His dreadfull hand he heaved up aloft, XVI. It never yet was bent, ne bent it now, So huge a burden on such broken geare, XVII. Eftsoones the prince to him full nimbly stept, хуш. He staide his hand according her desire, XIX. Her tongue to her restor'd, then thus she sayd; 'Nor heavens, nor men, can me, most wretched 'Deliver from the doome of my desart, [mayd, The which the god of Love hath on me layd, And damned to endure this direfull smart, For penaunce of my proud and hard rebellious XX. [hart. In prime of youthly yeares, when first the flowre Of beauty gan to bud, and bloosme delight; 'And Nature me endu'd with plenteous dowre Of all her gifts, that pleasde each living sight; 'I was belov'd of many a gentle knight, And sude and sought with all the service dew: 'Full many a one for me deepe groand and sigh't, And to the dore of death for sorrow drew, Complayning out on me that would not on them rew. XXI. But let them love that list, or live or die, Me list not die for any lovers doole: 'Ne list me leave my loved libertie To pitty him that list to play the foole: To love myself I learned had in schoole. • Thus I triumphed long in lovers paine, And sitting carelesse on the scorners stoole, 'Did laugh at those that did lament and plaine; But all is now repayd with interest againe. XXII. For loe the winged god that woundeth harts, 'Causde me be called to accompt therefore, And for revengement of those wrongfull smarts Which I to others did inflict afore, Addeem'd me to endure this penaunce sore; "That in this wize, and this unmeete array, With these two lewd companions, and no more, 'Disdaine and Scorne, I through the world should • Till I have sav'd so many as I earst did slay.' [stray, XXIII. Certes,' sayd then the prince, the god is just, Might them oppresse, and painefully turmoile, But tell me, Lady! wherefore doe you beare And eeke this wallet at your backe arreare, That for these carles to carry much more comely were ?' XXIV. Here in this bottle,' sayd the sory mayd, Till to the brim 1 have it full defrayd: And in this bag, which 1 behinde me don, I put repentaunce for things past and gon. Yet is the bottle leake, and bag so torne, That all which I put in fals out anon, And is behinde me trodden downe of Scorne, • Who mocketh all my paine, and laughs the more XXV. [I mourn. The infant hearkned wisely to her tale, And wondred much at Cupids iudg'ment wise, That could so meekly make proud hearts avale, And wreake himselfe on them that him despise. Then suffred he Disdaine up to arise, Who was not able up himselfe to reare, By meanes his leg, through his late lucklesse prise, Was crackt in twaine, but by his foolish feare Was holpen up, who him supported standing neare. XXVI. But being up, he lookt againe aloft, And with sterne eye-brows stared at him oft, XXVII. Then turning backe unto that captive thrall, He from those bands weend him to have unwound; And him did oft embrace, and oft admire, XXVIII. Meane while the salvage man, when he beheld That huge great foole oppressing th' other knight, Whom with his weight unweldy downe he held, He flew upon him like a greedy kight Unto some carrion offered to his sight; And, downe him plucking, with his nailes and teeth Gan him to hale, and teare, and scratch, and bite; And from him taking his owne whip, there with So sore him scourgeth that the bloud downe follow XXIX. And sure I weene, had not the ladies cry [eth. Procur'd the prince his cruell hand to stay, Unto yourselfe I freely leave to chose, Whether I shall you leave, or from these villaines lose.' |