In ashes and sackcloth he did array xxvi His daintie corse, proud humors to abate, And dieted with fasting euery day, The swelling of his wounds to mitigate, And made him pray both earely and eke late: And euer as superfluous flesh did rot _Amendment_ readie still at hand did wayt, To pluck it out with pincers firie whot, That soone in him was left no one corrupted iot. And bitter _Penance_ with an yron whip, xxvii Was wont him once to disple euery day: And sharpe _Remorse_ his hart did pricke and nip, That drops of bloud thence like a well did play; And sad _Repentance_ vsed to embay[337] His bodie in salt water smarting sore,[338] The filthy blots of sinne to wash away. So in short space they did to health restore The man that would not liue, but earst lay at deathes dore. In which his torment often was so great, xxviii That like a Lyon he would cry and rore, And rend his flesh, and his owne synewes eat. His owne deare _Vna_ hearing euermore His ruefull shriekes and gronings, often tore Her guiltlesse garments, and her golden heare, For pitty of his paine and anguish sore; Yet all with patience wisely she did beare; For well she wist, his crime could else be neuer cleare. Whom thus recouer’d by wise _Patience_, xxix And trew _Repentance_ they to _Vna_ brought: Who ioyous of his cured conscience, Him dearely kist, and fairely eke besought Himselfe to chearish, and consuming thought To put away out of his carefull brest. By this _Charissa_, late in child-bed brought, Was woxen strong, and left her fruitfull nest; To her faire _Vna_ brought this vnacquainted guest. She was a woman in her freshest age, xxx Of wondrous beauty, and of bountie rare, With goodly grace and comely personage, That was on earth not easie to compare; Full of great loue, but _Cupids_ wanton snare As hell she hated, chast in worke and will; Her necke and breasts were euer open bare, That ay thereof her babes might sucke their fill; The rest was all in yellow robes arayed still. A multitude of babes about her hong, xxxi Playing their sports, that ioyd her to behold, Whom still she fed, whiles they were weake and young, But thrust them forth still, as they wexed old: And on her head she wore a tyre of gold, Adornd with gemmes and owches wondrous faire,[339] Whose passing price vneath was to be told; And by her side there sate a gentle paire Of turtle doues, she sitting in an yuorie chaire.