A Note on the Renascence Editions text:

This HTML etext of The Faerie Queene was prepared from The Complete Works in Verse and Prose of Edmund Spenser [Grosart, London, 1882] by Risa S. Bear at the University of Oregon. The text is in the public domain. Unique content is copyright © 1995 University of Oregon; this text is distributed for nonprofit use only.

T He rugged forhead that with graue foresight
  Welds kingdomes causes, & affaires of state,
  My looser rimes (I wote) doth sharply wite,
  For praising loue, as I haue done of late,
  And magnifying louers deare debate;
  By which fraile youth is oft to follie led,
  Through false allurement of that pleasing baite,
  That better were in vertues discipled,
Then with vaine poemes weeds to haue their fancies fed.

Such ones ill iudge of loue, that cannot loue,
  Ne in their frosen hearts feele kindly flame:
  For thy, they ought not thing vnknowne reproue,
  Ne naturall affection faultlesse blame,
  For fault of few that haue abusd the same.
  For it of honor and all vertue is
  The roote, and brings forth glorious flowres of fame,
  That crowne true louers with immortall blis,
The meed of them that loue, and do not liue amisse.

Which who so list looke backe to former ages,
  And call to count the things that then were donne,
  Shall find, that all the workes of those wise sages,
  And braue exploits which great Heroes wonne,
  In loue were either ended or begunne:
  Witnesse the father of Philosophie,
  Which to his Critias, shaded oft from sunne,
  Of loue full manie lessons did apply,
The which these Stoicke censours cannot well deny.

To such therefore I do not sing at all,
  But to that sacred Saint my soueraigne Queene,
  In whose chast breast all bountie naturall,
  And treasures of true loue enlocked beene,
  Boue all her sexe that euer yet was seene;
  To her I sing of loue, that loueth best,
  And best is lou'd of all aliue I weene:
  To her this song most fitly is addrest,
The Queene of loue, & Prince of peace fro[m] heauen blest.

Which that she may the better deigne to heare,
  Do thou dred infant, Venus dearling doue,
  From her high spirit chase imperious feare,
  And vse of awfull Maiestie remoue:
  In sted thereof with drops of melting loue,
  Deawd with ambrosiall kisses, by thee gotten
  From thy sweete smyling mother from aboue,
  Sprinckle her heart, and haughtie courage soften,
That she may hearke to loue, and reade this lesson often.

Fayre Britomart saues Amoret,
  Duessa discord breedes
Twixt Scudamour and Blandamour:
  Their fight and warlike deedes.

O F louers sad calamities of old,
  Full many piteous stories doe remaine,
  But none more piteous euer was ytold,
  Then that of Amorets hart-binding chaine,
  And this of Florimels vnworthie paine:
  The deare compassion of whose bitter fit
  My softened heart so sorely doth constraine,
  That I with teares full oft doe pittie it,
And oftentimes doe wish it neuer had bene writ.

For from the time that Scudamour her bought
  In perilous fight, she neuer ioyed day,
  A perilous fight when he with force her brought
  From twentie Knights, that did him all assay:
  Yet fairely well he did them all dismay:
  And with great glorie both the shield of loue,
  And eke the Ladie selfe he brought away,
  Whom hauing wedded as did him behoue,
A new vnknowen mischiefe did from him remoue.

For that same vile Enchauntour Busyran,
  The very selfe same day that she was wedded,
  Amidst the bridale feast, whilest euery man
  Surcharg'd with wine, were heedlesse and ill hedded.
  All bent to mirth before the bride was bedded,
  Brought in that mask of loue which late was showen:
  And there the Ladie ill of friends bestedded,
  By way of sport, as oft in maskes is knowen,
Conueyed quite away to liuing wight vnknowen.

Seuen moneths he so her kept in bitter smart,
  Because his sinfull lust she would not serue,
  Vntill such time as noble Britomart
  Released her, that else was like to sterue,
  Through cruell knife that her deare heart did kerue.
  And now she is with her vpon the way,
  Marching in louely wise, that could deserue
  No spot of blame, though spite did oft assay
To blot her with dishonor of so faire a pray.

Yet should it be a pleasant tale, to tell
  The diuerse vsage and demeanure daint,
  That each to other made, as oft befell.
  For Amoret right fearefull was and faint,
  Lest she with blame her honor should attaint,
  That euerie word did tremble as she spake,
  And euerie looke was coy, and wondrous quaint,
  And euerie limbe that touched her did quake:
Yet could she not but curteous cou[n]tenance to her make.

For well she wist, as true it was indeed,
  That her liues Lord and patrone of her health
  Right well deserued as his duefull meed,
  Her loue, her seruice, and her vtmost wealth.
  All is his iustly, that all freely dealth:
  Nathlesse her honor dearer then her life,
  She sought to saue, as thing reseru'd from stealth;
  Die had she leuer with Enchanters knife,
Then to be false in loue, profest a virgine wife.

Thereto her feare was made so much the greater
  Through fine abusion of that Briton mayd:
  Who for to hide her fained sex the better,
  And maske her wounded mind, both did and sayd
  Full many things so doubtfull to be wayd,
  That well she wist not what by them to gesse,
  For other whiles to her she purpos made
  Of loue, and otherwhiles of lustfulnesse
That much she feard his mind would grow to some excesse.

His will she feard; for him she surely thought
  To be a man, such as indeed he seemed,
  And much the more, by that he lately wrought,
  When her from deadly thraldome he redeemed,
  For which no seruice she too much esteemed,
  Yet dread of shame, and doubt of fowle dishonor
  Made her not yeeld so much, as due she deemed.
  Yet Britomart attended duly on her,
As well became a knight, and did to her all honor.

It so befell one euening, that they came
  Vnto a Castell, lodged there to bee,
  Where many a knight, and many a louely Dame
  Was then assembled, deeds of armes to see:
  Amongst all which was none more faire then shee,
  That many of them mou'd to eye her sore.
  The custome of that place was such, that hee
  Which had no loue nor lemman there in store,
Should either winne him one, or lye without the dore.

Amongst the rest there was a iolly knight,
  Who being asked for his loue, auow'd
  That fairest Amoret was his by right,
  And offred that to iustifie alowd.
  The warlike virgine seeing his so prowd
  And boastfull chalenge, wexed inlie wroth,
  But for the present did her anger shrowd;
  And sayd, her loue to lose she was full loth,
But either he should neither of them haue, or both.

So foorth they went, and both together giusted;
  But that same younker soone was ouer throwne,
  And made repent, that he had rashly lusted
  For thing vnlawfull, that was not his owne:
  Yet since he seemed valiant, through vnknowne,
  She that no lesse was courteous then stout,
  Cast how to salue, that both the custome showne
  Were kept, and yet that Knight not locked out:
That seem'd full hard t'accord two things so far in dout.

The Seneschall was cal'd to deeme the right,
  Whom she requir'd, that first fayre Amoret
  Might be to her allow'd, as to a Knight,
  That did her win and free from chalenge set:
  Which straight to her was yeelded without let.
  Then since that strange Knights loue from him was quitted,
  She claim'd that to her selfe, as Ladies det,
  He as a Knight might iustly be admitted;
So none should be out shut, sith all of loues were fitted.

With that her glistring helmet she vnlaced;
  Which doft, her golden lockes, that were vp bound
  Still in a knot, vnto her heeles downe traced,
  And like a silken veile in compasse round
  About her backe and all her bodie wound;
  Like as the shining skie in summers night,
  What time the dayes with scorching heat abound,
  Is creasted all with lines of firie light,
That it prodigious seemes in common peoples sight.

Such when those Knights and Ladies all about
  Beheld her, all were with amazement smit,
  And euery one gan grow in secret dout
  Of this and that, according to each wit:
  Some thought that some enchantment faygned it;
  Some, that Bellona in that warlike wise
  To them appear'd, with shield and armour fit;
  Some, that it was a maske of strange disguise:
So diuersely each one did sundrie doubts deuise.

But that young Knight, which through her gentle deed
  Was to that goodly fellowship restor'd,
  Ten thousand thankes did yeeld her for her meed,
  And doubly ouercommen, her ador'd:
  So did they all their former strife accord;
  And eke fayre Amoret now freed from feare,
  More franke affection did to her afford,
  And to her bed, which she was wont forbeare,
Now freely drew, and found right safe assurance theare.

Where all that night they of their loues did treat,
  And hard aduentures twixt themselues alone,
  That each the other gan with passion great,
  And griefull pittie priuately bemone.
  The morow next so soone as Titan shone,
  They both vprose, and to their waies them dight:
  Long wandred they, yet neuer met with none,
  That to their willes could them direct aright,
Or to them tydings tell, that mote their harts delight.

Lo thus they rode, till at the last they spide
  Two armed Knights, that toward them did pace,
  And ech of them had ryding by his side
  A Ladie, seeming in so farre a space,
  But Ladies none they were, albee in face
  And outward shew faire semblance they did beare;
  For vnder maske of beautie and good grace,
  Vile treason and fowle falshood hidden were,
That mote to none but to the warie wise appeare.

