The Faerie Queene · Book IV · Canto 4 6 (2/2)

Nathlesse he hardly of her chearefull speech

Did comfort take, or in his troubled sight

Shew’d change of better cheare: so sore a breach

That sudden newes had made into his spright,

Till Britomart him fairely thus behight:

“Great cause of sorrow certes, Sir, ye have;

But comfort take; for, by this heavens light,

I vow you dead or living not to leave,

Till I her find, and wreake on him that did her reave.”

Therewith he rested, and well pleased was:

Peace being confirm’d amongst them all,

They tooke their steeds, and forward thence did pas

Unto some resting place, which mote befall,

All being guided by Sir Artegall:

Where goodly solace was unto them made,

And dayly feasting both in bowre and hall,

Untill that they their wounds well healed had,

And wearie limmes recur’d after late usage bad.

In all which time Sir Artegall made way

Unto the love of noble Britomart,

And with meeke service and much suit did lay

Continuall siege unto her gentle hart;

Which, being whylome launcht with lovely dart,

More eath was new impression to receive;

How ever she her paynd with womanish art

To hide her wound, that none might it perceive:

Vaine is the art that seekes it selfe for to deceive.

So well he woo’d her, and so well he wrought her,

With faire entreatie and sweet blandishment,

That at the length unto a bay he brought her,

So as she to his speeches was content

To lend an eare, and softly to relent.

At last, through many vowes which forth he pour’d,

And many othes, she yeelded her consent

To be his love, and take him for her Lord,

Till they with mariage meet might finish that accord.

Tho, when they had long time there taken rest,

Sir Artegall, who all this while was bound

Upon an hard adventure yet in quest,

Fit time for him thence to depart it found,

To follow that which he did long propound,

And unto her his congee came to take;

But her therewith full sore displeasd he found,

And loth to leave her late betrothed make,

Her dearest love full loth so shortly to forsake.

Yet he with strong perswasions her asswaged,

And wonne her will to suffer him depart;

For which his faith with her he fast engaged,

And thousand vowes from bottome of his hart,

That, all so soone as he by wit or art

Could that atchieve whereto he did aspire,

He unto her would speedily revert:

No longer space thereto he did desire,

But till the horned moone three courses did expire.

With which she for the present was appeased,

And yeelded leave, how ever malcontent

She inly were and in her mind displeased.

So, early in the morrow next, he went

Forth on his way to which he was ybent;

Ne wight him to attend, or way to guide,

As whylome was the custome ancient

Mongst Knights when on adventures they did ride,

Save that she algates him a while accompanide.

And by the way she sundry purpose found

Of this or that, the time for to delay,

And of the perils whereto he was bound,

The feare whereof seem’d much her to affray;

But all she did was but to weare out day.

Full oftentimes she leave of him did take;

And eft againe deviz’d some what to say,

Which she forgot, whereby excuse to make;

So loth she was his companie for to forsake.

At last, when all her speeches she had spent,

And new occasion fayld her more to find,

She left him to his fortunes government,

And backe returned with right heavie mind

To Scudamour, whom she had left behind:

With whom she went to seeke faire Amoret,

Her second care, though in another kind:

For vertues onely sake, which doth beget

True love and faithfull friendship, she by her did set.

Backe to that desert forrest they retyred,

Where sorie Britomart had lost her late;

There they her sought, and every where inquired

Where they might tydings get of her estate;

Yet found they none. But by what haplesse fate

Or hard misfortune she was thence convayd,

And stolne away from her beloved mate,

Were long to tell; therefore, I here will stay

Untill another tyde that I it finish may.