Thine, O then, said the gentle Recrosse knight, 145 Next to that Ladies love,[*] shal be the place, O fairest virgin, full of heavenly light, Whose wondrous faith exceeding earthly race, Was firmest fixt[*] in mine extremest case. And you, my Lord, the Patrone of my life, 150 Of that great Queene may well gaine worthy grace: For onely worthy you through prowes priefe, Yf living man mote worthie be, to be her liefe. XVIII So diversly discoursing of their loves, The golden Sunne his glistring head gan shew, 155 And sad remembraunce now the Prince amoves With fresh desire his voyage to pursew; Als Una earnd her traveill to renew. Then those two knights, fast friendship for to bynd, And love establish each to other trew, 160 Gave goodly gifts, the signes of gratefull mynd, And eke the pledges firme, right hands together joynd. XIX Prince Arthur gave a boxe of Diamond sure, Embowd with gold and gorgeous ornament, Wherein were closd few drops of liquor pure, 165 Of wondrous worth, and vertue excellent, That any wound could heale incontinent: Which to requite, the Redcrosse knight him gave A booke,[*] wherein his Saveours testament Was writ with golden letters rich and brave; 170 A worke of wondrous grace, and able soules to save. XX Thus beene they parted, Arthur on his way To seeke his love, and th' other for to fight With Unaes foe, that all her realme did pray. But she now weighing the decayed plight, 175 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 recovered had his former hew: For him to be yet weake and wearie well she knew. 180 XXI So as they traveild, lo they gan espy An armed knight[*] towards them gallop fast, That seemed from some feared foe to fly, Or other griesly thing, that him aghast. Still as he fled, his eye was backward cast, 185 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. XXII Nigh as he drew, they might perceive his head 190 To be unarmd, and curld uncombed heares Upstaring stiffe, dismayd with uncouth 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, 195 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. XXIII