2 And happy ease, which you do want and crave, 3 And further from it daily wander: 4 What if some little pain the passage have, 5 That makes frail flesh fear the bitter wave? 6 Is not short pain well borne, that brings long ease, 7 And lays the soul to sleep in quiet grave? 8 Sleep after toil, port after stormy seas, 9 Ease after war, death after life does greatly please." 109.41 The knight much wondred at his suddeine wit, 2 And said, The terme of life is limited, Ne may a man prolong, nor shorten it; 4 The souldier may not moue from watchfull sted, Nor leaue his stand, vntill his Captaine bed. 6 Who life did limit by almightie doome, (Quoth he) knowes best the termes established; 8 And he, that points the Centonell his roome, Doth license him depart at sound of morning droome. 1 The knight much wondered at his sudden wit, wondered > marvelled sudden > quick, sharp 2 And said, "The term of life is limited, 3 Nor may a man prolong, nor shorten, it; Nor > Neither 4 The soldier may not move from watchful stead, stead > place, post 5 Nor leave his stand, until his captain bids." bids." > (Spenser's rendition of dialogue elsewhere, using "quoth he" to introduce a new speaker, seems to indicate, as does the context, that the Redcross Knight now finishes talking and Despair begins, though this assumption may not necessarily be correct) 6 "Who life did limit by almighty doom," Who > [He who] doom > judgement 7 Quoth he, "knows best the terms established; 8 And he, that appoints the sentinel his room, his > [to his] room > place 9 Does license him depart at sound of morning drum." depart > [to depart] morning > (Ambiguous spelling: see Textual Appendix at 103.36:7) 109.42 Is not his deed, what euer thing is donne, 2 In heauen and earth? did not he all create To die againe? all ends that was begonne. 4 Their times in his eternall booke of fate Are written sure, and haue their certaine date. 6 Who then can striue with strong necessitie, That holds the world in his still chaunging state, 8 Or shunne the death ordaynd by destinie? When houre of death is come, let none aske whence, nor why. 1 "Is not His deed, whatever thing is done Is > [Is it] 2 In heaven and earth? Did not He all create 3 To die again? All ends that was begun. 4 Their times in His eternal book of fate 5 Are written sure, and have their certain date. date > span (of life); end (cf. 201.44:8) 6 Who then can strive with strong necessity, 7 That holds the world in its still changing state, still > continually 8 Or shun the death ordained by destiny? 9 When hour of death is come, let none ask whence, nor why. 109.43