The _Redcrosse_ knight toward him crossed fast, xxiii To weet, what mister wight was so dismayd: There him he finds all sencelesse and aghast, That of him selfe he seemd to be afrayd; Whom hardly he from flying forward stayd, Till he these wordes to him deliuer might; Sir knight, aread who hath ye thus arayd, And eke from whom make ye this hasty flight: For neuer knight I saw in such misseeming plight. He answerd nought at all, but adding new xxiv Feare to his first amazment, staring wide With stony eyes, and hartlesse hollow hew, Astonisht stood, as one that had aspide[308] Infernall furies, with their chaines vntide. Him yet againe, and yet againe bespake The gentle knight; who nought to him replide, But trembling euery ioynt did inly quake, And foltring tongue at last these words seemd forth to shake. For Gods deare loue, Sir knight, do me not stay; xxv For loe he comes, he comes fast after mee. Eft looking backe would faine haue runne away; But he him forst to stay, and tellen free The secret cause of his perplexitie: Yet nathemore by his bold hartie speach, Could his bloud-frosen hart emboldned bee, But through his boldnesse rather feare did reach, Yet forst, at last he made through silence suddein breach. And am I now in safetie sure (quoth he) xxvi From him, that would haue forced me to dye? And is the point of death now turnd fro mee, That I may tell this haplesse history? Feare nought: (quoth he) no daunger now is nye.[309] Then shall I you recount a ruefull cace, (Said he) the which with this vnlucky eye I late beheld, and had not greater grace Me reft from it, had bene partaker of the place. I lately chaunst (Would I had neuer chaunst) xxvii With a faire knight to keepen companee, Sir _Terwin_ hight, that well himselfe aduaunst In all affaires, and was both bold and free, But not so happie as mote happie bee: He lou’d, as was his lot, a Ladie gent, That him againe lou’d in the least degree: For she was proud, and of too high intent, And ioyd to see her louer languish and lament. From whom returning sad and comfortlesse, xxviii As on the way together we did fare, We met that villen (God from him me blesse) That cursed wight, from whom I scapt whyleare, A man of hell, that cals himselfe _Despaire_: Who first vs greets, and after faire areedes Of tydings strange, and of aduentures rare: So creeping close, as Snake in hidden weedes, Inquireth of our states, and of our knightly deedes.