Parthenia. Yet at last finding certainly it was she, and greatly pitying her misfortune, so much the more as that all men had ever told me, as now you do, of the great likeness between us, I took the best care I could of her and of her understood the whole tragical history of her undeserved adventure; and therewithal of that most noble constancy in you, my lord Argalus; which whosoever loves not, shows himself to be a hater of virtue, and unworthy to live in the society of mankind. But no outward cherishing could salve the inward sore of her mind; but a few days since she died; before her death earnestly desiring and persuading me to think of no husband but of you, as of the only man in the world worthy to be loved. Withal she gave me this ring to deliver you, desiring you, and by the authority of love commanding you that the affection you bare her you should turn to me; assuring you that nothing can please her soul more than to see you and me matched together. Now, my lord, though this office be not, perchance, suitable to my estate nor sex, who should rather look to be desired; yet, an extraordinary desert requires an extraordinary proceeding: and therefore I am come with faithful love built upon your worthiness, to offer myself, and to beseech you to accept the offer; and if these noble gentlemen present will say it is great folly, let them withal say it is great love." And then she staid, earnestly attending Argalus's answer; who, first making most hearty sighs do such obsequies as he could to Parthenia, thus answered her.

"Madam," said he, "infinitely bound am I unto you, for this no more rare than noble courtesy; but most bound for the goodness I perceive you showed to the lady Parthenia," - with that the tears ran down his eyes; but he followed on "and as much as so unfortunate a man, fit to be the spectacle of misery, can do you service, determine you have made

a purchase of a slave, while I live, never to fail you. But this great matter you propose unto me, wherein I am not so blind as not to see what happiness it should be unto me, excellent lady, know that if my heart were mine to give, you before all others should have it; but Parthenia's it is, though dead: there I began, there I end all matter of affection: I hope I shall not long tarry after her, with whose beauty if I had only been in love, I should be so with you who have the same beauty; but it was Parthenia's self I loved, and love; which no likeness can make one, no commandment dissolve, no foulness defile, nor no death finish." "And shall I receive," said she, "such disgrace as to be refused?" "Noble lady," said he, "let not that hard word be used; who know your exceeding worthiness far beyond my desert: but it is only happiness I refuse, since of the only happiness I could and can desire, I am refused."

He had scarce spoken those words when she ran to him, and embracing him, "Why then Argalus," said she, "take thy Parthenia:" and Parthenia it was indeed. But because sorrow forbade him too soon to believe, she told him the truth with all circumstances: how being parted alone, meaning to die in some solitary place, as she happened to make her complaint, the queen Helen of Corinth, who likewise felt her part of miseries, being then walking also alone in that lovely place, heard her, and never left till she had known the whole discourse. Which the noble queen greatly pitying, she sent her to a physician of hers, the most excellent man in the world, in hope he could help her: which in such sort as they saw performed, and she taking with her of the queen's servants, thought yet to make this trial, whether he would quickly forget his true Parthenia, or no. Her speech was confirmed by the Corinthian gentlemen who before had kept her counsel, and Argalus easily persuaded to what more than

ten thousand years of life he desired; and Kalander would needs have the marriage celebrated in his house, principally the longer to hold his dear guests, towards whom he was now, besides his own habit of hospitality, carried with love and duty; and therefore omitted no service that his wit could invent and his power minister.

And within some days after, the marriage between Argalus and the fair Parthenia was celebrated.

AN ADVENTURE OF THE KNIGHT OF THE RED CROSSE, HOLINESSE; AND THE WANDERING OF UNA, TRUTH.

From THE FAERIE QUEENE.

Edmund Spenser.

BOOK I. CANTO I.

A GENTLE Knight was pricking1 on the plaine,
Y cladd in mightie armes and silver shielde,
Wherein old dints of deepe wounds did remaine,
The cruell markes of many' a bloudy fielde;
Yet armes till that time did he never wield:
His angry steede did chide his foming bitt,
As much disdayning to the curbe to yield:
Full jolly knight he seemd, and faire did sitt,
As one for knightly giusts and fierce encounters fitt.

3

But on his brest a bloudie Crosse he bore,
The deare remembrance of his dying Lord,

1 pricking, riding quietly. 2 y cladd, clad.

3 giusts, tilts, justs.

For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he wore, And dead as living ever him ador'd:

Upon his shield the like was also scor❜d,

For soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had:
Right faithfull true he was in deede and word,
But of his cheere did seeme too solemne sad;
Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad.*

Upon a great adventure he was bond,

That greatest Gloriana to him gave,

5

That greatest Glorious Queene of Faerie lond,
To winne him worship, and her grace to have,
Which of all earthly things he most did crave;
And ever as he rode, his hart did earne
To prove his puissance in battell brave
Upon his foe, and his new force to learne;
Upon his foe, a Dragon horrible and stearne.

A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside,
Upon a lowly Asse more white then snow,
Yet she much whiter, but the same did hide
Under a vele, that wimpled' was full low,
And over all a blacke stole she did throw,
As one that inly mournd: so was she sad,
And heavie sat upon her palfrey slow;

8

Seemed in heart some hidden care she had,
And by her in a line a milke white lambe she lad."

So pure and innocent, as that same lambe,
She was in life and every vertuous lore,

4 ydrad, dreaded.

6 vele, veil.

8 stole a long robe

5 earne, yearn.

7 wimpled, plaited.

9 lad led

And by descent from Royall lynage came

Of ancient Kings and Queenes, that had of yore

Their sceptres stretcht from East to Westerne shore,
And all the world in their subjection held;

Till that infernall feend with foule uprore

Forwasted 10 all their land, and them expeld:

Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from far compeld."

Behind her farre away a Dwarfe did lag,

That lasie seemd in being ever last,

Or wearied with bearing of her bag

Of needments at his backe. Thus as they past,
The day with cloudes was suddeine overcast,
And angry Jove an hideous storme of raine
Did poure into his Lemans 12 lap so fast,

That every wight to shrowd it did constrain,

And this faire couple eke to shroud themselves were fain.

Enforst to seeke some covert nigh at hand,

A shadie grove not far away they spide,

That promist ayde the tempest to withstand:
Whose lofty trees yclad with sommers pride,
Did spred so broad, that heavens light did hide,
Not perceable with power of any starre:
And all within were pathes and alleies wide,
With footing worne, and leading inward farre:

Faire harbour that them seemes; so in they entred arre.

And foorth they passe, with pleasure forward led,
Joying to heare the birdes sweete harmony,
Which therein shrouded from the tempest dred,
Seemd in their song to scorne the cruell sky.

10 forwasted, utterly wasted. 12 leman's, lady's.

11 compeld, called for aid.