Broaching with bloody point his breast before

Down from the wound trickled the bubbling gore, And bid pale Death come in at that red gaping door. XXI.

There lies he cover'd now in lowly dust,

And foully wallowing in clotted blood,
Breathing together out his life and lust,

Which from his breast swam in the steaming flood:
In maids his joy, now by a Maid defy'd,

His life he lost, and all his former pride :
With women would he live, now by a woman died.
XXII.

Aselges, struck with such a heavy sight,

Greedy to 'venge his brother's sad decay, Spurr'd forth his flying steed with fell despite. And met the Virgin in the middle way :

His spear against her head he fiercely threw,
Which to that face performing homage due,
Kissing her helmet, thence in thousand shivers flew.
XXIII.

The wanton boy had dreamt, that latest night,
He well had learnt the liquid air dispart
And swim along the Heav'ns with pinions light;
Now that fair Maid taught him this nimble art :
For from his saddle far away she sent,

Flying along the empty element,

That hardly yet he knew whither his course was bent.
XXIV.

The rest that saw with fear the ill success

Of single fight, durst not like fortune try; But round beset her with their num'rous press : Before, beside, behind, they on her fly,

j

And

every part with coward odds assail :

But she redoubling strokes as thick as hail,

Drove far their flying troops, and thresh'd with iron flail.

XXV.

As when a gentle greyhound set around

With little curs, which dare his way molest, Snapping behind; soon as the angry hound Turning his course, hath caught the busiest, And shaking in his fangs hath well nigh slain; The rest fear'd with his crying run amain,

And standing all aloof, whine, howl, and bark in vain. XXVI.

The subtil Dragon, that from far did view

The waste and spoil made by this Maiden Knight, Fell to his wonted guile; for well he knew

All force was vain against such wondrous might :

A crafty swain well taught to cunning harms,
Call'd False Delight, he chang'd with hellish charms,
That True Delight he seem'd, the self-same shape and arms.
XXVII.

The watchfull'st sight, no difference could descry;
The same his face, his voice, his gait the same :
Thereto his words he feign'd; and coming nigh
The Maid, that fierce pursues her martial game,
He whets her wrath with many a guileful word,
Till she, less careful, did fit time afford:

Then up with both his hands he lifts his baleful sword.
XXVIII.

Ye pow'rful heav'ns! and Thou, their Governor!

With what eyes can you view this doleful sight?

How can you see your fairest conqueror

So nigh her end by so unmanly slight?
Y

The dreadful weapon through the air doth glide;

But sure you turn'd the harmful edge aside :

Else must she there have fall'n, and by that traitor died. XXIX.

Yet in her side deep was the wound impight;

Her flowing life the shining armour stains: From that wide spring long rivers took their flight, With purple streams drowning the silver plains : Her cheerful colour now grows wan and pale, Which oft she strives with courage to recal, And rouse her fainting head, which down as oft would fall. XXX.

All so a lily press'd with heavy rain,

Which fills her cups with show'rs up to the brinks ;

The weary stalk no longer can sustain

The head, but low beneath the burthen sinks:

Or as a virgin rose her leaves displays,

Which too hot scorching beams quite disarrays;
Down flags her double ruff, and all her sweet decays.
XXXI.

Th' undaunted Maid, feeling her feet deny
Their wonted duty, to a tree retir'd;
Whom all the rout pursue with deadly cry.
As when a hunted stag, now well nigh tir'd,
Shor'd by an oak, 'gins with his head to play ;
The fearful hounds dare not his horns assay,
But running round about, with yelping voices bay.
XXXII.

And now, perceiving all her strength was spent,
Lifting to list'ning Heav'n her trembling eyes;
Thus whisp'ring soft, her soul to heav'n she sent ;

Thou chastest Love! that rul'st the wand'ring skies,

More pure than purest heavens by thee mov'd; If thine own love in me thou sure hast prov'd; If ever thou, myself, my vows, my love hast lov'd; XXXIII.

Let not this temple of thy spotless love,

Be with foul hand, and beastly rage defil'd:
But when my spirit shall its camp remove,
And to his home return, too long exil'd;
Do thou protect it from the rav'nous spoil
Of ranc'rous enemies, that hourly toil
Thy humble votary with loathsome spot to foil.'
XXXIV.

With this few drops fell from her fainting eyes,

To dew the fading roses of her cheek

That much High Love seem'd passion'd with those cries; Much more those streams his heart and patience break: Straight he the charge gives to a winged swain, Quickly to step down to that bloody plain,

And aid her weary arms, and rightful cause maintain.
XXXV.

Soon stoops the speedy herald through the air,
Where chaste Agneia and Encrates fought:
· See, see! he cries, where your Parthenia fair,
The flow'r of all your army, hemm'd about

With thousand enemies, now fainting stands,
Ready to fall into their murd'ring hands :

Hie ye, ho, hie ye fast! the Highest Love commands.'
XXXVI.

They casting round about their angry eye,

The wounded virgin almost sinking spied;

They prick their steeds, which straight like lightning fly : Their brother Continence runs by their side;

Fair Continence, that truly long before,

As his heart's liege, this lady did adore:
And now his faithful love kindled his hate the more.
XXXVII.

Encrates and his spouse with slashing sword
Assail the scatter'd troops, that headlong fly;
While Continenee a precious liquor pour'd
Into the wound, and suppled tenderly :
Then binding up the gaping orifice,

Reviv'd the spirits, that now she 'gan to rise,
And with new life confront her heartless enemies.

XXXVIII.

So have I often seen a purple flow'r,

Fainting through heat, hang down her drooping head, But soon refreshed with a welcome show'r,

Begins again her lively beauties spread,

And with new pride her silken leaves display;
And while the sun doth now more gently play,

Lays out her swelling bosom to the smiling day.
XXXIX.

Now rush they all into the flying trains ;

Blood fires their blood, and slaughter kindles fight:
The wretched vulgar on the purple plains

Fall down as thick, as when a rustic wight
From laden oaks the plenteous acorns pours;
Or when the thicken'd air that sadly low'rs,

And melts his sullen brow, and weeps sweet April show'rs,
XL.

The greedy Dragon that aloof did spy

So ill success of this renewed fray; More yex'd with loss of certain victory,

Depriv'd of so assur'd and wished prey,