And by my wretched lovers side me pight,1

Where now, enclosd in wooden wals full faste,

Banisht from living wights, our wearie daies we waste."

XLIII

"But how long time," said then the Elfin knight,

"Are you in this misformed hous to dwell?"

"We may not chaunge," (quoth he,) "this evill plight,

Till we be bathed in a living well: That is the terme prescribed by the spell." "O! how," sayd he, "mote I that well out find,

That may restore you to your wonted well?"

"Time and suffised 2 fates to former kynd Shall us restore; none else from hence may us unbynd."

And paynd himselfe with busie care to

reare

Her out of carelesse swowne. Her eyelids blew,

And dimmed sight, with pale and deadly hew,

At last she up gan lift: with trembling cheare

Her up he tooke, (too simple and too trew)

And oft her kist. At length, all passed feare,

He set her on her steede, and forward. forth did beare.

CANTO III

Forsaken Truth long seekes her love,
And makes the Lyon mylde;
Marres blind Devotions mart, and fals
In hand of leachour vylde.

I

NOUGHT is there under heav'ns wide hollownesse,

That moves more deare compassion of mind,

Then beautie brought t'unworthie wretchednesse

Through envies snares, or fortunes freakes unkind.

I, whether lately through her brightnes blynd,

Or through alleageance, and fast fealty, Which I do owe unto all womankynd, Feele my hart perst with so great agony, When such I see, that all for pitty I could dy.

II

And now it is empassioned so deepe, For fairest Unaes sake, of whom I sing, That my frayle eies these lines with tears do steepe,

To thinke how she through guyleful handeling,

Though true as touch,' though daughter

of a king,

Though faire as ever living wight was

fayre,

It fortuned, out of the thickest wood A ramping Lyon rushed suddeinly,