XXIV. Thus ill bestedd, and fearefull more of shame 255 Resolved in minde all suddenly to win, Or soone to lose, before he once would lin; And stroke at her with more then manly force, 260 He raft her hatefull heade without remorse: A streame of cole-black blood forth gushed from her corse. XXVII. His Lady seeing all that chaunst, from farre, starre, 290 happie Who see your vanquisht foes before you lye; Well worthie be you of that armory, Wherein ye have great glory wonne this day, And proov'd your strength on a strong enimie; Your first adventure: Many such I pray, And henceforth ever wish that like succeed it may!” 295 [Having re-mounted his steed, the Red-Cross Knight and Una at length meet in the forest an "aged sire" clad in black, having a gray beard and a sober aspect. The Knight, having saluted him, is conducted to a hermitage on the skirts of the forest, where the old man tells him in pleasing words about Saints and popes: so they pass the evening in discourse.] XXXVI. The drouping night thus creepeth on them fast; 380 Sweet slombring deaw, the which to sleep them biddes. Unto their lodgings then his guestes he riddes: Where when all drownd in deadly sleepe he findes, He to his studie goes; and there amiddes 385 His magick bookes, and artes of sundrie kindes, He seekes out mighty charmes to trouble sleepy minds. XXXVII. Then choosing out few words most horrible, (Let none them read!) thereof did verses frame; With which, and other spelles like terrible, He bad awake blacke Plutoes griesly dame; And cursed heven; and spake reprochful shame Of highest God, the Lord of life and light. A bold bad man! that dar'd to call by name Great Gorgon, prince of darknes and dead night; At which Cocytus quakes, and Styx is put to flight. XXXVIII. And forth he cald out of deepe darknes dredd 390 394 400 The other by him selfe staide other worke to doo. 405 XXXIX. He, making speedy way through spersed ayre, And low, where dawning day doth never peepe, 409 Whiles sad Night over him her mantle black doth spred. XL. Whose double gates he findeth locked fast; The other all with silver overcast; And wakeful dogges before them farre doe lye, And unto Morpheus comes, whom drowned deepe 415 420 XLI. And, more to lulle him in his slumber soft, 424 A trickling streame from high rock tumbling downe, And ever-drizling raine upon the loft, Mixt with a murmuring winde, much like the sowne Of swarming bees, did caste him in a swowne. Wrapt in eternall silence farre from enimyes. 430 XLII. 434 The messenger approching to him spake; Shooke him so hard, that forced him to speake. Is tost with troubled sights and fancies weake, 440 He mumbled soft, but would not all his silence breake. XLIII. The Sprite then gan more boldly him to wake, 445 449 A fit false dreame, that can delude the sleepers sent." XLIV. 454 The god obayde; and, calling forth straight way A diverse dreame out of his prison darke, Delivered it to him, and downe did lay His heavie head, devoide of careful carke; Whose sences all were straight benumbd and starke. He, backe returning by the yvorie dore, Remounted up as light as chearefull larke; And on his litle winges the dreame he bore In hast unto his lord, where he him left afore. XLV. Who all this while, with charmes and hidden artes, Had made a lady of that other spright, 460 And fram'd of liquid ayre her tender partes, So lively, and so like in all mens sight, That weaker sence it could have ravisht quight: 465 Cast a black stole, most like to seeme for Una fit. XLVI. Now when that ydle Dreame was to him brought, Unto that Elfin Knight he bad him fly, 470 Where he slept soundly, void of evil thought, And with false shewes abuse his fantasy, In sort as he him schooled privily. And that new creature, borne without her dew, Full of the makers guyle, with usage sly, 475 He taught to imitate that Lady trew, Whose semblance she did carrie under feigned hew. [This phantom, in the outward semblance of Una, conducts herself with such lightness that the Knight is perplexed with doubts of her goodness and truthfulness. At last, restless and tormented by evil delusions conjured up by Archimago, the Knight mounts his steed and flies with the dwarf. Thus parted from Una. or Truth, by the wiles of the Enchanter, the deluded Knight falls into peril in a meeting with Duessa, or Falsehood. Meanwhile the heavenly Una, his true bride, missing her Knight, sets out in search of him, alone and sorrowful. The poet then tells how the lion comes to guard her in her need.] |