maintain the Union between Great Britain and Ireland.]

The lyon would not leave her desolate,
But with her went along as a strong gard
Of her chast person, and a faithfull mate
Of her sad troubles and misfortunes hard;
And over her he kept both watch and ward,
With the assistance of two valiant knightes,
Prince ARTHURE, and the Red Crosse Paladin,
A pair of brotherlie and doughtie wightes,
Though erst had they indulged in mutual flouts and spites.

For loe! a divelish dragon didde infest
That region, and fair UNA strove to slay.
Her to protect from that prodigious pest,
The Red Crosse Knight--who lived out Midland way--
Didde, with Prince ARTHURE, travel day by day,
And prodded up that lyon as they strode,
With their speare pointes, as though in jovial play,
To holde fair UNA, who her safety owed,
Unto the puissant beaste whereon she proudlie rode.

Anon they heard a roaring hideous sound
That all the ayre with terror filled wyde,
And seemed uneath to shake the stedfast ground;
Eftsoones that dreadful dragon they espyde,
Where stretcht he lay upon the sunny side
Of a great hill, himself like a great hill:
But, all so soone as he from far descryde
Those glistering knights banded in right good will,