As when a ship, that flyes faire vnder saile, i An hidden rocke escaped hath vnwares, That lay in waite her wrack for to bewaile, The Marriner yet halfe amazed stares At perill past, and yet in[207] doubt ne dares To ioy at his foole-happie ouersight: So doubly is distrest twixt ioy and cares The dreadlesse courage[208] of this Elfin knight, Hauing escapt so sad ensamples in his sight. Yet sad he was that his too hastie speed ii The faire _Duess’_ had forst him leaue behind; And yet more sad, that _Vna_ his deare dreed Her truth had staind with treason so vnkind; Yet crime in her could neuer creature find, But for his loue, and for her owne selfe sake, She wandred had from one to other _Ynd_, Him for to seeke, ne euer would forsake, Till her vnwares the fierce _Sansloy_ did ouertake. Who after _Archimagoes_ fowle defeat, iii Led her away into a forrest wilde, And turning wrathfull fire to lustfull heat, With beastly sin thought her to haue defilde, And made the vassall of his pleasures vilde. Yet first he cast by treatie, and by traynes, Her to perswade, that stubborne fort to yilde: For greater conquest of hard loue he gaynes, That workes it to his will, then he that it constraines. With fawning wordes he courted her a while, iv And looking louely, and oft sighing sore, Her constant hart did tempt with diuerse guile: But wordes,[209] and lookes, and sighes she did abhore, As rocke of Diamond stedfast euermore. Yet for to feed his fyrie lustfull eye, He snatcht the vele, that hong her face before; Then gan her beautie shine, as brightest skye, And burnt his beastly hart t’efforce her chastitye. So when he saw his flatt’ring arts to fayle, v And subtile engines bet from batteree, With greedy force he gan the fort assayle, Whereof he weend possessed soone to bee, And win[210] rich spoile of ransackt chastetee. Ah heauens, that do this hideous act behold, And heauenly virgin thus outraged see, How can ye vengeance iust so long withhold, And hurle not flashing flames vpon that Paynim bold? The pitteous maiden carefull comfortlesse, vi Does throw out thrilling shriekes, and shrieking cryes, The last vaine helpe of womens great distresse, And with loud plaints importuneth the skyes, That molten starres do drop like weeping eyes; And _Phœbus_ flying so most shamefull sight, His blushing face in foggy cloud implyes, And hides for shame. What wit of mortall wight Can now deuise to quit a thrall from such a plight?