Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/520

 Through that black covert he him led, and fownd A darksome way, which no man could descry, That deep descended through the hollow grownd, And was with dread and horror compassèd arownd

So soon as Mammon there arrived, the dore To him did open and affoorded way: Him followed eke Sir Guyon evermore, Ne darknesse him ne daunger might dismay. Soone as he entred was, the dore streightway Did shutt, and from behind it forth there lept An ugly feend, more fowle then dismall day: The which with monstrous stalke behind him stept, And ever as he went dew watch upon him kept.

Well hopèd hee, ere long that hardy guest, If ever covetous hand, or lustfull eye, Or lips he layd on thing that likte him best, Or ever sleepe his eie-strings did untye, Should be his pray: and therefore still on hye He over him did hold his cruell clawes, Threatning with greedy gripe to doe him dye, And rend in peeces with his ravenous pawes, If ever he transgrest the fatall Stygian lawes.

In all that rowme was nothing to be seene But huge great yron chests, and coffers strong, All bard with double bends, that none could weene Them to efforce by violence or wrong; On every side they placèd were along. But all the grownd with sculs was scattered And dead mens bones, which round about were flong; Whose lives, it seemed, whilome there was shed, And their vile carcases now left unburièd.