And over all a black stole 5 she did throw.

As one that inly mourned; so was she sad,
And heavy sat upon her palfry slow;

Seem'd in heart some hidden care she had;
And by her in a line a milk-white lamb she led."

It was Edmund Spenser, the poet-laureate of Queen Elizabeth's reign, who gave us this beautiful picture; but it is only one of the many exquisite scenes that he has portrayed in his wonderful poem, "The Faery Queene."

Listen, and I will explain the picture to you.

Once upon a time, the Queen of Fairy-Land was holding a festival of twelve days; and the knight who, during that time, could achieve the most glorious deed. was to be rewarded by a rich and beautiful prize. All the knights, far and near, hastened to give evidence of their skill and daring.

On the first day of the festival, there came to the court a beautiful maiden riding upon a snowwhite ass, and followed by a dwarf, leading a warlike steed that bore a suit of armor. The young, girl, falling on her knees before the Fairy Queen,

5 Stole a long, loose garment.

said that her parents were besieged in their castle by a fierce dragon, and begged that some one might be sent to deliver them from their deadly foe.

Immediately, a tall, clownish young man came forward, and asked that he might undertake this adventure. The lady did not wish to accept so awkward an attendant; but, as he persisted, she told him that unless the armor which she brought would fit him, he could not succeed in the enterprise.

Then the Queen put upon him the armor, which bore upon it the sign of a red cross, and placed in his hand a silver shield bearing a like symbol. When thus arrayed, he seemed the goodliest knight in all that company, and was well liked by the fair lady.

So, mounting the steed brought by the dwarf, the young knight rode forth with Una, for that was the maiden's name, upon his perilous errrand.

This is the picture I want you to see,- the beautiful girl and the brave knight, as they start forth on their dangerous expedition.

They ride along quite pleasantly, at first, until a sudden storm coming on, they seek shelter in a neighboring wood. After the storm is over, they

turn to leave the wood; but cannot find the path by

which they entered.

Wandering along, they come to a hollow cave. The dwarf warns them that this is Error's Cave, and urges them to flee for their lives. But the youthful knight cannot let escape this opportunity of displaying his bravery. So he attacks the ugly monster, and, after a desperate struggle, kills it. They then ride on, and in a short time, find their way out of the grove.

Soon they meet an aged man, who, from his appearance, seems to be a devout priest. He asks them to spend the night with him, saying that they must be in need of rest and refreshment. They gratefully accept his offer, and accompany him to his home;

"A little lowly hermitage it was

6

Down in a dale, hard by a forest's side
Far from resort of people that did pass
In travel to and fro.

Arrivéd there, the little house they fill,
Nor look for entertainment, where none was:
Rest is their feast, and all things at their will;
The noblest mind the best contentment has."

The evening is spent in holy conversation, and they retire to rest at an early hour. Now this old man is, in reality, a wicked magician, who hates everything good and pure; and as soon as he has bidden good-night to his guests, he casts about in his mind for some charm to work their ruin.

He calls one of the little sprites who wait to do his bidding, and commands him to go to the Palace of Morpheus, and bring back a false dream.

I wish I could make you see this beautiful Palace of Sleep, with its doors of silver and ivory, guarded by the ever watchful dogs, "that lie in wait to banish Care, their enemy." But I can only tell you that it is the most quiet, restful, delightful spot that was ever created from a poet's imagination.

After a good deal of trouble, for Morpheus is not easy to arouse from his happy slumbers, the little sprite obtains what he seeks, and, returning through the ivory door, mounts on his wings, and soon bears. the dream to his lord.

As soon as this is received by the wicked old man, he so weaves it into the brain of the young knight that he believes the fair and good Una to be false to him; and when the maiden arises early

in the morning, and asks for her protector, who has promised to deliver her parents from their deadly peril, she finds that he, with the dwarf, has forsaken her. She can hardly believe it at first; and when she is forced to realize the truth, her grief is very great. But she thinks he cannot be far distant, and hopes that, by starting forth at once, she may soon overtake him.

Alas! poor Una is to meet with many an adventure before she beholds him whom she loves so well; and the knight, before he again sees his dear lady, is to realize how inadequate is his youthful, untried strength before the blandishments 7 of temptation.

I shall not take the time to tell you of all the adventures that befall the Red Cross Knight. The most interesting one is when he is led to the Palace of Pride.

"A stately palace built of squaréd brick,

Which cunningly was without mortar laid,
Whose walls were high, but nothing strong nor

thick,

And golden foil all over them displayed.

7 Blandishments-arts.