FOOTNOTES:

Therewith a while she her flit fancy fed,lviTill she mote winne fit time for her desire,But yet her wound still inward freshly bled,And through her bones the false instilled fireDid spred it selfe, and venime close inspire.Tho were the tables taken all away,And euery knight, and euery gentle SquireGan choose his dame withBasciomani[878]gay,With whom he meant to make his sport and courtly play.Some fell to daunce, some fell to hazardry,lviiSome to make loue, some to make meriment,As diuerse wits to diuers things apply;And all the while faireMalecastabentHer crafty engins to her close intent.By this th’eternall lampes, wherewith highIoueDoth light the lower world, were halfe yspent,And the moist daughters of hugeAtlasstroueInto theOceandeepe to driue their weary droue.High time it seemed then for euery wightlviiiThem to betake vnto their kindly rest;Eftsoones long waxen torches weren light,Vnto their bowres to guiden euery guest:Tho when the Britonesse saw all the restAuoided quite, she gan her selfe despoile,And safe commit to her soft fethered nest,Where through long watch, and late dayes weary toile,She soundly slept, and carefull thoughts did quite assoile.Now whenas all the world in silence deepelixYshrowded was, and euery mortall wightWas drowned in the depth of deadly sleepe,FaireMalecasta, whose engrieued sprightCould find no rest in such perplexed plight,Lightly arose out of her wearie bed,And vnder the blacke vele of guilty Night,Her with a scarlot mantle couered,That was with gold and Ermines faire enueloped.

Therewith a while she her flit fancy fed,lvi

Till she mote winne fit time for her desire,

But yet her wound still inward freshly bled,

And through her bones the false instilled fire

Did spred it selfe, and venime close inspire.

Tho were the tables taken all away,

And euery knight, and euery gentle Squire

Gan choose his dame withBasciomani[878]gay,

With whom he meant to make his sport and courtly play.

Some fell to daunce, some fell to hazardry,lviiSome to make loue, some to make meriment,As diuerse wits to diuers things apply;And all the while faireMalecastabentHer crafty engins to her close intent.By this th’eternall lampes, wherewith highIoueDoth light the lower world, were halfe yspent,And the moist daughters of hugeAtlasstroueInto theOceandeepe to driue their weary droue.

Some fell to daunce, some fell to hazardry,lvii

Some to make loue, some to make meriment,

As diuerse wits to diuers things apply;

And all the while faireMalecastabent

Her crafty engins to her close intent.

By this th’eternall lampes, wherewith highIoue

Doth light the lower world, were halfe yspent,

And the moist daughters of hugeAtlasstroue

Into theOceandeepe to driue their weary droue.

High time it seemed then for euery wightlviiiThem to betake vnto their kindly rest;Eftsoones long waxen torches weren light,Vnto their bowres to guiden euery guest:Tho when the Britonesse saw all the restAuoided quite, she gan her selfe despoile,And safe commit to her soft fethered nest,Where through long watch, and late dayes weary toile,She soundly slept, and carefull thoughts did quite assoile.

High time it seemed then for euery wightlviii

Them to betake vnto their kindly rest;

Eftsoones long waxen torches weren light,

Vnto their bowres to guiden euery guest:

Tho when the Britonesse saw all the rest

Auoided quite, she gan her selfe despoile,

And safe commit to her soft fethered nest,

Where through long watch, and late dayes weary toile,

She soundly slept, and carefull thoughts did quite assoile.

Now whenas all the world in silence deepelixYshrowded was, and euery mortall wightWas drowned in the depth of deadly sleepe,FaireMalecasta, whose engrieued sprightCould find no rest in such perplexed plight,Lightly arose out of her wearie bed,And vnder the blacke vele of guilty Night,Her with a scarlot mantle couered,That was with gold and Ermines faire enueloped.

Now whenas all the world in silence deepelix

Yshrowded was, and euery mortall wight

Was drowned in the depth of deadly sleepe,

FaireMalecasta, whose engrieued spright

Could find no rest in such perplexed plight,

Lightly arose out of her wearie bed,

And vnder the blacke vele of guilty Night,

Her with a scarlot mantle couered,

That was with gold and Ermines faire enueloped.