The one of them the false Duessa hight,
  That now had chang'd her former wonted hew:
  For she could d'on so manie shapes in sight,
  As euer could Cameleon colours new;
  So could she forge all colours, saue the trew.
  The other no whit better was then shee,
  But that such as she was, she plaine did shew;
  Yet otherwise much worse, if worse might bee,
And dayly more offensiue vnto each degree.

Her name was Ate, mother of debate,
  And all dissention, which doth dayly grow
  Amongst fraile men, that many a publike state
  And many a priuate oft doth ouerthrow.
  Her false Duessa who full well did know,
  To be most fit to trouble noble knights,
  Which hunt for honor, raised from below,
  Out of the dwellings of the damned sprights,
Where she in darknes wastes her cursed daies & nights.

Hard by the gates of hell her dwelling is,
  There whereas all the plagues and harmes abound,
  Which punish wicked men, that walke amisse:
  It is a darksome delue farre vnder ground,
  With thornes and barren brakes enuirond round,
  That none the same may easily out win;
  Yet many waies to enter may be found,
  But none to issue forth when one is in:
For discord harder is to end then to begin.

And all within the riuen walls were hung
  With ragged monuments of times forepast,
  All which the sad effects of discord sung:
  There were rent robes, and broken scepters plast,
  Altars defyl'd, and holy things defast,
  Disshiuered speares, and shields ytorne in twaine,
  Great cities ransackt, and strong castles rast,
  Nations captiued, and huge armies slaine:
Of all which ruines there some relicks did remaine.

There was the signe of antique Babylon,
  Of fatall Thebes, of Rome that raigned long,
  Of sacred Salem, and sad Ilion
  For memorie of which on high there hong
  The golden Apple, cause of all their wrong,
  For which the three faire Goddesses did striue:
  There also was the name of Nimrod strong,
  Of Alexander, and his Princes fiue,
Which shar'd to them the spoiles that he had got aliue.

And there the relicks of the drunken fray,
  The which amongst the Lapithees befell,
  And of the bloodie feast, which sent away
  So many Centaures drunken soules to hell,
  That vnder great Alcides furie fell:
  And of the dreadfull discord, which did driue
  The noble Argonauts to outrage fell:
  That each of life sought others to depriue,
All mindlesse of the Golden fleece, which made them striue.

And eke of priuate persons many moe,
  That were too long a worke to count them all;
  Some of sworne friends, that did their faith forgoe;
  Some of borne brethren, prov'd vnnaturall;
  Some of deare louers, foes perpetuall:
  Witnesse their broken bandes there to be seene,
  Their girlonds rent, their bowres despoyled all;
  The moniments whereof there byding beene,
As plaine as at the first, when they were fresh and greene.

Such was her house within; but all without,
  The barren ground was full of wicked weedes,
  Which she her selfe had sowen all about,
  Now growen great, at first of little seedes,
  The seedes of euill wordes, and factious deedes;
  Which when to ripenesse due they growen arre,
  Bring foorth an infinite increase, that breedes
  Tumultuous trouble and contentious iarre,
The which most often end in bloudshed and in warre.

And those same cursed seedes doe also serue
  To her for bread, and yeeld her liuing food:
  For life it is to her, when others sterue
  Through mischieuous debate, and deadly feood,
  That she may sucke their life, and drinke their blood,
  With which she from her childhood had bene fed.
  For she at first was borne of hellish brood,
  And by infernall furies nourished,
That by her monstrous shape might easily be red.

Her face most fowle and filthy was to see,
  With squinted eyes contrarie wayes intended,
  And loathly mouth, vnmeete a mouth to bee,
  That nought but gall and venim comprehended,
  And wicked wordes that God and man offended:
  Her lying tongue was in two parts diuided,
  And both the parts did speake, and both contended;
  And as her tongue, so was her hart discided,
That neuer thoght one thing, but doubly stil was guided.

Als as she double spake, so heard she double,
  With matchlesse eares deformed and distort,
  Fild with false rumors and seditious trouble,
  Bred in assemblies of the vulgar sort,
  That still are led with euery light report.
  And as her eares so eke her feet were odde,
  And much vnlike, th'one long, the other short,
  And both misplast; that when th'one forward yode,
The other backe retired, and contrarie trode.

Likewise vnequall were her handes twaine,
  That one did reach, the other pusht away,
  That one did make, the other mard againe,
  And sought to bring all things vnto decay;
  Whereby great riches gathered manie a day,
  She in short space did often bring to nought
  And their possessours often did dismay.
  For all her studie was and all her thought,
How she might ouerthrow the things that Concord wrought.

So much her malice did her might surpas,
  That euen th'Almightie selfe she did maligne,
  Because to man so mercifull he was,
  And vnto all his creatures so benigne,
  Sith she her selfe was of his grace indigne:
  For all this worlds faire workmanship she tride,
  Vnto his last confusion to bring,
  And that great golden chaine quite to diuide,
With which it blessed Concord hath together tide.

Such was that hag, which with Duessa roade,
  And seruing her in her malitious vse,
  To hurt good knights, was as it were her baude,
  To sell her borrowed beautie to abuse.
  For though like withered tree, that wanteth iuyce,
  She old and crooked were, yet now of late,
  As fresh and fragrant as the floure deluce
  She was become, by chaunge of her estate,
And made full goodly ioyance to her new found mate.

Her mate he was a iollie youthfull knight,
  That bore great sway in armes and chiualrie,
  And was indeed a man of mickle might:
  His name was Blandamour, that did descrie
  His fickle mind full of inconstancie.
  And now himselfe he fitted had right well,
  With two companions of like qualitie,
  Faithlesse Duessa, and false Paridell,
That whether were more false, full hard it is to tell.

Now when this gallant with his goodly crew,
  From farre espide the famous Britomart,
  Like knight aduenturous in outward vew,
  With his faire paragon, his conquests part,
  Approching nigh, eftsoones his wanton hart
  Was tickled with delight, and iesting sayd;
  Lo there Sir Paridel, for your desart,
  Good lucke presents you with yond louely mayd,
For pitie that ye want a fellow for your ayd.

By that the louely paire drew nigh to hond:
  Whom when as Paridel more plaine beheld,
  Albee in heart he like affection fond,
  Yet mindfull how he late by one was feld,
  That did those armes and that same scutchion weld,
  He had small lust to buy his loue so deare,
  But answerd, Sir him wise I neuer held,
  That hauing once escaped perill neare,
Would afterwards afresh the sleeping euill reare.

This knight too late his manhood and his might,
  I did assay, that me right dearely cost,
  Ne list I for reuenge prouoke new fight,
  Ne for light Ladies loue, that soone is lost.
  The hot-spurre youth so scorning to be crost,
  Take then to you this Dame of mine (quoth hee)
  And I without your perill or your cost,
  Will chalenge yond same other for my fee:
So forth he fiercely prickt, that one him scarce could see.

The warlike Britonesse her soone addrest,
  And with such vncouth welcome did receaue
  Her fayned Paramour, her forced guest,
  That being forst his saddle soone to leaue,
  Him selfe he did of his new loue deceaue:
  And made him selfe thensample of his follie.
  Which done, she passed forth not taking leaue,
  And left him now as sad, as whilome iollie,
Well warned to beware with whom he dar'd to dallie.

Which when his other companie beheld,
  They to his succour ran with readie ayd:
  And finding him vnable once to weld,
  They reared him on horsebacke, and vpstayd,
  Till on his way they had him forth conuayd:
  And all the way with wondrous griefe of mynd,
  And shame, he shewd him selfe to be dismayd,
  More for the loue which he had left behynd,
Then that which he had to Sir Paridel resynd.

Nathlesse he forth did march well as he might,
  And made good semblance to his companie,
  Dissembling his disease and euill plight;
  Till that ere long they chaunced to espie
  Two other knights, that towards them did ply
  With speedie course, as bent to charge them new.
  Whom when as Blandamour approching nie,
  Perceiu'd to be such as they seemd in vew,
He was full wo, and gan his former griefe renew.

For th'one of them he perfectly descride,
  To be Sir Scudamour, by that he bore
  The God of loue, with wings displayed wide,
  Whom mortally he hated euermore,
  Both for his worth, that all men did adore,
  And eke because his loue he wonne by right:
  Which when he thought, it grieued him full sore,
  That through the bruses of his former fight,
He now vnable was to wreake his old despight.

For thy, he thus to Paridel bespake,
  Faire Sir, of friendship let me now you pray,
  That as I late aduentured for your sake,
  The hurts whereof me now from battell stay,
  Ye will me now with like good turne repay,
  And iustifie my cause on yonder knight.
  Ah Sir (said Paridel) do not dismay
  Your selfe for this, my selfe will for you fight,
As ye haue done for me: the left hand rubs the right.

With that he put his spurres vnto his steed,
  With speare in rest, and toward him did fare,
  Like shaft out of a bow preuenting speed.
  But Scudamour was shortly well aware
  Of his approch, and gan him selfe prepare
  Him to receiue with entertainment meete.
  So furiously they met, that either bare
  The other downe vnder their horses feete,
That what of them became, themselues did scarsly weete.

