Thus heaping crime on crime, and griefe on griefe, xxxi To losse of loue adioyning losse of frend, I meant to purge both with a third mischiefe, And in my woes beginner it to end: That was _Pryene_; she did first offend, She last should smart: with which cruell intent, When I at her my murdrous blade did bend, She fled away with ghastly dreriment, And I pursewing my fell purpose, after went. Feare gaue her wings, and rage enforst my flight; xxxii Through woods and plaines so long I did her chace, Till this mad man, whom your victorious might Hath now fast bound, me met in middle space, As I her, so he me pursewd apace, And shortly ouertooke: I,[572] breathing yre, Sore chauffed at my stay in such a cace, And with my heat kindled his cruell fyre; Which kindled once, his mother did more rage inspyre. Betwixt them both, they haue me doen to dye, xxxiii Through wounds, and strokes, and stubborne handeling, That death were better, then such agony, As griefe and furie vnto me did bring; Of which in me yet stickes the mortall sting, That during life will neuer be appeasd. When he thus ended had his sorrowing, Said _Guyon_, Squire, sore haue ye beene diseasd; But all your hurts may soone through temperance be easd. Then gan the Palmer thus, Most[573] wretched man, xxxiv That to affections does the bridle lend; In their beginning they are weake and wan, But soone through suff’rance grow to fearefull end; Whiles they are weake betimes with them contend: For when they once to perfect strength do grow, Strong warres they make, and cruell battry bend Gainst fort of Reason, it to ouerthrow: Wrath, gealosie, griefe, loue this Squire haue layd thus low. Wrath, gealosie, griefe, loue do thus expell: xxxv Wrath is a fire, and gealosie a weede, Griefe is a flood, and loue a monster fell; The fire of sparkes, the weede of little seede, The flood of drops, the Monster filth did breede: But sparks, seed, drops, and filth do thus delay; The sparks soone quench, the springing seed outweed,[574] The drops dry vp, and filth wipe cleane away: So shall wrath, gealosie, griefe, loue dye and decay. Vnlucky Squire (said _Guyon_) sith thou hast xxxvi Falne into[575] mischiefe through intemperaunce, Henceforth take heede of that thou now hast past, And guide thy wayes with warie gouernaunce, Least worse betide thee by some later chaunce. But read how art thou nam’d, and of what kin. _Phedon_[576] I hight (quoth he) and do aduaunce Mine auncestry from famous _Coradin_, Who first to rayse our house to honour did begin.