Of destiny or death. Such is His will that paints The earth with colours fresh, the darkest skies with store Of starry lights: and though your tears a heart of flint Might tender make; yet nought herein will they prevail." Whiles thus he said, the noble Knight, who 'gan to feel His vital force to faint, and death with cruel dint Of direful dart his mortal body to assail: With eyes lift up to heaven, and courage frank as steel; With cheerful face where valour lively was exprest, But humble mind, he said, "O LORD! if ought this frail And earthly carcass have Thy service sought t'advance; If my desire have been still to relieve th'opprest; If Justice to maintain, that valour I have spent Which Thou me gav'st; or if henceforth I might advance Thy name, Thy truth: then spare me, LORD! if Thou think best; Forbear these unripe years! But if Thy will be bent, If that prefixèd time be come which Thou hast set: Through pure and fervent faith, I hope now to be placed In th'everlasting bliss; which with Thy precious blood Thou purchase didst for us." With that a sigh he fet, And straight a cloudy mist his senses overcast. His lips waxed pale and wan, like damask rose's bud Cast from the stalk; or like in field to purple flower Which languisheth, being shred by culter as it past. A trembling chilly cold ran through their veins, which were With eyes brimful of tears to see his fatal hour: Whose blustering sighs at first their sorrow did declare; Next, murmuring ensued; at last they not forbear Plain outcries; all against the heavens that enviously Deprived us of a sprite so perfect and so rare. The sun his lightsome beams did shroud, and hide his face For grief; whereby the earth feared night eternally: The mountains eachwhere shook, the rivers turned their streams; And th'air 'gan winter-like to rage and fret apace: And grisly ghosts by night were seen; and fiery gleams Amid the clouds with claps of thunder, that did seem To rent the skies; and made both man and beast afraid: The birds of ill presage this luckless chance foretold By dernful noise; and dogs with howling made man deem Some mischief was at hand: for such they do esteem As tokens of mishap; and so have done of old. Ah, that thou hadst but heard his lovely STELLA plain Her grievous loss, or seen her heavy mourning cheer; Whilst she, with woe oppressed, her sorrows did unfold. Her hair hung loose neglect about her shoulders twain: And from those two bright stars to him sometime so dear, Her heart sent drops of pearl; which fell in foison down 'Twixt lily and the rose. She wrung her hands with pain And piteously 'gan say, "My true and faithful pheer! Alas, and woe is me! why should my fortune frown On me thus frowardly to rob me of my joy? What cruel envious hand hath taken thee away;