Then panting soft, and trembling euerie ioynt,lxHer fearfull feete towards the bowre she moued;Where she for secret purpose did appoyntTo lodge the warlike mayd vnwisely loued,And to her bed approching, first she prooued,Whether she slept or wakt, with her soft handShe softly felt, if any member mooued,And lent her wary[879]eare to vnderstand,If any puffe of breath, or signe of sence she fond[880].Which whenas none she fond, with easie shift,lxiFor feare least her vnwares she should abrayd,Th’embroderd quilt she lightly vp did lift,And by her side her selfe she softly layd,Of euery finest fingers touch affrayd;Ne any noise she made, ne word she spake,But inly sigh’d. At last the royall MaydOut of her quiet slomber did awake,And chaungd her weary side, the better ease to take.Where feeling one close couched by her side,lxiiShe lightly lept out of her filed bed,And to her weapon ran, in minde to grideThe loathed leachour. But the Dame halfe dedThrough suddein feare and ghastly drerihed,Did shrieke alowd, that through the house it rong,And the whole family therewith adred,Rashly out of their rouzed couches sprong,And to the troubled chamber all in armes did throng.And those six Knights that Ladies Champions,lxiiiAnd eke theRedcrosseknight ran to the stownd,Halfe armd and halfe vnarmd, with them attons:Where when confusedly they came, they fowndTheir Lady lying on the sencelesse grownd;On th’other side, they saw the warlike MaydAll in her snow-white smocke, with locks vnbownd,Threatning the point of her auenging blade,That with so troublous terrour they were all dismayde.

Then panting soft, and trembling euerie ioynt,lx

Her fearfull feete towards the bowre she moued;

Where she for secret purpose did appoynt

To lodge the warlike mayd vnwisely loued,

And to her bed approching, first she prooued,

Whether she slept or wakt, with her soft hand

She softly felt, if any member mooued,

And lent her wary[879]eare to vnderstand,

If any puffe of breath, or signe of sence she fond[880].

Which whenas none she fond, with easie shift,lxiFor feare least her vnwares she should abrayd,Th’embroderd quilt she lightly vp did lift,And by her side her selfe she softly layd,Of euery finest fingers touch affrayd;Ne any noise she made, ne word she spake,But inly sigh’d. At last the royall MaydOut of her quiet slomber did awake,And chaungd her weary side, the better ease to take.

Which whenas none she fond, with easie shift,lxi

For feare least her vnwares she should abrayd,

Th’embroderd quilt she lightly vp did lift,

And by her side her selfe she softly layd,

Of euery finest fingers touch affrayd;

Ne any noise she made, ne word she spake,

But inly sigh’d. At last the royall Mayd

Out of her quiet slomber did awake,

And chaungd her weary side, the better ease to take.

Where feeling one close couched by her side,lxiiShe lightly lept out of her filed bed,And to her weapon ran, in minde to grideThe loathed leachour. But the Dame halfe dedThrough suddein feare and ghastly drerihed,Did shrieke alowd, that through the house it rong,And the whole family therewith adred,Rashly out of their rouzed couches sprong,And to the troubled chamber all in armes did throng.

Where feeling one close couched by her side,lxii

She lightly lept out of her filed bed,

And to her weapon ran, in minde to gride

The loathed leachour. But the Dame halfe ded

Through suddein feare and ghastly drerihed,

Did shrieke alowd, that through the house it rong,

And the whole family therewith adred,

Rashly out of their rouzed couches sprong,

And to the troubled chamber all in armes did throng.

And those six Knights that Ladies Champions,lxiiiAnd eke theRedcrosseknight ran to the stownd,Halfe armd and halfe vnarmd, with them attons:Where when confusedly they came, they fowndTheir Lady lying on the sencelesse grownd;On th’other side, they saw the warlike MaydAll in her snow-white smocke, with locks vnbownd,Threatning the point of her auenging blade,That with so troublous terrour they were all dismayde.

And those six Knights that Ladies Champions,lxiii

And eke theRedcrosseknight ran to the stownd,

Halfe armd and halfe vnarmd, with them attons:

Where when confusedly they came, they fownd

Their Lady lying on the sencelesse grownd;

On th’other side, they saw the warlike Mayd

All in her snow-white smocke, with locks vnbownd,

Threatning the point of her auenging blade,

That with so troublous terrour they were all dismayde.

About their Lady first they flockt arownd,lxivWhom hauing laid in comfortable couch,Shortly they reard out of her frosen swownd;And afterwards they gan with fowle reprochTo stirre vp strife, and troublous contecke broch:But by ensample of the last dayes losse,None of them rashly durst to her approch,Ne in so glorious spoile themselues embosse;Her succourd eke the Champion of the bloudy Crosse.But one of those sixe knights,Gardantehight,lxvDrew out a deadly bow and arrow keene,Which forth he sent with felonous despight,And fell intent against the virgin sheene:The mortall steele stayd not, till it was seeneTo gore her side, yet was the wound not deepe,But lightly rased her soft silken skin,That drops of purple bloud thereout did weepe,Which did her lilly smock with staines of vermeil steepe.Wherewith enrag’d she fiercely at them flew,lxviAnd with her flaming sword about her layd,That none of them foule mischiefe could eschew,But with her dreadfull strokes were all dismayd:Here, there, and euery where about her swaydHer wrathfull steele, that none mote it abide;And eke theRedcrosseknight gaue her good aid,Ay ioyning foot to foot, and side to side,That in short space their foes they haue quite terrifide.Tho whenas all were put to shamefull flight,lxviiThe nobleBritomartisher arayd,And her bright armes about her body dight:For nothing would she lenger there be stayd,Where so loose life, and so vngentle tradeWas vsd of Knights and Ladies seeming gent:So earely ere the grosse Earthes gryesy shade[881]Was all disperst out of the firmament,They tooke their steeds, and forth vpon their iourney went.

