Thine, O then, said the gentle _Redcrosse_ knight, xvii Next to that Ladies loue, shalbe the place, O fairest virgin, full of heauenly light, Whose wondrous faith, exceeding earthly race, Was firmest fixt in mine extremest case. And you, my Lord, the Patrone of my life, Of that great Queene may well gaine worthy grace: For onely worthy you through prowes priefe Yf liuing man mote worthy be, to be her liefe. So diuersly discoursing of their loues, xviii The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew, And sad remembraunce now the Prince amoues, With fresh desire his voyage to pursew: Als _Vna_ earnd her traueill to renew. Then those two knights, fast friendship for to bynd, And loue establish each to other trew, Gaue goodly gifts, the signes of gratefull mynd, And eke as[305] pledges firme, right hands together ioynd. Prince _Arthur_ gaue a boxe of Diamond sure, xix Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament, Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure, Of wondrous worth, and vertue excellent, That any wound could heale incontinent: Which to requite, the _Redcrosse_ knight him gaue A booke, wherein his[306] Saueours testament Was writ with golden letters rich and braue; A worke of wondrous grace, and able[307] soules to saue. Thus beene they parted, _Arthur_ on his way xx To seeke his loue, and th’other for to fight With _Vnaes_ foe, that all her realme did pray. But she now weighing the decayed plight, And shrunken synewes of her chosen knight, Would not a while her forward course pursew, Ne bring him forth in face of dreadfull fight, Till he recouered had his former hew: For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew. So as they traueild, lo they gan espy xxi An armed knight towards them gallop fast, That seemed from some feared foe to fly, Or other griesly thing, that him agast. Still as he fled, his eye was backward cast, As if his feare still followed him behind; Als flew his steed, as he his bands had brast, And with his winged heeles did tread the wind, As he had beene a fole of _Pegasus_ his kind. Nigh as he drew, they might perceiue his head xxii To be vnarmd, and curld vncombed heares Vpstaring stiffe, dismayd with vncouth dread; Nor drop of bloud in all his face appeares Nor life in limbe: and to increase his feares, In fowle reproch of knighthoods faire degree, About his neck an hempen rope he weares, That with his glistring armes does ill agree; But he of rope or armes has now no memoree.