The heate whereof, and harmefull pestilence xlv So sore him noyd, that forst him to retire A little backward for his best defence, To saue his bodie from the scorching fire, Which he from hellish entrailes did expire. It chaunst (eternall God that chaunce did guide) As he recoyled backward, in the mire His nigh forwearied feeble feet did slide, And downe he fell, with dread of shame sore terrifide. There grew a goodly tree him faire beside, xlvi Loaden with fruit and apples rosie red, As they in pure vermilion had beene dide, Whereof great vertues ouer all were red: For happie life to all, which thereon fed, And life eke euerlasting did befall: Great God it planted in that blessed sted With his almightie hand, and did it call _The tree of life_,[393] the crime of our first fathers fall. In all the world like was not to be found, xlvii Saue in that soile, where all good things did grow, And freely sprong out of the fruitfull ground, As incorrupted Nature did them sow, Till that dread Dragon all did ouerthrow. Another like faire tree eke grew thereby, Whereof who so did eat, eftsoones did know Both good and ill: O mornefull memory: That tree through one mans fault hath doen vs all to dy. From that first tree forth flowd, as from a well, xlviii A trickling streame of Balme, most soueraine And daintie deare, which on the ground still fell, And ouerflowed all the fertill plaine, As it had deawed bene with timely raine: Life and long health that gratious ointment gaue, And deadly woundes could heale,[394] and reare againe The senselesse corse appointed for the graue. Into that same he fell: which did from death him saue. For nigh thereto the euer damned beast xlix Durst not approch, for he was deadly made, And all that life preserued, did detest: Yet he it oft aduentur’d to inuade. By this the drouping day-light gan to fade, And yeeld his roome[395] to sad succeeding night, Who with her sable mantle gan to shade The face of earth, and wayes of liuing wight, And high her burning torch set vp in heauen bright. When gentle _Vna_ saw the second fall l Of her deare knight, who wearie of long fight, And faint through losse of bloud, mou’d not at all, But lay as in a dreame of deepe delight, Besmeard with pretious Balme, whose vertuous might Did heale his wounds, and scorching heat alay, Againe she stricken was with sore affright, And for his safetie gan deuoutly pray; And watch the noyous night, and wait for ioyous day.