Till that they come vnto a forrest greene, xx In which they shrowd themselues from causelesse feare; Yet feare them followes still, where so they beene, Each trembling leafe, and whistling wind they heare, As ghastly bug their haire on end does[534] reare: Yet both doe striue their fearfulnesse to faine. At last they heard a horne, that shrilled cleare Throughout the wood, that ecchoed againe, And made the forrest ring, as it would riue in twaine. Eft through the thicke they heard one rudely rush; xxi With noyse whereof he from his loftie steed Downe fell to ground, and crept into a bush, To hide his coward head from dying dreed. But _Trompart_ stoutly stayd to taken heed[535] Of what might hap. Eftsoone there stepped forth A goodly Ladie clad in hunters weed, That seemd to be a woman of great worth, And by her stately portance, borne of heauenly birth. Her face so faire as flesh it seemed not, xxii But heauenly pourtraict of bright Angels hew, Cleare as the skie, withouten blame or blot, Through goodly mixture of complexions dew; And in her cheekes the vermeill red did shew Like roses in a bed of lillies shed, The which ambrosiall odours from them threw, And gazers sense with double pleasure fed, Hable[536] to heale the sicke, and to reuiue the ded. In her faire eyes two liuing lamps did flame, xxiii Kindled aboue at th’heauenly makers light, And darted fyrie beames out of the same, So passing persant[537], and so wondrous bright, That quite bereau’d the rash beholders sight: In them the blinded god his lustfull fire To kindle oft assayd, but had no might; For with dredd[538] Maiestie, and awfull ire, She broke his wanton darts, and quenched base desire. Her iuorie forhead, full of bountie braue, xxiv Like a broad table did it selfe dispred, For Loue his loftie triumphes to engraue, And write the battels of his great godhed: All good and honour might therein be red: For there their dwelling was. And when she spake, Sweet words, like dropping honny she did shed, And twixt the perles and rubins softly brake A siluer sound, that heauenly musicke seemd to make. Vpon her eyelids many Graces sate, xxv Vnder the shadow of her euen browes, Working belgards, and amorous retrate, And euery one her with a grace endowes: And euery one with meekenesse to her bowes. So glorious mirrhour of celestiall grace, And soueraine moniment of mortall vowes, How shall fraile pen descriue her heauenly face, For feare through want of skill her beautie to disgrace?