About their Lady first they flockt arownd,lxiv

Whom hauing laid in comfortable couch,

Shortly they reard out of her frosen swownd;

And afterwards they gan with fowle reproch

To stirre vp strife, and troublous contecke broch:

But by ensample of the last dayes losse,

None of them rashly durst to her approch,

Ne in so glorious spoile themselues embosse;

Her succourd eke the Champion of the bloudy Crosse.

But one of those sixe knights,Gardantehight,lxvDrew out a deadly bow and arrow keene,Which forth he sent with felonous despight,And fell intent against the virgin sheene:The mortall steele stayd not, till it was seeneTo gore her side, yet was the wound not deepe,But lightly rased her soft silken skin,That drops of purple bloud thereout did weepe,Which did her lilly smock with staines of vermeil steepe.

But one of those sixe knights,Gardantehight,lxv

Drew out a deadly bow and arrow keene,

Which forth he sent with felonous despight,

And fell intent against the virgin sheene:

The mortall steele stayd not, till it was seene

To gore her side, yet was the wound not deepe,

But lightly rased her soft silken skin,

That drops of purple bloud thereout did weepe,

Which did her lilly smock with staines of vermeil steepe.

Wherewith enrag’d she fiercely at them flew,lxviAnd with her flaming sword about her layd,That none of them foule mischiefe could eschew,But with her dreadfull strokes were all dismayd:Here, there, and euery where about her swaydHer wrathfull steele, that none mote it abide;And eke theRedcrosseknight gaue her good aid,Ay ioyning foot to foot, and side to side,That in short space their foes they haue quite terrifide.

Wherewith enrag’d she fiercely at them flew,lxvi

And with her flaming sword about her layd,

That none of them foule mischiefe could eschew,

But with her dreadfull strokes were all dismayd:

Here, there, and euery where about her swayd

Her wrathfull steele, that none mote it abide;

And eke theRedcrosseknight gaue her good aid,

Ay ioyning foot to foot, and side to side,

That in short space their foes they haue quite terrifide.

Tho whenas all were put to shamefull flight,lxviiThe nobleBritomartisher arayd,And her bright armes about her body dight:For nothing would she lenger there be stayd,Where so loose life, and so vngentle tradeWas vsd of Knights and Ladies seeming gent:So earely ere the grosse Earthes gryesy shade[881]Was all disperst out of the firmament,They tooke their steeds, and forth vpon their iourney went.

Tho whenas all were put to shamefull flight,lxvii

The nobleBritomartisher arayd,

And her bright armes about her body dight:

For nothing would she lenger there be stayd,

Where so loose life, and so vngentle trade

Was vsd of Knights and Ladies seeming gent:

So earely ere the grosse Earthes gryesy shade[881]

Was all disperst out of the firmament,

They tooke their steeds, and forth vpon their iourney went.

FOOTNOTES:[861]Arg. 3Malecastaes]Materastaes1590 &c.:corr. F. E.[862]vii 2 sith] since1609[863]xiv 8 creature1590[864]xxx 6 mard] shard1590 &c.:corr. F. E.[865]xxxi 6 ofom. 1596, 1609[866]8 sight.1596[867]xxxiii 4 be seeme1596[868]xxxvii 8 scathe1609[869]xli 8 lightly] highly1590,1596[870]xlvi 7 briers1609[871]xlvii 1 wight.1596[872]7 which] that1590[873]slender1609[874]xlviii 2 burst1609[875]9 loathy1596,1609[876]sight,1596[877]liv 6 beguiled1596be ’guiled1609[878]lvi 8Bascimano1590[879]lx 8 weary1590,1596[880]9 fand1609[881]lxvii 7 shade,1590 &c.

[861]Arg. 3Malecastaes]Materastaes1590 &c.:corr. F. E.

[862]vii 2 sith] since1609

[863]xiv 8 creature1590

[864]xxx 6 mard] shard1590 &c.:corr. F. E.

[865]xxxi 6 ofom. 1596, 1609

[866]8 sight.1596

[867]xxxiii 4 be seeme1596

[868]xxxvii 8 scathe1609

[869]xli 8 lightly] highly1590,1596

[870]xlvi 7 briers1609

[871]xlvii 1 wight.1596

[872]7 which] that1590

[873]slender1609

[874]xlviii 2 burst1609

[875]9 loathy1596,1609

[876]sight,1596

[877]liv 6 beguiled1596be ’guiled1609

[878]lvi 8Bascimano1590

[879]lx 8 weary1590,1596

[880]9 fand1609

[881]lxvii 7 shade,1590 &c.

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