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From “The Faërie Queene,” Book I. Canto I.
A GENTLE Knight was pricking on the plaine, | |
| Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde, | |
| Wherein old dints of deepe woundes did remaine, | |
| The cruell markes of many a bloody fielde; | |
| Yet armes till that time did he never wield: | 5 |
| His angry steede did chide his foming bitt, | |
| As much disdayning to the curbe to yield; | |
| Full iolly knight he seemed, and faire did sitt, | |
| As one for knightly giusts and fierce encounters fitt. | |
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| And on his brest a bloodie crosse he bore, | 10 |
| The deare remembrance of his dying Lord, | |
| For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore, | |
| And dead, as living ever, him adored: | |
| Upon his shield the like was also scored, | |
| For soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had, | 15 |
| Right, faithfull, true he was in deede and word; | |
| But of his cheere, 1 did seeme too solemne sad; | |
| Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad. 2 | |
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| Upon a great adventure he was bond, | |
| That greatest Gloriana to him gave, | 20 |
| That greatest glorious queene of Faëry lond, | |
| To winne him worshippe, and her grace to have, | |
| Which of all earthly thinges he most did crave: | |
| And ever, as he rode, his hart did earne | |
| To prove his puissance in battell brave | 25 |
| Upon his foe, and his new force to learne; | |
| Upon his foe, a Dragon horrible and stearne. | |
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| A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside, | |
| Upon a lowly asse more white then snow; | |
| Yet she much whiter; but the same did hide | 30 |
| Under a vele, that wimpled was full low; | |
| And over all a blacke stole shee did throw: | |
| As one that inly mournd, so was she sad, | |
| And heavie sate upon her palfrey slow; | |
| Seemèd in heart some hidden care she had; | 35 |
| And by her in a line a milke-white lambe she lad. | |
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| So pure and innocent as that same lambe | |
| She was in life and every vertuous lore; | |
| And by descent from royall lynage came | |
| Of ancient kinges and queenes, that had of yore | 40 |
| Their scepters stretcht from east to westerne shore, | |
| And all the world in their subiection held; | |
| Till that infernall feend with foule uprore | |
| Forwasted all their land, and then expeld; | |
| Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from far compeld. | 45 |
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| Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag, | |
| That lasie seemd, in being ever last, | |
| Or wearièd with bearing of her bag | |
| Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past, | |
| The day with cloudes was suddeine overcast, | 50 |
| And angry Iove an hideous storme of raine | |
| Did poure into his lemans lap so fast, | |
| That everie wight to shrowd it did constrain; | |
| And this faire couple eke to shrowd themselves were fain. | |
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| Enforst to seeke some covert nigh at hand, | 55 |
| A shadie grove not farr away they spide, | |
| That promist ayde the tempest to withstand; | |
| Whose loftie trees, yclad with sommers pride, | |
| Did spred so broad, that heavens light did hide, | |
| Not perceable with power of any starr; | 60 |
| And all within were pathes and alleies wide, | |
| With footing worne, and leading inward farr: | |
| Faire harbour that them seemes; so in they entred ar. | |
