|
|
She, that most faithful lady, all this
while,
Forsaken, woful, solitary maid,
Far from the people's throng, as in
exile,
In wilderness and wasteful deserts
stray'd
To seek her knight; who, subtlely
betray'd
By that false vision which th'
enchanter wrought,
Had her abandon'd. She, of nought
afraid,
Him through the woods and wide wastes
daily sought,
Yet wish'd for tidings of him—none unto
her brought.
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
face,
As the great eye that lights the earth,
shone bright,
And made a sunshine in that shady
place,
That never mortal eye beheld such heavenly
grace.
It fortun'd that, from out the
thicket wood
A ramping lion rushed suddenly,
And hunting greedy after savage
blood,
The royal virgin helpless did espy;
At whom, with gaping mouth full
greedily
To seize and to devour her tender
corse,
When he did run, he stopp'd ere he
drew nigh,
And loosing all his rage in quick
remorse,
As with the sight amazed, forgot his furious
force.
Then coming near, he kiss'd her weary
feet,
And lick'd her lily hand with fawning
tongue,
As he her wronged innocence did meet:
Oh! how can beauty master the most
strong,
And simple truth subdue intent of
wrong!
His proud submission, and his yielded
pride,
Though dreading death, when she had
marked long,
She felt compassion in her heart to
slide,
And drizzling tears to gush that might not be
denied.
And with her tears she pour'd a sad
complaint,
That softly echoed from the neighbouring
wood;
While sad to see her sorrowful
constraint,
The kingly beast upon her gazing
stood:
With pity calm'd he lost all angry
mood.
At length, in close breast shutting up
her pain,
Arose the virgin born of heavenly
brood,
And on her snowy palfrey rode again
To seek and find her knight, if him she might
attain.
The lion would not leave her
desolate,
But with her went along, as a strong
guard
Of her chaste person, and a faithful
mate
Of her sad troubles and misfortunes
hard:
Still when she slept, he kept both watch
and ward,
And when she waked, he waited
diligent
With humble service to her will
prepared.
From her fair eyes he took
commandment,
And ever by her looks conceived her intent.
Spenser.
|