152
The first Booke of
Cant. X.
That couett in th'immortall booke of fameTo be eternized, that same to haunt,And doen their seruice to that soueraigne Dame,That glory does to them for guerdon graunt:For she is heuenly borne, and heauen may iustly vaunt.
And thou faire ymp, sprong out from English race,How euer now accompted Elfins sonne,Well worthy doest thy seruice for her grace,To aide a virgin desolate foredonne.But when thou famous victory hast wonne,And high emongst all knights hast hong thy shield,Thenceforth the suitt of earthly conquest shonne,And wash thy hands from guilt of bloody field:For blood can nought but sin, & wars but sorrows yield.
Then seek this path, that I to thee presage,Which after all to heauen shall thee send;Then peaceably thy painefull pilgrimageTo yonder same Hierusalem doe bend,Where is for thee ordaind a blessed end:For thou emongst those Saints, whom thou doest see,Shalt be a Saint, and thine owne nations frendAnd Patrone: thou Saint George shalt called bee,Saint George of mery England, the signe of victoree.
Vnworthy wretch (qd. he) of so great grace,How dare I thinke such glory to attaine;These that haue it attaynd, were in like caceAs wretched men, and liued in like paine.But deeds of armes must I at last be faine,And Ladies loue to leaue so dearely bought?What need of armes, where peace doth ay remaine,(Said he) and bitter battailes all ate fought?As for loose loues they'are vaine, & vanish into nought.
O let
