THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

THE FAERY QUEEN.

CANTO III.

NOUGHT is there under heaven's wide hollowness,
That moves more dear compassion of mind,
Then beauty brought t' unworthy wretchedness
Through envy's snares, or fortune's freaks unkind.
I, whether lately through her brightness blind,
Or through allegiance, and fast feälty,
Which I do owe unto all womankind,
Feel my heart pierced with so great agony,
When such I see, that all for pity I could die.

II.

And now it is empassionèd so deep,

For fairest Una's sake, of whom I sing,

That my frail eyes these lines with tears do steep,
To think how she through guileful handeling,
Though true as touch, though daughter of a king,
Though fair as ever living wight was fair,
Though nor in word nor deed ill meriting,

Is from her knight divorced in despair,

And her due loves derived to that vile witch's share.

III.

Yet she, most faithful lady, all this while
Forsaken, woful, solitary maid,

Far from all people's preace, as in exile,
In wilderness and wasteful deserts stray'd,
To seek her knight; who, subtilely betray'd
Through that late vision which th' enchanter wrought,
Had her abandon'd; she of nought afraid,

Through woods and wastnes wide him daily sought,
Yet wished tidings none of him unto her brought.

IV.

One day, nigh weary of the irksome way,
From her unhasty beast she did alight;
And on the grass her dainty limbs did lay
In secret shadow, far from all men's sight;
From her fair head her fillet she undight,
And laid her stole aside: Her angel's face,
As the great eye of heaven, shinèd bright,
And made a sunshine in the shady place;
Did never mortal eye behold such heavenly grace.

V.

It fortunèd, out of the thickest wood
A ramping lion rushèd suddenly,
Hunting full greedy after savage blood.
Soon as the royal virgin he did spy,