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

www.TaleBooks.comHer entertaynd: nath'lesse shee inly deemdHer love too light, to wooe a wandring guest;Which she misconstruing, thereby esteemdThat from like inward fire that outward smoke had steemd.LVI. Therewith a while she her flit fancy fedd,Till she mote winne fit time for her desire;But yet her wound still inward freshly bledd,And through her bones the false instilled fireDid spred it selfe, and venime close inspire,Tho were the tables taken all away;And every knight, and every gentle Squire,Gan choose his Dame with Bascimano gay,With whom he ment to make his sport and courtly play.LVII. Some fell to daunce, some fel to hazardry,Some to make love, some to make meryment,As diverse witts to diverse things apply;And all the while faire Malecasta bentHer crafty engins to her close intent.By this th' eternall lampes, wherewith high JoveDoth light the lower world, were halfe yspent,And the moist daughters of huge Atlas stroveInto the Ocean deepe to drive their weary drove.LVIII. High time it seemed then for everie wightThem to betake unto their kindly rest:Eftesoones long waxen torches weren lightUnto their bowres to guyden every guest.Tho, when the Britonesse saw all the restAvoided quite, she gan her selfe despoile,And safe committ to her soft fethered nest,Wher through long watch, and late daies weary toile,She soundly slept, and carefull thoughts did quiteassoile.LIX. Now whenas all the world in silence deepeYshrowded was, and every mortall wightWas drowned in the depth of deadly sleepe;Faire Malecasta, whose engrieved sprightCould find no rest in such perplexed plight,Lightly arose out of her wearie bed,And, under the blacke vele of guilty Night,Her with a scarlott mantle coveredThat was with gold and Ermines faire enveloped.LX. Then panting softe, and trembling every joynt,Her fearfull feete towards the bowre she mov'd,Where she for secret purpose did appoyntTo lodge the warlike maide, unwisely loov'd;And, to her bed approching, first she proov'dWhether she slept or wakte: with her softe handShe softely felt if any member moov'd,And lent her wary eare to understandPage 270 , Faerie Queene, The - Edmund Spenser