And in the way, as she did weep and wail, By traynes into new troubles to have tossed: Therewith she gan her passion to renew, Which being taught, he forward gan advance Erelong he came where Una traveled slow, And that wild champion waiting her beside; Whom seeing such, for dread he durst not show Himself too nigh at hand, but turned wide Unto an hill; from whence when she him spied, By his like-seeming shield her knight by name She weened it was, and towards him gan ride; Approaching nigh she wist it was the same; And with fair fearful humblesse towards him she came And weeping said, "Ah, my long-lacked lord, Where have ye been thus long out of my sight? Much feared I to have been quite abhorred, Or aught have done, that ye displeasen might, That should as death unto my dear heart light; For since mine eye your joyous sight did miss, My cheerful day is turned to cheerless night, And eke my night of death the shadow is: But welcome now, my light, and shining lamp of bliss!" He thereto meeting said, "My dearest dame, As you to leave that have me loved still, And chose in Faerie court, of mere good will, Where noblest knights were to be found on earth. The earth shall sooner leave her kindly skill VOL. XII. —%0 To bring forth fruit, and make eternal dearth, Than I leave you, my life, yborn of heavenly birth. "And sooth to say, why I left you so long, To many knights did daily work disgrace; Good cause of mine excuse that mote ye please Well to accept, and evermore embrace My faithful service, that by land and seas Have vowed you to defend: now then your plaint appease." His lovely words her seemed due recompense Of all her passed pains; one loving hour Before her stands her knight, for whom she toiled so sore. Much like, as when the beaten mariner, That long hath wand'red in the ocean wide, And long time having tanned his tawny hide With blust'ring breath of heaven, that none can pide, And scorching flames of fierce Orion's hound; Soon as the port from far he has espied, His cheerful whistle merrily doth sound, And Nereus crowns with cups; his mates him pledge around: Such joy made Una, when her knight she found; And eke th' enchanter joyous seemed no less Than the glad merchant, that does view from ground His ship far come from watery wilderness; He hurls out vows, and Neptune oft doth bless. So forth they passed; and all the way they spent In which he asked her what the lion meant; They had not ridden far, when they might see Full strongly armed, and on a courser free, That through his fierceness foamèd all with sweat, When his hot rider spurred his chafèd side; His look was stern, and seemèd still to threat And on his shield Sans loy in bloody lines was dyed. When nigh he drew unto this gentle pair, And saw the red cross which the knight did bear, Loath was that other, and did faint through fear, But yet his lady did so well him cheer, That hope of new good hap he gan to feel; So bent his spear, and spurred his horse with iron heel. But that proud Paynim forward came so fierce Dismounting lightly from his lofty steed, When mourning altars, purged with enemy's life, Life from Sansfoy thou took'st, Sansloy shall from thee take." Therewith in haste his helmet gan unlace, And, whilst him fortune favored, fair did thrive In bloody field; therefore of life him not deprive." Her piteous words might not abate his rage; His hasty hand he doth amazed hold, And said: "Why, Archimago, luckless sire, The cloud of death did sit; which done away, But to the virgin comes; who all this while Left in the hand of that same Paynim bold, But her fierce servant, full of kingly awe And high disdain, whenas his sovereign dame So rudely handled by her foe he saw, With gaping jaws full greedy at him came, And, ramping on his shield, did ween the same Have reft away with his sharp rending claws: But he was stout, and lust did now inflame His courage more, that from his griping paws He hath his shield redeemed; and forth his sword he draws. O then, too weak and feeble was the force For he was strong, and of so mighty corse, Who now is left to keep the forlorn maid He now, lord of the field, his pride to fill, Her prayers naught prevail: his rage is more of might. More mild in beastly kind, than that her beastly foe. SONNET ON THE FAIRY QUEEN. BY SIR WALTER RALEIGH. METHOUGHT I saw the grave where Laura lay, At whose approach the soul of Petrarch wept, And groans of buried ghosts the heavens did pierce; |