As when two billowes in the Irish sowndes,
  Forcibly driuen with contrarie tydes
  Do meete together, each abacke rebowndes
  With roaring rage; and dashing on all sides,
  That filleth all the sea with fome, diuydes
  The doubtfull current into diuers wayes:
  So fell those two in spight of both their prydes,
  But Scudamour himselfe did soone vprayse,
And mounting light his foe for lying long vpbrayes.

Who rolled on an heape lay still in swound,
  All carelesse of his taunt and bitter rayle,
  Till that the rest him seeing lie on ground,
  Ran hastily, to weete what did him ayle.
  Where finding that the breath gan him to fayle,
  With busie care they stroue him to awake,
  And doft his helmet, and vndid his mayle:
  So much they did, that at the last they brake
His slomber, yet so mazed, that he nothing spake.

Which when as Blandamour beheld, he sayd,
  False faitour Scudamour, that hast by slight
  And foule aduantage this good Knight dismayd,
  A Knight much better then thy selfe behight,
  Well falles it thee that I am not in plight
  This day, to wreake the dammage by thee donne:
  Such is thy wont, that still when any Knight
  Is weakned, then thou doest him ouerronne:
So hast thou to thy selfe false honour often wonne.

He little answer'd, but in manly heart
  His mightie indignation did forbeare,
  Which was not yet so secret, but some part
  Thereof did in his frouning face appeare:
  Like as a gloomie cloud, the which doth beare
  An hideous storme, is by the Northerne blast
  Quite ouerblowne, yet doth not passe so cleare,
  But that it all the skie doth ouercast
With darknes dred, and threatens all the world to wast.

Ah gentle knight then false Duessa sayd,
  Why do ye striue for Ladies loue so sore,
  Whose chiefe desire is loue and friendly aid
  Mongst gentle Knights to nourish euermore?
  Ne be ye wroth Sir Scudamour therefore,
  That she your loue list loue another knight,
  Ne do your selfe dislike a whit the more;
  For Loue is free, and led with selfe delight,
Ne will enforced be with maisterdome or might.

So false Duessa, but vile Ate thus;
  Both foolish knights, I can but laugh at both,
  That striue and storme with stirre outrageous,
  For her that each of you alike doth loth,
  And loues another, with whom now she go'th
  In louely wise, and sleepes, and sports, and playes;
  Whilest both you here with many a cursed oth,
  Sweare she is yours, and stirre vp bloudie frayes,
To win a willow bough, whilest other weares the bayes.

Vile hag (sayd Scudamour) why dost thou lye?
  And falsly seekst a vertuous wight to shame?
  Fond knight (sayd she) the thing that with this eye
  I saw, why should I doubt to tell the same?
  Then tell (quoth Blandamour) and feare no blame,
  Tell what thou saw'st, maulgre who so it heares.
  I saw (quoth she) a stranger knight, whose name
  I wote not well, but in his shield he beares
(That well I wote) the heads of many broken speares.

I saw him haue your Amoret at will,
  I saw him kisse, I saw him her embrace,
  I saw him sleepe with her all night his fill,
  All manie nights, and manie by in place,
  That present were to testifie the case.
  Which when as Scudamour did heare, his heart
  Was thrild with inward griefe, as when in chace
  The Parthian strikes a stag with shiuering dart,
The beast astonisht stands in middest of his smart.

So stood Sir Scudamour, when this he heard,
  Ne word he had to speake for great dismay,
  But lookt on Glauce grim, who woxe afeard
  Of outrage for the words, which she heard say,
  Albee vntrue she wist them by assay.
  But Blandamour, whenas he did espie
  His chaunge of cheere, that anguish did bewray,
  He woxe full blithe, as he had got thereby,
And gan thereat to triumph without victorie.

Lo recreant (sayd he) the fruitlesse end
  Of thy vaine boast, and spoile of loue misgotten,
  Whereby the name of knighthood thou dost shend,
  And all true louers with dishonor blotten,
  All things not rooted well, will soone be rotten.
  Fy fy false knight (then false Duessa cryde)
  Vnworthy life that loue with guile hast gotten,
  Be thou, where euer thou do go or ryde,
Loathed of ladies all, and of all knights defyde.

But Scudamour for passing great despight
  Staid not to answer, scarcely did refraine,
  But that in all those knights and ladies sight,
  He for reuenge had guiltlesse Glauce slaine:
  But being past, he thus began amaine;
  False traitour squire, false squire, of falsest knight,
  Why doth mine hand from thine auenge abstaine,
  Whose Lord hath done my loue this foule despight?
Why do I not it wreake, on thee now in my might?

Discourteous, disloyall Britomart,
  Vntrue to God, and vnto man vniust,
  What vengeance due can equall thy desart,
  That hast with shamefull spot of sinfull lust
  Defil'd the pledge committed to thy trust?
  Let vgly shame and endlesse infamy
  Colour thy name with foule reproaches rust.
  Yet thou false Squire his fault shalt deare aby,
And with thy punishment his penance shalt supply.

The aged Dame him seeing so enraged,
  Was dead with feare, nathlesse as neede required,
  His flaming furie sought to haue assuaged
  With sober words, that sufferance desired,
  Till time the tryall of her truth expyred:
  And euermore sought Britomart to cleare.
  But he the more with furious rage was fyred,
  And thrise his hand to kill her did vpreare,
And thrise he drew it backe: so did at last forbeare.

Blandamour winnes false Florimell,
  Paridell for her striues,
They are accorded: Agape
  doth lengthen her sonnes liues.

F Irebrand of hell first tynd in Phlegeton,
  By thousand furies, and from thence out throwen
  Into this world, to worke confusion,
  And set it all on fire by force vnknowen,
  Is wicked discord, whose small sparkes once blowen
  None but a God or godlike man can slake;
  Such as was Orpheus, that when strife was growen
  Amongst those famous ympes of Greece, did take
His siluer Harpe in hand, and shortly friends them make.

Or such as that celestiall Psalmist was,
  That when the wicked feend his Lord tormented,
  With heauenly notes, that did all other pas,
  The outrage of his furious fit relented.
  Such Musicke is wise words with time concented,
  To moderate stiffe minds, disposd to striue:
  Such as that prudent Romane well inuented,
  What time his people into partes did riue,
Them reconcyld againe, and to their homes did driue.

Such vs'd wise Glauce to that wrathfull knight,
  To calme the tempest of his troubled thought:
  Yet Blandamour with termes of foule despight,
  And Paridell her scornd, and set at nought,
  As old and crooked and not good for ought.
  Both they vnwise, and warelesse of the euill,
  That by themselues vnto themselues is wrought,
  Through that false witch, and that foule aged dreuill,
The one a feend, the other an incarnate deuill.

With whom as they thus rode accompanide,
  They were encountred of a lustie Knight,
  That had a goodly Ladie by his side,
  To whom he made great dalliance and delight.
  It was to weete the bold Sir Ferraugh hight,
  He that from Braggadocchio whilome reft
  The snowy Florimell, whose beautie bright
  Made him seeme happie for so glorious theft;
Yet was it in due triall but a wandring weft.

Which when as Blandamour, whose fancie light
  Was alwaies flitting as the wauering wind,
  After each beautie, that appeard in sight,
  Beheld, eftsoones it prickt his wanton mind
  With sting of lust, that reasons eye did blind,
  That to Sir Paridell these words he sent;
  Sir knight why ride ye dumpish thus behind,
  Since so good fortune doth to you present
So fayre a spoyle, to make you ioyous meriment?

But Paridell that had too late a tryall
  Of the bad issue of his counsell vaine,
  List not to hearke, but made this faire denyall;
  Last turne was mine, well proued to my paine,
  This now be yours, God send you better gaine.
  Whose scoffed words he taking halfe in scorne,
  Fiercely forth prickt his steed as in disdaine,
  Against that Knight, ere he him well could torne
By meanes whereof he hath him lightly ouerborne.

Who with the sudden stroke astonisht sore,
  Vpon the ground a while in slomber lay;
  The whiles his loue away the other bore,
  And shewing her, did Paridell vpbray;
  Lo sluggish Knight the victors happie pray:
  So fortune friends the bold: whom Paridell
  Seeing so faire indeede, as he did say,
  His hart with secret enuie gan to swell,
And inly grudge at him, that he had sped so well.

Nathlesse proud man himselfe the other deemed,
  Hauing so peerelesse paragon ygot:
  For sure the fayrest Florimell him seemed,
  To him was fallen for his happie lot,
  Whose like aliue on earth he weened not:
  Therefore he her did court, did serue, did wooe,
  With humblest suit that he imagine mot,
  And all things did deuise, and all things dooe,
That might her loue prepare, and liking win theretoo.

She in regard thereof him recompenst
  With golden words, and goodly countenance,
  And such fond fauours sparingly dispenst:
  Sometimes him blessing with a light eye-glance,
  And coy lookes tempring with loose dalliance;
  Sometimes estranging him in sterner wise,
  That hauing cast him in a foolish trance,
  He seemed brought to bed in Paradise,
And prou'd himselfe most foole, in what he seem'd most wise.

