THE FAERIE QUEENE by Edmund Spenser TO The ... - Planet.ee

www.TaleBooks.comAnd for my part, I vow, dissembled not a whitt.XIX. "It was my fortune, commune to that age,To love a Lady fayre of great degree,The which was borne of noble parentage,And set in highest seat of dignitee,Yet seemd no lesse to love then lov'd to bee:Long I her serv'd, and found her faithful still,Ne ever thing could cause us disagree.Love, that two harts makes one, makes eke one will;Each strove to please, and others pleasure to fulfill.XX. "My friend, hight Philemon, I did partakeOf all my love and all my privitie;Who greatly joyous seemed for my sake,And gratious to that Lady as to mee;Ne ever wight that mote so welcome beeAs he to her, withouten blott or blame;He ever thing that she could think or see,But unto him she would impart the same.O wretched man, that would abuse so gentle Dame!XXI. "At last such grace I found, and meanes I wrought,That I that Lady to my spouse had wonne;Accord of friendes, consent of Parents sought,Affyaunce made, my happinesse begonne,There wanted nought but few rites to be donne,Which mariage make: that day too farre did seeme.Most joyous man, on whom the shining SunneDid shew his face, my selfe I did esteeme,And that my falser friend did no less joyous deeme.XXII. "But ear that wished day his beame disclosd,He, either envying my toward good,Or of him selfe to treason ill disposed,One day unto me came in friendly mood,And told for secret, how he understoodThat Lady, whom I had to me assynd,Had both distaind her honorable blood,And eke the faith which she to me did bynd;And therefore wisht me stay till I more truth should fynd.XXIII. "The gnawing anguish, and sharp gelosy,Which his sad speach infixed in my brest,Ranckled so sore, and festred inwardly,That my engreeved mind could find no rest,Till that the truth thereof I did out wrest;And him besought, by that same sacred bandBetwixt us both, to counsell me the best:He then with solemne oath and plighted handAssurd, ere long the truth to let me understand.XXIV. "Ere long with like againe he boorded mee,Saying, he now had boulted all the floure,And that it was a groome of base degree,Page 163 , Faerie Queene, The - Edmund Spenser