XLIX

In this great passion of unwonted lust,
  Or wonted feare of doing ought amis,
  He started up, as seeming to mistrust 435
  Some secret ill, or hidden foe of his: 
  Lo there before his face his Lady is,
  Under blake stole hyding her bayted hooke;
  And as halfe blushing offred him to kis,
  With gentle blandishment and lovely looke, 440
Most like that virgin true, which for her knight him took.

L

All cleane dismayd to see so uncouth sight,
  And half enraged at her shamelesse guise,
  He thought have slaine her in his fierce despight: 
  But hasty heat tempring with suffrance wise, 445
  He stayde his hand, and gan himselfe advise
  To prove his sense,[*] and tempt her faigned truth. 
  Wringing her hands in womans pitteous wise,
  Tho can she weepe,[*] to stirre up gentle ruth,
Both for her noble bloud, and for her tender youth. 450

LI

And said, Ah Sir, my liege Lord and my love,
  Shall I accuse the hidden cruell fate,
  And mightie causes wrought in heaven above,
  Or the blind God,[*] that doth me thus amate,
  For hoped love to winne me certaine hate? 455
  Yet thus perforce he bids me do, or die. 
  Die is my dew; yet rew my wretched state
  You, whom my hard avenging destinie
Hath made judge of my life or death indifferently.

LII

Your owne deare sake forst me at first to leave 460
  My Fathers kingdome—­There she stopt with teares;
  Her swollen hart her speech seemd to bereave,
  And then againe begun; My weaker yeares
  Captiv’d to fortune and frayle worldly feares,
  Fly to your fayth for succour and sure ayde:  465
  Let me not dye in languor and long teares. 
  Why Dame (quoth he) what hath ye thus dismayd? 
What frayes ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayd?

LIII

Love of your selfe, she saide, and deare constraint,
  Lets me not sleepe, but wast the wearie night 470
  In secret anguish and unpittied plaint,
  Whiles you in carelesse sleepe are drowned quight. 
  Her doubtfull words made that redoubted knight
  Suspect her truth:  yet since no’ untruth he knew,
  Her fawning love with foule disdainefull spight 475
  He would not shend; but said, Deare dame I rew,
That for my sake unknowne such griefe unto you grew.

LIV

Assure your selfe, it fell not all to ground;[*]
  For all so deare as life is to my hart,
  I deeme your love, and hold me to you bound:  480
  Ne let vaine feares procure your needlesse smart,
  Where cause is none, but to your rest depart. 
  Not all content, yet seemd she to appease
  Her mournefull plaintes, beguiled of her art,
  And fed with words that could not chuse but please, 485
So slyding softly forth, she turned as to her ease.