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The first Booke of
Cant. XII.
With breach of loue, and loialty betrayd.It was in my mishaps, as hitherwardI lately traueild, that vnwares I staydOut of my way, through perils straunge and hard;That day should faile me, ere I had them all declard.
There did I find, or rather I was fowndOf this false woman, that Fidessa hight,Fidessa hight the falsest Dame on grownd,Most false Duessa, royall richly dight,That easy was to inueigle weaker sight:Who by her wicked arts, and wiely skill,Too false and strong for earthly skill or might,Vnwares me wrought vnto her wicked will,And to my foe betrayd, when least I feared ill.
Then stepped forth the goodly royall Mayd,And on the ground her selfe prostrating low,With sober countenaunce thus to him sayd;O pardon me, my soueraine Lord, to sheowThe secret treasons, which of late I knowTo haue bene wrought by that false sorceresse.Shee onely she it is, that earst did throwThis gentle knight into so great distresse,That death him did awaite in daily wretchednesse.
And now it seemes, that she suborned hathThis crafty messenger with letters faine,To worke new woe and improuided scath,By breaking of the band betwixt vs twaine;Wherein she vsed hath the practicke pameOf this false footman, clokt with simplenesle,Whome if ye please for to discouer plaine,Ye shall him Archimago find, I ghesse,The falsest man aliue; wo tries shall find no lesse.
The
