Whom overtaking, they gan loudly bray, With hollow howling, and lamenting cry, 200 Shamefully at her rayling all the way, And her accusing of dishonesty, That was the flowre of faith and chastity; And still amidst her rayling, she did pray, That plagues, and mischiefs, and long misery 205 Might fall on her, and follow all the way, And that in endlesse error she might ever stray.
But when she saw her prayers nought prevaile, She backe returned with some labour lost; And in the way as shee did weepe and waile, 210 A knight her met in mighty armes embost, Yet knight was not for all his bragging bost, But subtill Archimag, that Una sought By traynes into new troubles to have tost: Of that old woman tidings he besought, 215 If that of such a Ladie she could tellen ought.
Therewith she gan her passion to renew, And cry, and curse, and raile, and rend her heare, Saying, that harlot she too lately knew, That caused her shed so many a bitter teare, 220 And so forth told the story of her feare: Much seemed he to mone her haplesse chaunce, And after for that Ladie did inquere; Which being taught, he forward gan advaunce His fair enchaunted steed, and eke his charmed launce. 225
Ere long he came where Una traveild slow, And that wilde Champion wayting her besyde: Whom seeing such, for dread he durst not show Himselfe too nigh at hand, but turned wyde Unto an hill; from whence when she him spyde, 230 By his like seeming shield, her knight by name She weend it was, and towards him gan ryde: Approaching nigh, she wist it was the same, And with faire fearefull humblesse towards him shee came:
And weeping said, Ah my long lacked Lord, 235 Where have ye bene thus long out of my sight? Much feared I to have bene quite abhord, Or ought have done,° that ye displeasen might, That should as death° unto my deare heart light: For since mine eye your joyous sight did mis, 240 My chearefull day is turnd to chearelesse night, And eke my night of death the shadow is; But welcome now my light, and shining lampe of blis.
He thereto meeting said, My dearest Dame, Farre be it from your thought, and fro my will, 245 To thinke that knighthood I so much should shame, As you to leave, that have me loved still, And chose in Faery court° of meere goodwill, Where noblest knights were to be found on earth: The earth shall sooner leave her kindly skill,° 250 To bring forth fruit, and make eternall derth, Then I leave you, my liefe, yborne of heavenly berth.