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

www.TaleBooks.comBadd those same six forbeare that single enimy.XXIII. But to her cry they list not lenden eare,Ne ought the more their mightie strokes surceasse.But gathering him rownd about more neare,Their direfull rancour rather did encreasse;Till that she rushing through the thickest preassePerforce disparted their compacted gyre,And soone compeld to hearken unto peace.Tho gan she myldly of them to inquyreThe cause of their dissention and outrageous yre.XXIV. Whereto that single knight did answere frame:"These six would me enforce by oddes of mightTo chaunge my liefe, and love another Dame;That death me liefer were then such despight,So unto wrong to yield my wrested right:For I love one, the truest one on grownd,Ne list me chaunge; she th' Errant Damzell hight;For whose deare sake full many a bitter stowndI have endurd, and tasted many a bloody wownd."XXV. "Certes," (said she) "then beene ye sixe to blame,To weene your wrong by force to justify;For knight to leave his Lady were great shameThat faithfull is, and better were to dy.All losse is lesse, and lesse the infamy,Then losse of love to him that loves but one:Ne may love be compeld by maistery;For soone as maistery comes sweet Love anoneTaketh his nimble winges, and soone away is gone."XXVI. Then spake one of those six; "There dwelleth hereWithin this castle wall a Lady fayre,Whose soveraine beautie hath no living pere;Thereto so bounteous and so debonayre,That never any mote with her compayre:She hath ordaind this law, which we approve,That every knight which doth this way repayre,In case he have no Lady nor no love,Shall doe unto her service, never to remove:XXVII. "But if he have a Lady or a Love,Then must he her forgoe with fowle defame,Or els with us by dint of sword approve,That she is fairer then our fairest Dame;As did this knight, before ye hither came.""Perdy," (said Britomart) "the choise is hard;But what reward had he that overcame?""He should advaunced bee to high regard,"(Said they) "and have our Ladies love for his reward.XXVIII. "Therefore aread, Sir, if thou have a love.""Love hath I sure," (quoth she) "but Lady none;Yet will I not fro mine own love remove,Page 264 , Faerie Queene, The - Edmund Spenser