XVII

Then sayd the royall Pere in sober wise; 145
  Deare Sonne, great beene the evils which ye bore
  From first to last in your late enterprise,
  That I note whether prayse, or pitty more: 
  For never living man, I weene, so sore
  In sea of deadly daungers was distrest; 150
  But since now safe ye seised have the shore,
  And well arrived are, (high God be blest)
Let us devize of ease and everlasting rest.

XVIII

Ah, dearest Lord, said then that doughty knight,
  Of ease or rest I may not yet devize, 155
  For by the faith, which I to armes have plight,
  I bounden am streight after this emprize,
  As that your daughter can ye well advize,
  Backe to returne to that great Faerie Queene,
  And her to serve six yeares in warlike wize, 160
  Gainst that proud Paynim king[*] that workes her teene
Therefore I ought crave pardon, till I there have beene.

XIX

Unhappie falles that hard necessitie,
  (Quoth he) the troubler of my happie peace,
  And vowed foe of my felicitie; 165
  Ne I against the same can justly preace: 
  But since that band ye cannot now release,
  Nor doen undo[*]; (for vowes may not be vaine,)
  Soone as the terme of those six yeares shall cease,
  Ye then shall hither backe returne againe, 170
The marriage to accomplish vowd betwixt you twain.

XX

Which for my part I covet to performe,
  In sort as[*] through the world I did proclame,
  That whoso kild that monster most deforme,
  And him in hardy battaile overcame, 175
  Should have mine onely daughter to his Dame,
  And of my kingdome heyre apparaunt bee: 
  Therefore since now to thee perteines the same,
  By dew desert of noble chevalree,
Both daughter and eke kingdome, lo, I yield to thee. 180

XXI

Then forth he called that his daughter faire,
  The fairest Un’ his onely daughter deare,
  His onely daughter, and his onely heyre;
  Who forth proceeding with sad sober cheare,
  As bright as doth the morning starre appeare 185
  Out of the East, with flaming lockes bedight,
  To tell that dawning day is drawing neare,
  And to the world does bring long wished light: 
So faire and fresh that Lady shewd her selfe in sight.

XXII

So faire and fresh, as freshest flowre in May; 190
  For she had layd her mournefull stole aside,
  And widow-like sad wimple throwne away,
  Wherewith her heavenly beautie she did hide,
  Whiles on her wearie journey she did ride;
  And on her now a garment she did weare, 195
  All lilly white, withoutten spot, or pride,
  That seemd like silke and silver woven neare,
But neither silke nor silver therein did appeare.