So great a mistresse of her art she was,
  And perfectly practiz'd in womans craft,
  That though therein himselfe he thought to pas,
  And by his false allurements wylie draft
  Had thousand women of their loue beraft,
  Yet now he was surpriz'd: for that false spright,
  Which that same witch had in this forme engraft,
  Was so expert in euery subtile slight,
That it could ouerreach the wisest earthly wight.

Yet he to her did dayly seruice more,
  And dayly more deceiued was thereby;
  Yet Paridell him enuied therefore,
  As seeming plast in sole felicity:
  So blind is lust, false colours to descry.
  But Ate soone discouering his desire,
  And finding now fit opportunity
  To stirre vp strife, twixt loue and spight and ire,
Did priuily put coles vnto his secret fire.

By sundry meanes thereto she prickt him forth,
  Now with remembrance of those spightfull speaches,
  Now with opinion of his owne more worth,
  Now with recounting of like former breaches
  Made in their friendship, as that Hag him teaches:
  And euer when his passion is allayd,
  She it reuiues and new occasion reaches:
  That on a time as they together way'd,
He made him open chalenge, and thus boldly sayd.

Too boastfull Blandamour, too long I beare
  The open wrongs, thou doest me day by day;
  Well know'st thou, whe[n] we friendship first did sweare,
  The couenant was, that euery spoyle or pray
  Should equally be shard betwixt vs tway:
  Where is my part then of this Ladie bright,
  Whom to thy selfe thou takest quite away?
  Render therefore therein to me my right,
Or answere for thy wrong, as shall fall out in fight.

Exceeding wroth thereat was Blandamour,
  And gan this bitter answere to him make;
  Too foolish Paridell, that fayrest floure
  Wouldst gather faine, and yet no paines wouldst take:
  But not so easie will I her forsake;
  This hand her wonne, this hand shall her defend.
  With that they gan their shiuering speares to shake,
  And deadly points at eithers breast to bend,
Forgetfull each to haue bene euer others frend.

Their firie Steedes with so vntamed forse
  Did beare them both to fell auenges end,
  That both their speares with pitilesse remorse,
  Through shield and mayle, and haberieon did wend,
  And in their flesh a griesly passage rend,
  That with the furie of their owne affret,
  Each other horse and man to ground did send;
  Where lying still a while, both did forget
The perilous present stownd, in which their liues were set.

As when two warlike Brigandines at sea,
  With murdrous weapons arm'd to cruell fight,
  Doe meete together on the watry lea,
  They stemme ech other with so fell despight,
  That with the shocke of their owne heedlesse might,
  Their wooden ribs are shaken nigh a sonder;
  They which from shore behold the dreadfull sight
  Of flashing fire, and heare the ordenance thonder,
Do greatly stand amaz'd at such vnwonted wonder.

At length they both vpstarted in amaze;
  As men awaked rashly out of dreme,
  And round about themselues a while did gaze,
  Till seeing her, that Florimell did seme,
  In doubt to whom she victorie should deeme,
  Therewith their dulled sprights they edgd anew,
  And drawing both their swords with rage extreme,
  Like two mad mastiffes each on other flew,
And shields did share, & mailes did rash, and helmes did hew.

So furiously each other did assayle,
  As if their soules they would attonce haue rent
  Out of their brests, that streames of bloud did rayle
  Adowne, as if their springes of life were spent;
  That all the ground with purple bloud was sprent,
  And all their armours staynd with bloudie gore,
  Yet scarcely once to breath would they relent,
  So mortall was their malice and so sore,
Become of fayned friendship which they vow'd afore.

And that which is for Ladies most befitting,
  To stint all strife, and foster friendly peace,
  Was from those Dames so farre and so vnfitting,
  As that in stead of praying them surcease,
  They did much more their cruelty encrease;
  Bidding them fight for honour of their loue,
  And rather die then Ladies cause release.
  With which vaine termes so much they did the[m]; moue,
That both resolu'd the last extremities to proue.

There they I weene would fight vntill this day,
  Had not a Squire, euen he the Squire of Dames,
  By great aduenture trauelled that way;
  Who seeing both bent to so bloudy games,
  And both of old well knowing by their names,
  Drew nigh, to weete the cause of their debate:
  And first laide on those Ladies thousand blames,
  That did not seeke t'appease their deadly hate,
But gazed on their harmes, not pittying their estate.

And then those Knights he humbly did beseech,
  To stay their hands, till he a while had spoken:
  Who lookt a little vp at that his speech,
  Yet would not let their battell so be broken,
  Both greedie fiers on other to be wroken.
  Yet he to them so earnestly did call,
  And them coniur'd by some well knowen token,
  That they at last their wrothfull hands let fall,
Content to heare him speake, and glad to rest withall.

First he desir'd their cause of strife to see:
  They said, it was for loue of Florimell.
  Ah gentle knights (quoth he) how may that bee,
  And she so farre astray, as none can tell.
  Fond Squire, full angry then sayd Paridell,
  Seest not the Ladie there before thy face?
  He looked backe, and her aduizing well,
  Weend as he said, by that her outward grace,
That fayrest Florimell was present there in place.

Glad man was he to see that ioyous sight,
  For none aliue but ioy'd in Florimell,
  And lowly to her lowting thus behight;
  Fayrest of faire, that fairenesse doest excell,
  This happie day I haue to greete you well,
  In which you safe I see, whom thousand late,
  Misdoubted lost through mischiefe that befell;
  Long may you liue in health and happie state.
She litle answer'd him, but lightly did aggrate.

Then turning to those Knights, he gan a new;
  And you Sir Blandamour and Paridell,
  That for this Ladie present in your vew,
  Haue rays'd this cruell warre and outrage fell,
  Certes me seemes bene not aduised well,
  But rather ought in friendship for her sake
  To ioyne your force, their forces to repell,
  That seeke perforce her from you both to take,
And of your gotten spoyle their owne triumph to make.

Thereat Sir Blandamour with countenance sterne,
  All full of wrath, thus fiercely him bespake;
  A read thou Squire, that I the man may learne,
  That dare fro me thinke Florimell to take.
  Not one (quoth he) but many doe partake
  Herein, as thus. It lately so befell,
  That Satyran a girdle did vptake,
  Well knowne to appertaine to Florimell,
Which for her sake he wore, as him beseemed well.

But when as she her selfe was lost and gone,
  Full many knights, that loued her like deare,
  Thereat did greatly grudge, that he alone
  That lost faire Ladies ornament should weare,
  And gan therefore close spight to him to beare:
  Which he to shun, and stop vile enuies sting,
  Hath lately caus'd to be proclaim'd each where
  A solemne feast, with publike turneying,
To which all knights with them their Ladies are to bring.

And of them all she that is fayrest found,
  Shall haue that golden girdle for reward,
  And of those Knights who is most stout on ground,
  Shall to that fairest Ladie be prefard.
  Since therefore she her selfe is now your ward,
  To you that ornament of hers pertaines,
  Against all those, that chalenge it to gard,
  And saue her honour with your ventrous paines;
That shall you win more glory, then ye here find gaines.

When they the reason of his words had hard,
  They gan abate the rancour of their rage,
  And with their honours and their loues regard,
  The furious flames of malice to asswage.
  Tho each to other did his faith engage,
  Like faithfull friends thenceforth to ioyne in one
  With all their force, and battell strong to wage
  Gainst all those knights, as their professed fone,
That chaleng'd ought in Florimell, saue they alone.

So well accorded forth they rode together
  In friendly sort, that lasted but a while;
  And of all old dislikes they made faire weather,
  Yet all was forg'd and spred with golden foyle,
  That vnder it hidde hate and hollow guyle.
  Ne certes can that friendship long endure,
  How euer gay and goodly be the style,
  That doth ill cause or euill end enure:
For vertue is the band, that bindeth harts most sure.

Thus as they marched all in close disguise,
  Of fayned loue, they chaunst to ouertake
  Two knights, that lincked rode in louely wise,
  As if they secret counsels did partake;
  And each not farre behinde him had his make,
  To weete, two Ladies of most goodly hew,
  That twixt themselues did gentle purpose make
  Vnmindfull both of that discordfull crew,
The which with speedie pace did after them pursew.

Who as they now approched nigh at hand,
  Deeming them doughtie as they did appeare,
  They sent that Squire afore, to vnderstand,
  What mote they be: who viewing them more neare
  Returned readie newes, that those same weare
  Two of the prowest Knights in Faery lond;
  And those two Ladies their two louers deare,
  Couragious Cambell, and stout Triamond,
With Canacee and Cambine linckt in louely bond.

Whylome as antique stories tellen vs,
  Those two were foes the fellonest on ground,
  And battell made the dreddest daungerous,
  That euer shrilling trumpet did resound;
  Though now their acts be no where to be found,
  As that renowmed Poet them compyled,
  With warlike numbers and Heroicke sound,
  Dan Chaucer, well of English vndefyled,
On Fames eternall beadroll worthie to be fyled.

