XLIII

Who now is left to keepe the forlorne maid
  From raging spoile of lawlesse victors will? 380
  Her faithfull gard remov’d, her hope dismaid,
  Her selfe a yielded pray to save or spill. 
  He now Lord of the field, his pride to fill,
  With foule reproches, and disdainfull spight
  Her vildly entertaines, and will or nill, 385
  Beares her away upon his courser light: 
Her prayers nought prevaile, his rage is more of might.[*]

XLIV

And all the way, with great lamenting paine,
  And piteous plaints she filleth his dull eares,
  That stony hart could riven have in twaine, 390
  And all the way she wets with flowing teares: 
  But he enrag’d with rancor, nothing heares. 
  Her servile beast yet would not leave her so,
  But followes her farre off, ne ought he feares,
  To be partaker of her wandring woe, 395
More mild in beastly kind, then that her beastly foe.

* * * * *

CANTO IV

To sinfull house of Pride, Duessa
guides the faithfull knight,
Where brother’s death to wreak Sansjoy
doth chalenge him to fight.

I

Young knight whatever that dost armes professe,
  And through long labours huntest after fame,
  Beware of fraud, beware of ficklenesse,
  In choice, and change of thy deare loved Dame,
  Least thou of her beleeve too lightly blame, 5
  And rash misweening doe thy hart remove: 
  For unto knight there is no greater shame,
  Then lightnesse and inconstancie in love;
That doth this Redcrosse knights ensample plainly prove.

II

Who after that he had faire Una lorne, 10
  Through light misdeeming of her loialtie,
  And false Duessa in her sted had borne,
  Called Fidess’, and so supposd to bee;
  Long with her traveild, till at last they see
  A goodly building, bravely garnished, 15
  The house of mightie Prince it seemd to bee: 
  And towards it a broad high way that led,
All bare through peoples feet, which thither traveiled.

III

Great troupes of people traveild thitherward
  Both day and night, of each degree and place,[*] 20
  But few returned, having scaped hard,[*]
  With balefull beggerie, or foule disgrace;
  Which ever after in most wretched case,
  Like loathsome lazars,[*] by the hedges lay. 
  Thither Duessa bad him bend his pace:  25
  For she is wearie of the toilesome way,
And also nigh consumed is the lingring day.

IV