Cant. II.
the Faerie Queene.
205
Cant. II.
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Babes bloody handes may not be clensd,the face of golden Meane.Her sisters two Extremities:striue her to banish cleane.
Thus when Sir Guyon with his faithful guydeHad with dew rites and dolorous lamentThe end of their sad Tragedie vptyde,The litle babe vp in his armes he hent;Who with sweet pleasaunce and bold blandishmentGan smyle on them, that rather ought to weepe,As carelesse of his woe, or innocentOf that was doen, that ruth emperced deepeIn that knightes hart, and wordes with bitter teares did steepe.
Ah lucklesse babe, borne vnder cruell starre,And in dead parents balefull ashes bred,Full little weenest thou, what sorrowes areLeft thee for porcion of thy liuelyhed,Poore Orphane in the wide world scattered,As budding braunch rent from the natiue tree,And throwen forth, till it be withered:Such is the state of men: Thus enter weInto this life with woe and end with miseree.
Then soft him selfe inclyning on his kneeDowne to that well, did in the water weene(So loue does loath disdainefull nicitee.)His guiltie handes from bloody gore to cleene;
He