But wicked Time that all good thoughts doth waste,
  And workes of noblest wits to nought out weare,
  That famous moniment hath quite defaste,
  And robd the world of threasure endlesse deare,
  The which mote haue enriched all vs heare.
  O cursed Eld the cankerworme of writs,
  How may these rimes, so rude as doth appeare,
  Hope to endure, sith workes of heauenly wits
Are quite deuourd, and brought to nought by little bits?

Then pardon, O most sacred happie spirit,
  That I thy labours lost may thus reuiue,
  And steale from thee the meede of thy due merit,
  That none durst euer whilest thou wast aliue,
  And being dead in vaine yet many striue:
  Ne dare I like, but through infusion sweete
  Of thine owne spirit, which doth in me suruiue,
  I follow here the footing of thy feete,
That with thy meaning so I may the rather meete.

Cambelloes sister was fayre Canacee,
  That was the learnedst Ladie in her dayes,
  Well seene in euerie science that mote bee,
  And euery secret worke of natures wayes,
  In wittie riddles, and in wise soothsayes,
  In power of herbes, and tunes of beasts and burds;
  And, that augmented all her other prayse,
  She modest was in all her deedes and words,
And wondrous chast of life, yet lou'd of Knights & Lords.

Full many Lords, and many Knights her loued,
  Yet she to none of them her liking lent,
  Ne euer was with fond affection moued,
  But rul'd her thoughts with goodly gouernement,
  For dread of blame and honours blemishment;
  And eke vnto her lookes a law she made,
  That none of them once out of order went,
  But like to warie Centonels well stayd,
Still watcht on euery side, of secret foes affrayd.

So much the more as she refusd to loue,
  So much the more she loued was and sought,
  That oftentimes vnquiet strife did moue
  Amongst her louers, and great quarrels wrought,
  That oft for her in bloudie armes they fought.
  Which whenas Cambell, that was stout and wise,
  Perceiu'd would breede great mischiefe, he bethought
  How to preuent the perill that mote rise,
And turne both him and her to honour in this wise.

One day, when all that troupe of warlike wooers
  Assembled were, to weet whose she should bee,
  All mightie men and dreadfull derring dooers,
  (The harder it to make them well agree)
  Amongst them all this end he did decree;
  That of them all, which loue to her did make,
  They by consent should chose the stoutest three,
  That with himselfe should combat for her sake,
And of them all the victour should his sister take.

Bold was the chalenge, as himselfe was bold,
  And courage full of haughtie hardiment,
  Approued oft in perils manifold,
  Which he atchieu'd to his great ornament:
  But yet his sisters skill vnto him lent
  Most confidence and hope of happie speed,
  Conceiued by a ring, which she him sent,
  That mongst the manie vertues, which we reed,
Had power to staunch al wounds, that mortally did bleed.

Well was that rings great vertue knowen to all,
  That dread thereof, and his redoubted might
  Did all that youthly rout so much appall,
  That none of them durst vndertake the fight;
  More wise they weend to make of loue delight,
  Then life to hazard for faire Ladies looke;
  And yet vncertaine by such outward sight,
  Though for her sake they all that perill tooke,
Whether she would them loue, or in her liking brooke.

Amongst those knights there were three brethren bold,
  Three bolder brethren neuer were yborne,
  Borne of one mother in one happie mold,
  Borne at one burden in one happie morne;
  Thrise happie mother, and thrise happie morne,
  That bore three such, three such not to be fond;
  Her name was Agape whose children werne
  All three as one, the first hight Priamond,
The second Dyamond, the youngest Triamond.

Stout Priamond, but not so strong to strike,
  Strong Diamond, but not so stout a knight,
  But Triamond was stout and strong alike:
  On horsebacke vsed Triamond to fight,
  And Priamond on foote had more delight,
  But horse and foote knew Diamond to wield:
  With curtaxe vsed Diamond to smite,
  And Triamond to handle speare and shield,
But speare and curtaxe both vsd Priamond in field.

These three did loue each other dearely well,
  And with so firme affection were allyde,
  As if but one soule in them all did dwell,
  Which did her powre into three parts diuyde;
  Like three faire branches budding farre and wide,
  That from one roote deriu'd their vitall sap:
  And like that roote that doth her life diuide,
  Their mother was, and had full blessed hap,
These three so noble babes to bring forth at one clap.

Their mother was a Fay, and had the skill
  Of secret things, and all the powres of nature,
  Which she by art could vse vnto her will,
  And to her seruice bind each liuing creature;
  Through secret vnderstanding of their feature.
  Thereto she was right faire, when so her face
  She list discouer, and of goodly stature;
  But she as Fayes are wont, in priuie place
Did spend her dayes, and lov'd in forests wyld to space.

There on a day a noble youthly knight
  Seeking aduentures in the saluage wood,
  Did by great fortune get of her the sight;
  As she sate carelesse by a cristall flood,
  Combing her golden lockes, as seemd her good:
  And vnawares vpon her laying hold,
  That stroue in vaine him long to haue withstood,
  Oppressed her, and there (as it is told)
Got these three louely babes, that prov'd three cha[m]pions bold.

Which she with her long fostred in that wood,
  Till that to ripenesse of mans state they grew:
  Then shewing forth signes of their fathers blood,
  They loued armes, and knighthood did ensew,
  Seeking aduentures, where they anie knew.
  Which when their mother saw, she gan to dout
  Their safetie, least by searching daungers new,
  And rash prouoking perils all about,
Their days mote be abridged through their corage stout.

Therefore desirous th'end of all their dayes
  To know, and them t'enlarge with long extent,
  By wondrous skill, and many hidden wayes,
  To the three fatall sisters house she went.
  Farre vnder ground from tract of liuing went,
  Downe in the bottome of the deepe Abysse,
  Where Demogorgon in dull darknesse pent,
  Farre from the view of Gods and heauens blis,
The hideous Chaos keepes, their dreadfull dwelling is.

There she them found, all sitting round about
  The direfull distaffe standing in the mid,
  And with vnwearied fingers drawing out
  The lines of life, from liuing knowledge hid.
  Sad Clotho held the rocke, the whiles the thrid
  By griesly Lachesis was spun with paine,
  That cruell Atropos eftsoones vndid,
  With cursed knife cutting the twist in twaine:
Most wretched men, whose dayes depend on thrids so vaine.

She them saluting, there by them sate still,
  Beholding how the thrids of life they span:
  And when at last she had beheld her fill,
  Trembling in heart, and looking pale and wan,
  Her cause of comming she to tell began.
  To whom fierce Atropos, Bold Fay, that durst
  Come see the secret of the life of man,
  Well worthie thou to be of Ioue accurst,
And eke thy childrens thrids to be asunder burst.

Whereat she sore affrayd, yet her besought
  To graunt her boone, and rigour to abate,
  That she might see her childre[n]s thrids forth brought,
  And know the measure of their vtmost date,
  To them ordained by eternall fate.
  Which Clotho graunting, shewed her the same:
  That when she saw, it did her much amate,
  To see their thrids so thin, as spiders frame,
And eke so short, that seemd their ends out shortly came.

She then began them humbly to intreate,
  To draw them longer out, and better twine,
  That so their liues might be prolonged late.
  But Lachesis thereat gan to repine,
  And sayd, Fond dame that deem'st of things diuine
  As of humane, that they may altred bee,
  And chaung'd at pleasure for those impes of thine.
  Not so; for what the Fates do once decree,
Not all the gods can chaunge, nor Ioue him self can free.

Then since (quoth she) the terme of each mans life
  For nought may lessened nor enlarged bee,
  Graunt this, that when ye shred with fatall knife
  His line, which is the eldest of the three,
  Which is of them the shortest, as I see,
  Eftsoones his life may passe into the next;
  And when the next shall likewise ended bee,
  That both their liues may likewise be annext
Vnto the third, that his may so be trebly wext.

They graunted it; and then that carefull Fay
  Departed thence with full contended mynd;
  And comming home, in warlike fresh aray
  Them found all three according to their kynd:
  But vnto them what destinie was assynd,
  Or how their liues were eekt, she did not tell;
  But euermore, when she fit time could fynd,
  She warned them to tend their safeties well,
And loue each other deare, what euer them befell.

So did they surely during all their dayes,
  And neuer discord did amongst them fall;
  Which much augmented all their other praise.
  And now t'increase affection naturall,
  In loue of Canacee they ioyned all:
  Vpon which ground this same great battell grew,
  Great matter growing of beginning small;
  The which for length I will not here pursew,
But rather will reserue it for a Canto new.

The battell twixt three brethren, with
  Cambell for Canacee.
Cambina with true friendships bond
  doth their long strife agree.

O   Why doe wretched men so much desire,
  To draw their dayes vnto the vtmost date,
  And doe not rather wish them soone expire,
  Knowing the miserie of their estate,
  And thousand perills which them still awate,
  Tossing them like a boate amid the mayne,
  That euery houre they knocke at deathes gate?
  And he that happie seemes and least in payne,
Yet is as nigh his end, as he that most doth playne.

