Of those he chose out two, the falsest twoo, The other by him selfe staide other worke to doo. XXXIX. He, making speedy way through spersed ayre, Whiles sad Night over him her mantle black doth spred. XL. Whose double gates he findeth locked fast; The one faire fram'd of burnisht yvory, And wakeful dogges before them farre doe lye, By them the sprite doth passe in quietly, And unto Morpheus comes, whom drowned deepe In drowsie fit he findes; of nothing he takes keepe. XLI. And, more to lulle him in his slumber soft, A trickling streame from high rock tumbling downe, Mixt with a murmuring winde, much like the sowne XLII. The messenger approching to him spake; So sound he slept, that nought mought him awake. Then rudely he him thrust, and pusht with paine, Whereat he gan to stretch: but he againe Shooke him so hard, that forced him to speake. As one then in a dreame, whose dryer braine Is tost with troubled sights and fancies weake, He mumbled soft, but would not all his silence breake. XLIII. The sprite then gan more boldly him to wake, Of Hecaté: whereat he gan to quake, And, lifting up his lompish head, with blame Halfe angrie asked him, for what he came. 66 Hether," quoth he, "me Archimago sent, He that the stubborne sprites can wisely tame, He bids thee to him send for his intent A fit false dreame, that can delude the sleepers sent." XLIV. The god obayde; and, calling forth straight way A diverse dreame out of his prison darke, Delivered it to him, and downe did lay Whose sences all were straight benumbd and starke. XLV. Who all this while, with charmes and hidden artes, Had made a lady of that other spright, And fram'd of liquid ayre her tender partes, So lively, and so like in all mens sight, That weaker sence it could have ravisht quight: Cast a black stole, most like to seeme for Una fit. XLVI. Now, when that ydle dreame was to him brought, Unto that elfin knight he bad him fly, Where he slept soundly void of evil thought, And with false shewes abuse his fantasy, In sort as he him schooled privily. And that new creature, borne without her dew, He taught to imitate that lady trew, Whose semblance she did carrie under feigned hew. XLVII. Thus, well instructed, to their worke they haste; XLIX. In this great passion of unwonted lust, With gentle blandishment and lovely looke, Most like that virgin true, which for her knight him took L. All cleane dismayd to see so uncouth sight, LI. And sayd, "Ah Sir, my liege lord, and my love, And mightie causes wrought in heaven above, LII. "Your owne deare sake forst me at first to leave Let me not die in languor and long teares.” 66 66 'Why, dame," quoth he, what hath ye thus dismayd? What frayes ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayd?" LIII. "Love of your selfe," she saide, "and deare constraint, Lets me not sleepe, but waste the wearie night In secret anguish and unpittied plaint, Whiles you in carelesse sleepe are drowned quight." LIV. "Assure your selfe, it fell not all to ground; For all so deare as life is to my hart, I deeme your love, and hold me to you bound: Not all content, yet seemd she to appease Her mournefull plaintes, beguiled of her art, And fed with words that could not chose but please; So, slyding softly forth she turnd as to her ease. LV. Long after lay he musing at her mood, Having yrockt asleepe his irkesome spright, That troublous dreame gan freshly tosse his braine With bowres, and beds, and ladies deare delight: But, when he saw his labour all was vaine, With that misformed spright he backe returnd againe. CANTO II. The guilefull great Enchaunter parts I. By this the northerne wagoner had set II. When those accursed messengers of hell, That feigning dreame, and that faire-forged spright, Their bootelesse paines, and ill succeeding night: |