeme,
When all three kinds of love together meet,
And doe dispart the hart with powre extreme,
Whether shall weigh the balance downe; to weet,
The deare affection unto kindred sweet,
Or raging fire of love to womankind,

Or zeale of friends combynd with vertues meet;
But of them all the band of vertuous mind
Me seemes the gentle hart should most assured bind:
II.

For naturall affection soone doth cesse,

And quenched is with Cupid's greater flame ;
But faithfull friendship doth them both suppresse,
And them with maystring discipline doth tame,
Through thoughts aspyring to eternall fame :
For as the soule doth rule the earthly masse,
And all the service of the bodie frame,

So love of soule doth love of bodie passe, [brasse.
No lesse then perfect gold surmounts the meanest

III.

All which who list by tryall to assay,
Shall in this storie find approved plaine;

In which this squire's true friendship more did sway
Then either care of parents could refraine,
Or love of fairest ladie could constraine;
For though Poana were as faire as morne,
Yet did this trustie squire with proud disdaine
For his friend's sake her offred favours scorne,
And she herselfe her syre of whom she was yborne.
IV.

Now after that Prince Arthur graunted had
To yeeld strong succour to that gentle swayne,
Who now long time had lyen in prison sad,
He gan advise how best he mote darrayne
That enterprize, for greatest glories gayne.
That headlesse tyrant's tronke he reard from ground,
And having ympt the head to it agayne,
Upon his usuall beast it firmely bound,

And made it so to ride as it alive was found,

V.

Then did he take that chaced squire, and layd
Before the ryder, as he captive were,

And made his dwarfe, though with unwilling ayd,
To guide the beast that did his maister beare,
Till to his castle they approached neare :

Whom when the watch, that kept continuall ward,
Saw comming home, all voide of doubtfull feare,
He running downe, the gate to him unbard;
Whom straight the prince ensuing, in together far'd.