Ere long he came, where _Vna_ traueild slow, xxvi And that wilde Champion wayting her besyde: Whom seeing such, for dread he durst not show Himselfe too nigh at hand, but turned wyde Vnto an hill; from whence when she him spyde, By his like seeming shield, her knight by name She weend it was, and towards him gan ryde: Approching nigh, she wist it was the same, And with faire fearefull humblesse towards him shee came. And weeping said, Ah my long lacked Lord, xxvii Where haue ye bene thus long out of my sight? Much feared I to haue bene quite abhord, Or ought haue done, that ye displeasen might, That should as death vnto my deare hart light: For since mine eye your ioyous sight did mis, My chearefull day is turnd to chearelesse night, And eke my night of death the shadow is; But welcome now my light, and shining lampe of blis. He thereto meeting said, My dearest Dame, xxviii Farre be it from your thought, and fro my will, To thinke that knighthood I so much should shame, As you to leaue, that haue me loued still, And chose in Faery court of meere goodwill, Where noblest knights were to be found on earth: The earth shall sooner leaue her kindly skill To bring forth fruit, and make eternall derth, Then I leaue you, my liefe, yborne of heauenly berth. And sooth to say, why I left you so long, xxix Was for to seeke aduenture in strange[121] place, Where _Archimago_ said a felon strong To many knights did daily worke disgrace; But knight he now shall neuer more deface: Good cause of mine excuse; that mote ye please Well to accept, and euermore embrace My faithfull seruice, that by land and seas Haue vowd you to defend, now then your plaint appease. His louely words her seemd due recompence xxx Of all her passed paines: one louing howre For many yeares of sorrow can dispence: A dram of sweet is worth a pound of sowre: She has forgot, how many a wofull stowre For him she late endur’d; she speakes no more Of past: true is, that true loue hath no powre To looken backe; his eyes be fixt before. Before her stands her knight, for whom she toyld so sore. Much like, as when the beaten marinere, xxxi That long hath wandred in the _Ocean_ wide, Oft soust in swelling _Tethys_ saltish teare, And long time hauing tand his tawney hide With blustring breath of heauen, that none can bide, And scorching flames of fierce _Orions_ hound, Soone as the port from farre he has espide, His chearefull whistle merrily doth sound, And _Nereus_ crownes with cups; his mates him pledg around.