Edmund Spenser

“ Faire virgin (said the Prince) ye me require
⁠A thing without the compas of my wit:
⁠For both the lignage and the certain Sire,
⁠From which I sprong, from me are hidden yit.
⁠For all so soone as life did me admit
⁠Into this world, and shewed heavens light,
⁠From mothers pap I taken was unfit:
⁠And streight deliver'd to a Faery knight,^
To be upbrought in gentle thewes and martiall might.
IV
Unto old Timon he me brought bylive,
⁠Old Timon, who in youthly yeares hath beene
⁠In warlike feates th'expertest man alive,
⁠And is the wisest now on earth I weene ”

“ Which piteous spectacle, approving trew
⁠The wofull tale that Trevisan had told,
⁠When as the gentle Redcrosse knight did vew,
⁠With firie zeale he burnt in courage bold,
⁠Him to avenge, before his bloud were cold,
⁠And to the villein said, Thou damned wight,
⁠The author of this fact we here behold,
⁠What justice can but judge against thee right,^
With thine owne bloud to price^ his bloud, here shed in sight.
XXXVIII
What franticke fit (quoth he) hath thus distraught
⁠Thee, foolish man, so rash a doome to give? ”

“ True Loves are often sown, but seldom grow on ground.
XVII
Thine, O then, said the gentle Recrosse knight,
⁠Next to that Ladies love,^ shal be the place,
⁠O fairest virgin, full of heavenly light,
⁠Whose wondrous faith exceeding earthly race,
⁠Was firmest fixt^ in mine extremest case.
⁠And you, my Lord, the Patrone of my life,
⁠Of that great Queene may well gaine worthy grace:
⁠For onely worthy you through prowes priefe,
Yf living man mote worthie be, to be her liefe. ”

“ As this good Prince redeemd the Redcrosse knight from bands.
II
Who when their powres empaird through labour long,
⁠With dew repast they had recured well,
⁠And that weake captive wight now wexed strong,
⁠Them list no lenger there at leasure dwell,
⁠But forward fare, as their adventures fell,
⁠But ere they parted, Una faire besought
⁠That straunger knight his name and nation tell;
⁠Least so great good, as he for her had wrought,
Should die unknown, and buried be in thanklesse^ thought. ”

“ How may a man (said he) with idle speach
⁠Be wonne, to spoyle the Castle of his health?^
⁠I wote^ (quoth he) whom triall late did teach,
⁠That like would not for all this worldes wealth:
⁠His subtill tongue, like dropping honny, mealt'h^
⁠Into the hart, and searcheth every vaine;
⁠That ere one be aware, by secret stealth
⁠His powre is reft, and weaknesse doth remaine.
O never Sir desire to try his guilefull traine.
XXXII
Certes (said he) hence shall I never rest,
⁠Till I that treacherours art have heard and tride ”