262
The second Booke of
Cant. VI.
By this time was the worthy Guyon broughtVnto the other side of that wide strond,Where she was rowing, and for passage sought:Him needed not long call, shee soone to hondHer ferry brought, where him she byding fond,With his sad guide; him selfe she tooke a boord,But the Blacke Palmer suffred still to stond,Ne would for price, or prayers once affoord,To ferry that old man ouer the perlous foord.
Guyon was loath to leaue his guide behind,Yet being entred, might not backe retyre;For the flitt barke, obaying to her mind,Forth launched quickly, as she did desire,Ne gaue him leaue to bid that aged sireAdieu, but nimbly ran her wonted courseThrough the dull billowes thicke as troubled mire,Whom nether wind out of their seat could forse,Nor timely tides did driue out of their sluggish sourse.
And by the way, as was her wonted guize,Her mery fitt shee freshly gan to reare,And did of ioy and iollity deuize,Her selfe to cherish, and her guest to cheare:The knight was courteous, and did not forbeareHer honest merth and pleasaunce to partake;But when he saw her toy, and gibe, and geare,And passe the bonds of modest merimake,Her dalliaunce he despisd, and follies did forsake.
Yet she still followed her former style,And said, and did all thar mote him delight,Till they arriued in that pleasaunt Ile,Where sleeping late she lefte her other knight.
But
