Then said that[413] royall Pere in sober wise; xvii Deare Sonne, great beene the euils, which ye bore From first to last in your late enterprise, That I note, whether prayse, or pitty more: For neuer liuing man, I weene, so sore In sea of deadly daungers was distrest; But since[414] now safe ye seised haue the shore, And well arriued are, (high God be blest) Let vs deuize of ease and euerlasting rest. Ah dearest Lord, said then that doughty knight, xviii Of ease or rest I may not yet deuize; For by the faith, which I to armes haue plight, I bounden am streight after this emprize, As that your daughter can ye well aduize, Backe to returne to that great Faerie Queene, And her to serue six yeares in warlike wize, Gainst that proud Paynim[415] king, that workes her teene: Therefore I ought craue pardon, till I there haue beene. Vnhappie falles that hard necessitie, xix (Quoth he) the troubler of my happie peace, And vowed foe of my felicitie; Ne I against the same can iustly preace: But since[416] that band ye cannot now release, Nor doen vndo; (for vowes may not be vaine) Soone as the terme of those six yeares shall cease, Ye then shall hither backe returne againe, The marriage to accomplish vowd betwixt you twain. Which for my part I couet to performe, xx In sort as through the world I did proclame, That who so kild that monster most deforme, And him in hardy battaile ouercame, Should haue mine onely daughter to his Dame, And of my kingdome heire apparaunt bee: Therefore since[417] now to thee perteines the same, By dew desert of noble cheualree, Both daughter and eke kingdome, lo I yield to thee. Then forth he called that his daughter faire, xxi The fairest _Vn’_ 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 Out of the East, with flaming lockes bedight, To tell that[418] dawning day is drawing[419] neare, And to the world does bring long wished light; So faire and fresh that Lady shewd her selfe in sight. So faire and fresh, as freshest flowre in May; xxii For she had layd her mournefull stole aside, And widow-like sad wimple throwne away, Wherewith her heauenly[420] beautie she did hide, Whiles on her wearie iourney she did ride; And on her now a garment she did weare, All lilly white, withoutten spot, or pride, That seemd like silke and siluer wouen neare, But neither silke nor siluer therein did appeare.