XXVIII

In which his torment often was so great,
  That like a Lyon he would cry and rore, 245
  And rend his flesh, and his owne synewes eat. 
  His owne deare Una hearing evermore
  His ruefull shriekes and gronings, often tore
  Her guiltlesse garments, and her golden heare,
  For pitty of his paine and anguish sore; 250
  Yet all with patience wisely she did beare;
For well she wist his crime could else be never cleare.

XXIX

Whom thus recover’d by wise Patience
  And trew Repentaunce they to Una brought: 
  Who joyous of his cured conscience, 255
  Him dearely kist, and fairely eke besought
  Himselfe to chearish, and consuming thought
  To put away out of his carefull brest. 
  By this Charissa, late in child-bed brought,
  Was woxen strong, and left her fruitfull nest; 260
To her faire Una brought this unacquainted guest.

XXX

She was a woman in her freshest age,[*]
  Of wondrous beauty, and of bountie rare,
  With goodly grace and comely personage,
  That was on earth not easie to compare; 265
  Full of great love, but Cupid’s wanton snare
  As hell she hated, chast in worke and will;
  Her necke and breasts were ever open bare,
  That ay thereof her babes might sucke their fill;
The rest was all in yellow robes arayed still. 270

XXXI

A multitude of babes about her hong,
  Playing their sports, that joyd her to behold,
  Whom still she fed, whiles they were weake and young,
  But thrust them forth still as they wexed old: 
  And on her head she wore a tyre of gold, 275
  Adornd with gemmes and owches wondrous faire,
  Whose passing price[*] uneath was to be told: 
  And by her side there sate a gentle paire
Of turtle doves, she sitting in an yvorie chaire.

XXXII

The knight and Una entring faire her greet, 280
  And bid her joy of that her happie brood;
  Who them requites with court’sies seeming meet,
  And entertaines with friendly chearefull mood. 
  Then Una her besought, to be so good
  As in her vertuous rules to schoole her knight, 285
  Now after all his torment well withstood,
  In that sad house of Penaunce, where his spright
Had past the paines of hell, and long enduring night.

XXXIII

She was right joyous of her just request,
  And taking by the hand that Faeries sonne, 290
  Gan him instruct in every good behest,
  Of love, and righteousnesse, and well to donne,[*]
  And wrath, and hatred warely to shonne,
  That drew on men Gods hatred and his wrath,
  And many soules in dolours had fordonne:  295
  In which when him she well instructed hath,
From thence to heaven she teacheth him the ready path.