These three did loue each other dearely well, xliii And with so firme affection were allyde, As if but one soule in them all did dwell, Which did her powre into three parts diuyde; Like three faire branches budding farre and wide, That from one roote deriu’d their vitall sap: And like that roote that doth her life diuide, Their mother was, and had full blessed hap, These three so noble babes to bring forth at one clap. Their mother was a Fay, and had the skill xliv Of secret things, and all the powres of nature, Which she by art could vse vnto her will, And to her seruice bind each liuing creature,[40] Through secret vnderstanding of their feature. Thereto she was right faire, when so her face She list discouer, and of goodly stature; But she as Fayes are wont, in priuie place Did spend her dayes, and lov’d in forests wyld to space. There on a day a noble youthly knight xlv Seeking aduentures in the saluage wood, Did by great fortune get of her the sight,[41] As she sate carelesse by a cristall flood, Combing her golden lockes, as seemd her good: And vnawares vpon her laying hold, That stroue in vaine him long to haue withstood, Oppressed her, and there (as it is told) Got these three louely babes, that prov’d three champions bold. Which she with her long fostred in that wood, xlvi Till that to ripenesse of mans state they grew: Then shewing forth signes of their fathers blood, They loued armes, and knighthood did ensew, Seeking aduentures, where they anie knew. Which when their mother saw, she gan to dout Their safetie, least by searching daungers new, And rash prouoking perils all about, Their days mote be abridged through[42] their corage stout. Therefore desirous th’end of all their dayes xlvii To know, and them t’enlarge with long extent, By wondrous skill, and many hidden wayes, To the three fatall sisters house she went. Farre vnder ground from tract of liuing went, Downe in the bottome of the deepe _Abysse_, Where _Demogorgon_ in dull darknesse pent, Farre from the view of Gods and heauens blis, The hideous _Chaos_ keepes, their dreadfull dwelling is. There she them found, all sitting round about xlviii The direfull distaffe standing in the mid, And with vnwearied fingers drawing out The lines of life, from liuing knowledge hid. Sad _Clotho_ held the rocke, the whiles the thrid By griesly _Lachesis_ was spun with paine, That cruell _Atropos_ eftsoones vndid, With cursed knife cutting the twist in twaine: Most wretched men, whose dayes depend on thrids so vaine.