Therefore this Fay I hold but fond and vaine,
  The which in seeking for her children three
  Long life, thereby did more prolong their paine.
  Yet whilest they liued none did euer see
  More happie creatures, then they seem'd to bee,
  Nor more ennobled for their courtesie,
  That made them dearely lou'd of each degree;
  Ne more renowmed for their cheualrie,
That made them dreaded much of all men farre and nie.

These three that hardie chalenge tooke in hand,
  For Canacee with Cambell for to fight:
  The day was set, that all might vnderstand,
  And pledges pawnd the same to keepe a right,
  That day, the dreddest day that liuing wight
  Did euer see vpon this world to shine,
  So soone as heauens window shewed light,
  These warlike Champions all in armour shine,
Assembled were in field, the chalenge to define.

The field with listes was all about enclos'd,
  To barre the prease of people farre away;
  And at th'one side sixe iudges were dispos'd,
  To view and deeme the deedes of armes that day;
  And on the other side in fresh aray,
  Fayre Canacee vpon a stately stage
  Was set, to see the fortune of that fray,
  And to be seene, as his most worthie wage,
That could her purchase with his liues aduentur'd gage.

Then entred Cambell first into the list,
  With stately steps, and fearelesse countenance,
  As if the conquest his he surely wist.
  Soone after did the brethren three aduance,
  In braue aray and goodly amenance,
  With scutchins gilt and banners broad displayd:
  And marching thrise in warlike ordinance,
  Thrise lowted lowly to the noble Mayd,
The whiles shril trompets & loud clarions sweetly playd.

Which doen the doughty chalenger came forth,
  All arm'd to point his chalenge to abet:
  Gainst whom Sir Priamond with equall worth:
  And equall armes himselfe did forward set.
  A trompet blew; they both together met,
  With dreadfull force, and furious intent,
  Carelesse of perill in their fiers affret,
  As if that life to losse they had forelent,
And cared not to spare, that should be shortly spent.

Right practicke was Sir Priamond in fight,
  And throughly skild in vse of shield and speare;
  Ne lesse approued was Cambelloes might,
  Ne lesse his skill in weapons did appeare,
  That hard it was to weene which harder were.
  Full many mightie strokes on either side
  Were sent, that seemed death in them to beare,
  But they were both so watchfull and well eyde,
That they auoyded were, and vainely by did slyde.

Yet one of many was so strongly bent
  By Priamond, that with vnluckie glaunce,
  Through Cambels shoulder it vnwarely went,
  That forced him his shield to disaduaunce:
  Much was he grieued with that gracelesse chaunce,
  Yet from the wound no drop of bloud there fell,
  But wondrous paine, that did the more enhaunce
  His haughtie courage to aduengement fell:
Smart daunts not mighty harts, but makes them more to swell.

With that his poynant speare he fierce auentred,
  With doubled force close vnderneath his shield,
  That through the mayles into his thigh it entred,
  And there arresting, readie way did yield,
  For bloud to gush forth on the grassie field;
  That he for paine himselfe n'ote right vpreare,
  But too and fro in great amazement reel'd,
  Like an old Oke whose pith and sap is seare,
At puffe of euery storme doth stagger here and theare.

Whom so dismayd when Cambell had espide,
  Againe he droue at him with double might,
  That nought mote stay the steele, till in his side
  The mortall point most cruelly empight:
  Where fast infixed, whilest he sought by slight
  It forth to wrest, the staffe a sunder brake,
  And left the head behind: with which despight
  He all enrag'd, his shiuering speare did shake,
And charging him a fresh thus felly him bespake.

Lo faitour there thy meede vnto thee take,
  The meede of thy mischalenge and abet:
  Not for thine owne, but for thy sisters sake,
  Haue I thus long thy life vnto thee let:
  But to forbeare doth not forgiue the det.
  The wicked weapon heard his wrathfull vow,
  And passing forth with furious affret,
  Pierst through his beuer quite into his brow,
That with the force it backward forced him to bow.

Therewith a sunder in the midst it brast,
  And in his hand nought but the troncheon left,
  The other halfe behind yet sticking fast,
  Out of his headpeece Cambell fiercely reft,
  And with such furie backe at him it heft,
  That making way vnto his dearest life,
  His weasand pipe it through his gorget cleft:
  Thence streames of purple bloud issuing rife,
Let forth his wearie ghost and made an end of strife.

His wearie ghost assoyld from fleshly band,
  Did not as others wont, directly fly
  Vnto her rest in Plutoes griesly land,
  Ne into ayre did vanish presently,
  Ne chaunged was into a starre in sky:
  But through traduction was eftsoones deriued,
  Like as his mother prayd the Destinie,
  Into his other brethren, that suruiued,
In whom he liu'd a new, of former life depriued.

Whom when on ground his brother next beheld,
  Though sad and sorie for so heauy sight,
  Yet leaue vnto his sorrow did not yeeld,
  But rather stird to vengeance and despight,
  Through secret feeling of his generous spright,
  Rusht fiercely forth, the battell to renew,
  As in reuersion of his brothers right;
  And chalenging the Virgin as his dew.
His foe was soone addrest: the trompets freshly blew.

With that they both together fiercely met,
  As if that each ment other to deuoure;
  And with their axes both so sorely bet,
  That neither plate nor mayle, whereas their powre
  They felt, could once sustaine the hideous stowre,
  But riued were like rotten wood a sunder,
  Whilest through their rifts the ruddie bloud did showre
  And fire did flash, like lightning after thunder,
That fild the lookers on attonce with ruth and wonder.

As when two Tygers prickt with hungers rage,
  Haue by good fortune found some beasts fresh spoyle,
  On which they weene their famine to asswage,
  And gaine a feastfull guerdon of their toyle,
  Both falling out doe stirre vp strifefull broyle,
  And cruell battell twixt themselues doe make,
  Whiles neither lets the other touch the soyle,
  But either sdeignes with other to partake:
So cruelly these Knights stroue for that Ladies sake.

Full many strokes, that mortally were ment,
  The whiles were enterchaunged twixt them two;
  Yet they were all with so good wariment
  Or warded, or auoyded and let goe,
  That still the life stood fearelesse of her foe:
  Till Diamond disdeigning long delay
  Of doubtfull fortune wauering to and fro,
  Resolu'd to end it one or other way;
And heau'd his murdrous axe at him with mighty sway.

The dreadfull stroke in case it had arriued,
  Where it was ment, (so deadly it was ment)
  The soule had sure out of his bodie riued,
  And stinted all the strife incontinent.
  But Cambels fate that fortune did preuent:
  For seeing it at hand, he swaru'd asyde,
  And so gaue way vnto his fell intent:
  Who missing of the marke which he had eyde,
Was with the force nigh feld whilst his right foot did slyde.

As when a Vulture greedie of his pray,
  Through hunger long, that hart to him doth lend,
  Strikes at an Heron with all his bodies sway,
  That from his force seemes nought may it defend;
  The warie fowle that spies him toward bend
  His dreadfull souse auoydes, it shunning light,
  And maketh him his wing in vaine to spend;
  That with the weight of his owne weeldlesse might,
He falleth nigh to ground, and scarse recouereth flight.

Which faire aduenture when Cambello spide,
  Full lightly, ere himselfe he could recower,
  From daungers dread to ward his naked side,
  He can let driue at him with all his power,
  And with his axe him smote in euill hower,
  That from his shoulders quite his head he reft:
  The headlesse tronke, as heedlesse of that stower,
  Stood still a while, and his fast footing kept,
Till feeling life to fayle, it fell, and deadly slept.

They which that piteous spectacle beheld,
  Were much amaz'd the headlesse tronke to see
  Stand vp so long, and weapon vaine to weld,
  Vnweeting of the Fates diuine decree,
  For lifes succession in those brethren three.
  For notwithstanding that one soule was reft,
  Yet, had the bodie not dismembred bee,
  It would haue liued, and reuiued eft;
But finding no fit seat, the lifelesse corse it left.

It left; but that same soule, which therein dwelt,
  Streight entring into Triamond, him fild
  With double life, and griefe, which when he felt,
  As one whose inner parts had bene ythrild
  With point of steele, that close his hartbloud spild,
  He lightly lept out of his place of rest,
  And rushing forth into the emptie field,
  Against Cambello fiercely him addrest;
Who him affronting soone to fight was readie prest.

Well mote ye wonder how that noble Knight,
  After he had so often wounded beene,
  Could stand on foot, now to renew the fight.
  But had ye then him forth aduauncing seene,
  Some newborne wight ye would him surely weene:
  So fresh he seemed and so fierce in sight;
  Like as a Snake, whom wearie winters teene,
  Hath worne to nought, now feeling sommers might,
Casts off his ragged skin and freshly doth him dight.

All was through vertue of the ring he wore,
  The which not onely did not from him let
  One drop of bloud to fall, but did restore
  His weakned powers, and dulled spirits whet,
  Through working of the stone therein yset.
  Else how could one of equall might with most,
  Against so many no lesse mightie met,
  Once thinke to match three such on equall cost,
Three such as able were to match a puissant host.

