40
The first Booke of
Cant. III.
That should as death vnto my deare heart light;For since mine eie your ioyous sight did mis,My chearefull day is turnd to chearelesse night,And eke my night of death the shadow is;But welcome now my light, and shining lampe of blis.
He thereto meeting said, My dearest Dame,Far be it from your thought, and fro my wil,To thinke that knighthood I so much should shame,As you to leaue, that haue me loued stil,And chose in Faery court of meere goodwil,Where noblest knights were to be found on earth:The earth shall sooner leaue her kindly skilTo bring foth fruit, and make eternall derth,Then I leaue you, my liefe, yborn of heuenly berth.
And sooth to say, why I lefte you so long,Was for to seeke aduenture in straunge place,Where Archimago said a felon strongTo many knights did daily worke disgrace;But knight he now shall neuer more deface,Good cause of mine excuse, that moteye pleaseWell to accept, and euer more embraceMy faithfull seruice, that by land and seasHaue vowd you to defend. Now then your plaint appease.
His louely words her seemd due recompenceOf all her passed paines: one louing howreFor many yeares of sorrow can dispence:A dram of sweete is worth a pound of sowre:Shee has forgott, how many, a woeful stowreFor him she late endurd; she speakes no moreOf past: true is, that true loue hath no powreTo looken backe; his eies be fixt before.Before her stands her knight, for whom she toyld so sore.
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