But _Britomart_ kept on her former course, v Ne euer dofte her armes, but all the way Grew pensiue through that amorous discourse, By which the _Redcrosse_ knight did earst display Her louers shape, and cheualrous aray; A thousand thoughts she fashioned in her mind, And in her feigning fancie did pourtray Him such, as fittest she[935] for loue could find, Wise, warlike, personable, curteous, and kind. With such selfe-pleasing thoughts her wound she fed, vi And thought so to beguile her grieuous smart; But so her smart was much more grieuous bred, And the deepe wound more deepe engord her hart, That nought but death her dolour mote depart. So forth she rode without repose or rest, Searching all lands and each remotest part, Following the guidaunce of her blinded guest, Till that to the sea-coast at length she her[936] addrest. There she alighted from her light-foot beast, vii And sitting downe vpon the rocky shore, Bad her old Squire vnlace her lofty creast; Tho hauing vewd a while the surges hore, That gainst the craggy clifts did loudly rore, And in their raging surquedry disdaynd, That the fast earth affronted them so sore, And their deuouring[937] couetize restraynd, Thereat she sighed deepe, and after thus complaynd. Huge sea of sorrow, and tempestuous griefe, viii Wherein my feeble barke is tossed long, Far from the hoped hauen of reliefe, Why[938] do thy cruell billowes beat so strong, And thy moyst mountaines each on others throng, Threatning to swallow vp my fearefull life? O do thy cruell wrath and spightfull wrong At length allay, and stint thy stormy strife, Which in these[939] troubled bowels raignes, and rageth rife. For else my feeble vessell crazd, and crackt ix Through thy strong buffets and outrageous blowes, Cannot endure, but needs it must be wrackt On the rough rocks, or on the sandy shallowes, The whiles that loue it steres, and fortune rowes; Loue my lewd Pilot hath a restlesse mind And fortune Boteswaine no assuraunce knowes, But saile withouten starres gainst tide and wind: How can they other do, sith both are bold and blind? Thou God of winds, that raignest in the seas, x That raignest also in the Continent, At last blow vp some gentle gale of ease, The which may bring my ship, ere it be rent, Vnto the gladsome port of her intent: Then when I shall my selfe in safety see, A table for eternall moniment Of thy great grace, and my great ieopardee, Great _Neptune_, I auow to hallow vnto thee.