Yet nought thereof was Triamond adredde,
  Ne desperate of glorious victorie,
  But sharpely him assayld, and sore bestedde,
  With heapes of strokes, which he at him let flie,
  As thicke as hayle forth poured from the skie:
  He stroke, he soust, he foynd, he hewd, he lasht,
  And did his yron brond so fast applie,
  That from the same the fierie sparkles flasht,
As fast as water-sprinckles gainst a rocke are dasht.

Much was Cambello daunted with his blowes,
  So thicke they fell, and forcibly were sent,
  That he was forst from daunger of the throwes
  Backe to retire, and somewhat to relent,
  Till th'heat of his fierce furie he had spent:
  Which when for want of breath gan to abate,
  He then afresh with new encouragement
  Did him assayle, and mightily amate,
As fast as forward erst, now backward to retrate.

Like as the tide that comes fro th'Ocean mayne,
  Flowes vp the Shenan with contrarie forse,
  And ouerruling him in his owne rayne,
  Driues backe the current of his kindly course,
  And makes it seeme to haue some other sourse:
  But when the floud is spent, then backe againe
  His borrowed waters forst to redisbourse,
  He sends the sea his owne with double gaine,
And tribute eke withall, as to his Soueraine.

Thus did the battell varie to and fro,
  With diuerse fortune doubtfull to be deemed:
  Now this the better had, now had his fo;
  Then he halfe vanquisht, then the other seemed,
  Yet victors both them selues alwayes esteemed.
  And all the while the disentrayled blood
  Adowne their sides like litle riuers stremed,
  That with the wasting of his vitall flood,
Sir Triamond at last full faint and feeble stood.

But Cambell still more strong and greater grew,
  Ne felt his blood to wast, ne powres emperisht,
  Through that rings vertue, that with vigour new,
  Still when as he enfeebled was, him cherisht,
  And all his wounds, and all his bruses guarisht,
  Like as a withered tree through husbands toyle
  Is often seene full freshly to haue florisht,
  And fruitfull apples to haue borne awhile,
As fresh as when it first was planted in the soyle.

Through which aduantage, in his strength he rose,
  And smote the other with so wondrous might,
  That through the seame, which did his hauberk close,
  Into his throate and life it pierced quight,
  That downe he fell as dead in all mens sight:
  Yet dead he was not, yet he sure did die,
  As all men do, that lose the liuing spright:
  So did one soule out of his bodie flie
Vnto her natiue home from mortall miserie.

But nathelesse whilst all the lookers on
  Him dead behight, as he to all appeard,
  All vnawares he started vp anon,
  As one that had out of a dreame bene reard,
  And fresh assayld his foe; who halfe affeard
  Of th'vncouth sight, as he some ghost had seene,
  Stood still amaz'd, holding his idle sweard;
  Till hauing often by him stricken beene,
He forced was to strike, and saue him selfe from teene.

Yet from thenceforth more warily he fought,
  As one in feare the Stygian gods t'offend,
  Ne followd on so fast, but rather sought
  Him selfe to saue, and daunger to defend,
  Then life and labour both in vaine to spend.
  Which Triamond perceiuing, weened sure
  He gan to faint, toward the battels end,
  And that he should not long on foote endure,
A signe which did to him the victorie assure.

Whereof full blith, eftsoones his mightie hand
  He heav'd on high, in mind with that same blow
  To make an end of all that did withstand:
  Which Cambell seeing come, was nothing slow
  Him selfe to saue from that so deadly throw;
  And at that instant reaching forth his sweard
  Close vnderneath his shield, that scarce did show,
  Stroke him, as he his hand to strike vpreard,
In th'arm-pit full, that through both sides the wound appeard.

Yet still that direfull stroke kept on his way,
  And falling heauie on Cambelloes crest,
  Strooke him so hugely, that in swowne he lay,
  And in his head an hideous wound imprest:
  And sure had it not happily found rest
  Vpon the brim of his brode plated shield,
  It would haue cleft his braine downe to his brest.
  So both at once fell dead vpon the field,
And each to other seemd the victorie to yield.

Which when as all the lookers on beheld,
  They weened sure the warre was at an end,
  And Iudges rose, and Marshals of the field
  Broke vp the listes, their armes away to rend;
  And Canacee gan wayle her dearest frend.
  All suddenly they both vpstarted light,
  The one out of the swownd, which him did blend,
  The other breathing now another spright,
And fiercely each assayling, gan afresh to fight.

Long while they then continued in that wize,
  As if but then the battell had begonne:
  Strokes, wounds, wards, weapons, all they did despise,
  Ne either car'd to ward, or perill shonne,
  Desirous both to haue the battell donne;
  Ne either cared life to saue or spill,
  Ne which of them did winne, ne which were wonne.
  So wearie both of fighting had their fill,
That life it selfe seemd loathsome, and long safetie ill.

Whilst thus the case in doubtfull ballance hong,
  Vnsure to whether side it would incline,
  And all mens eyes and hearts, which there among
  Stood gazing, filled were with rufull tine,
  And secret feare, to see their fatall fine,
  All suddenly they heard a troublous noyes,
  That seemd some perilous tumult to desine,
  Confusd with womens cries, and shouts of boyes,
Such as the troubled Theaters oftimes annoyes.

Thereat the Champions both stood still a space,
  To weeten what that sudden clamour ment;
  Lo where they spyde with speedie whirling pace,
  One in a charet of straunge furniment,
  Towards them driuing like a storme out sent.
  The charet decked was in wondrous wize,
  With gold and many a gorgeous ornament,
  After the Persian Monarks antique guize,
Such as the maker selfe could best by art deuize.

And drawne it was (that wonder is to tell)
  Of two grim lyons, taken from the wood,
  In which their powre all others did excell;
  Now made forget their former cruell mood,
  T'obey their riders hest, as seemed good.
  And therein sate a Ladie passing faire
  And bright, that seemed borne of Angels brood,
  And with her beautie bountie did compare,
Whether of them in her should haue the greater share.

Thereto she learned was in Magicke leare,
  And all the artes, that subtill wits discouer,
  Hauing therein bene trained many a yeare,
  And well instructed by the Fay her mother,
  That in the same she farre exceld all other.
  Who vnderstanding by her mightie art,
  Of th'euill plight, in which her dearest brother
  Now stood, came forth in hast to take his part,
And pacifie the strife, which causd so deadly smart.

And as she passed through th'vnruly preace
  Of people, thronging thicke her to behold,
  Her angrie teame breaking their bonds of peace,
  Great heapes of them, like sheepe in narrow fold,
  For hast did ouer-runne, in dust enrould,
  That thorough rude confusion of the rout,
  Some fearing shriekt, some being harmed hould,
  Some laught for sport, some did for wonder shout,
And some that would seeme wise, their wonder turnd to dout.

In her right hand a rod of peace shee bore,
  About the which two Serpents weren wound,
  Entrayled mutually in louely lore,
  And by the tailes together firmely bound,
  And both were with one oliue garland crownd,
  Like to the rod which Maias sonne doth wield,
  Wherewith the hellish fiends he doth confound.
  And in her other hand a cup she hild,
The which was with Nepenthe to the brim vpfild.

Nepenthe is a drinck of souerayne grace,
  Deuized by the Gods, for to asswage
  Harts grief, and bitter gall away to chace,
  Which stirs vp anguish and contentious rage:
  In stead thereof sweet peace and quiet age
  It doth establish in the troubled mynd.
  Few men, but such as sober are and sage,
  Are by the Gods to drinck thereof assynd;
But such as drinck, eternall happinesse do fynd.

Such famous men, such worthies of the earth,
  As Ioue will haue aduaunced to the skie,
  And there made gods, though borne of mortall berth,
  For their high merits and great dignitie,
  Are wont, before they may to heauen flie,
  To drincke hereof, whereby all cares forepast
  Are washt away quite from their memorie.
  So did those olde Heroes hereof taste,
Before that they in blisse amongst the Gods were plaste.

Much more of price and of more gratious powre
  Is this, then that same water of Ardenne,
  The which Rinaldo drunck in happie howre,
  Described by that famous Tuscane penne:
  For that had might to change the hearts of men
  Fro loue to hate, a change of euill choise:
  But this doth hatred make in loue to brenne,
  And heauy heart with comfort doth reioyce.
Who would not to this vertue rather yeeld his voice?

At last arriuing by the listes side,
  Shee with her rod did softly smite the raile,
  Which straight flew ope, and gaue her way to ride.
  Eftsoones out of her Coch she gan auaile,
  And pacing fairely forth, did bid all haile,
  First to her brother, whom she loued deare,
  That so to see him made her heart to quaile:
  And next to Cambell, whose sad ruefull cheare
Made her to change her hew, and hidden loue t'appeare.

They lightly her requit (for small delight
  They had as then her long to entertaine.)
  And eft them turned both againe to fight;
  Which when she saw, downe on the bloudy plaine
  Her selfe she threw, and teares gan shed amaine;
  Amongst her teares immixing prayers meeke,
  And with her prayers reasons to restraine
  From blouddy strife, and blessed peace to seeke,
By all that vnto them was deare, did them beseeke.

But when as all might nought with them preuaile,
  Shee smote them lightly with her powrefull wand.
  Then suddenly as if their hearts did faile,
  Their wrathfull blades downe fell out of their hand,
  And they like men astonisht still did stand.
  Thus whilest their minds were doubtfully distraught,
  And mighty spirites bound with mightier band,
  Her golden cup to them for drinke she raught,
Whereof full glad for thirst, ech drunk an harty draught.

Of which so soone as they once tasted had,
  Wonder it is that sudden change to see:
  Instead of strokes, each other kissed glad,
  And louely haulst from feare of treason free,
  And plighted hands for euer friends to be.
  When all men saw this sudden change of things,
  So mortall foes so friendly to agree,
  For passing ioy, which so great maruaile brings,
They all gan shout aloud, that all the heauen rings.

All which, when gentle Canacee beheld,
  In hast she from her lofty chaire descended,
  To weet what sudden tidings was befeld:
  Where when she saw that cruell war so ended,
  And deadly foes so faithfully affrended,
  In louely wise she gan that Lady greet,
  Which had so great dismay so well amended,
  And entertaining her with curt'sies meet,
Profest to her true friendship and affection sweet.

Thus when they all accorded goodly were,
  The trumpets sounded, and they all arose,
  Thence to depart with glee and gladsome chere.
  Those warlike champions both together chose,
  Homeward to march, themselues there to repose,
  And wise Cambina taking by her side
  Faire Canacee, as fresh as morning rose,
  Vnto her Coch remounting, home did ride,
Admir'd of all the people, and much glorifide.

Where making ioyous feast theire daies they spent
  In perfect loue, deuoide of hatefull strife,
  Allide with bands of mutuall couplement;
  For Triamond had Canacee to wife,
  With whom he ledd a long and happie life;
  And Cambel tooke Cambina to his fere,
  The which as life were each to other liefe.
  So all alike did loue, and loued were,
That since their days such louers were not found elswhere.

Satyrane makes a Turneyment
  For loue of Florimell:
Britomart winnes the prize from all,
  And Artegall doth quell.

I T often fals, (as here it earst befell)
  That mortall foes doe turne to faithfull frends,
  And friends profest are chaungd to foemen fell:
  The cause of both, of both their minds depends;
  And th'end of both likewise of both their ends.
  For enmitie, that of no ill proceeds,
  But of occasion, with th'occasion ends;
  And friendship, which a faint affection breeds
Without regard of good, dyes like ill grounded seeds.

That well (me seemes) appeares, by that of late
  Twixt Cambell and Sir Triamond befell,
  As als by this, that now a new debate
  Stird vp twixt Scudamour and Paridell,
  The which by course befals me here to tell:
  Who hauing those two other Knights espide,
  Marching afore, as ye remember well,
  Sent forth their Squire to haue them both descride,
And eke those masked Ladies riding them beside.

Who backe returning, told as he had seene,
  That they were doughtie knights of dreaded name;
  And those two Ladies, their two loues vnseene;
  And therefore wisht them without blot or blame,
  To let them passe at will, for dread of shame.
  But Blandamour full of vainglorious spright,
  And rather stird by his discordfull Dame,
  Vpon them gladly would haue prov'd his might,
But that he yet was sore of his late lucklesse fight.

Yet nigh approching, he them fowle bespake,
  Disgracing them, him selfe thereby to grace,
  As was his wont; so weening way to make
  To Ladies loue, where so he came in place,
  And with lewd termes their louers to deface.
  Whose sharpe prouokement them incenst so sore,
  That both were bent t'auenge his vsage base,
  And gan their shields addresse them selues afore:
For euill deedes may better then bad words be bore.

But faire Cambina with perswasions myld,
  Did mitigate the fiercenesse of their mode,
  That for the present they were reconcyld,
  And gan to treate of deeds of armes abrode,
  And strange aduentures, all the way they rode:
  Amongst the which they told, as then befell,
  Of that great turney, which was blazed brode,
  For that rich girdle of faire Florimell,
The prize of her, which did in beautie most excell.

To which folke-mote they all with one consent,
  Sith each of them his Ladie had him by,
  Whose beautie each of them thought excellent,
  Agreed to trauell, and their fortunes try.
  So as they passed forth, they did espy
  One in bright armes, with ready speare in rest,
  That toward them his course seem'd to apply,
  Gainst whom Sir Paridell himselfe addrest,
Him weening, ere he nigh approcht to haue represt.

Which th'other seeing, gan his course relent,
  And vaunted speare eftsoones to disaduaunce,
  As if he naught but peace and pleasure ment,
  Now falne into their fellowship by chance,
  Whereat they shewed curteous countenaunce.
  So as he rode with them accompanide,
  His rouing eie did on the Lady glaunce,
  Which Blandamour had riding by his side:
Who[m] sure he weend, that he some wher tofore had eide.

It was to weete that snowy Florimell,
Which Ferrau late from Braggadochio wonne,
  Whom he now seeing, her remembred well,
  How hauing reft her from the witches sonne,
  He soone her lost: wherefore he now begunne
  To challenge her anew, as his owne prize,
  Whom formerly he had in battell wonne,
  And proffer made by force her to reprize:
Which scornefull offer, Blandamour gan soone despize.

And said, Sir Knight, sith ye this Lady clame,
  Whom he that hath, were loth to lose so light,
  (For so to lose a Lady, were great shame)
  Yee shall her winne, as I haue done in fight:
  And lo shee shall be placed here in sight,
  Together with this Hag beside her set,
  That who so winnes her, may her haue by right:
  But he shall haue the Hag that is ybet,
And with her alwaies ride, till he another get.

That offer pleased all the company,
  So Florimell with Ate forth was brought,
  At which they all gan laugh full merrily:
  But Braggadochio said, he neuer thought
  For such an Hag, that seemed worse then nought,
  His person to emperill so in fight.
  But if to match that Lady they had sought
  Another like, that were like faire and bright,
His life he then would spend to iustifie his right.

At which his vaine excuse they all gan smile,
  As scorning his vnmanly cowardize:
  And Florimell him fowly gan reuile,
  That for her sake refus'd to enterprize
  The battell, offred in so knightly wize.
  And Ate eke prouokt him priuily,
  With loue of her, and shame of such mesprize.
  But naught he car'd for friend or enemy,
For in base mind nor friendship dwels nor enmity.

But Cambell thus did shut vp all in iest,
  Braue Knights and Ladies, certes ye doe wrong
  To stirre vp strife, when most vs needeth rest,
  That we may vs reserue both fresh and strong,
  Against the Turneiment which is not long.
  When who so list to fight, may fight his fill,
  Till then your challenges ye may prolong;
  And then it shall be tried, if ye will,
Whether shall haue the Hag, or hold the Lady still.

They all agreed: so turning all to game,
  And pleasaunt bord, they past forth on their way,
  And all that while, where so they rode or came,
  That masked Mock-knight was their sport and play.
  Till that at length vpon th'appointed day,
  Vnto the place of turneyment they came;
  Where they before them found in fresh aray
  Manie a braue knight, and manie a daintie dame
Assembled, for to get the honour of that game.

There this faire crewe arriuing, did diuide
  Them selues asunder: Blandamour with those
  Of his, on th'one; the rest on th'other side.
  But boastfull Braggadocchio rather chose,
  For glorie vaine their fellowship to lose,
  That men on him the more might gaze alone.
  The rest them selues in troupes did else dispose,
  Like as it seemed best to euery one;
The knights in couples marcht, with ladies linckt attone.

Then first of all forth came Sir Satyrane,
  Bearing that precious relicke in an arke
  Of gold, that bad eyes might it not prophane:
  Which drawing softly forth out of the darke,
  He open shewd, that all men it mote marke.
  A gorgeous girdle, curiously embost
  With pearle & precious stone, worth many a marke;
  Yet did the workmanship farre passe the cost:
It was the same, which lately Florimel had lost.

That same aloft he hong in open vew,
  To be the prize of beautie and of might;
  The which eftsoones discouered, to it drew
  The eyes of all, allur'd with close delight,
  And hearts quite robbed with so glorious sight,
  That all men threw out vowes and wishes vaine.
  Thrise happie Ladie, and thrise happie knight,
  Them seemd, that could so goodly riches gaine,
So worthie of the perill, worthy of the paine.

Then tooke the bold Sir Satyrane in hand
  An huge great speare, such as he wont to wield,
  And vauncing forth from all the other band
  Of knights, addrest his maiden-headed shield,
  Shewing him selfe all ready for the field.
  Gainst whom there singled from the other side
  A Painim knight, that well in armes was skild,
  And had in many a battell oft bene tride,
Hight Bruncheual the bold, who fiersly forth did ride.

So furiously they both together met,
  That neither could the others force sustaine;
  As two fierce Buls, that striue the rule to get
  Of all the heard, meete with so hideous maine,
  That both rebutted, tumble on the plaine:
  So these two champions to the ground were feld,
  Where in a maze they both did long remaine,
  And in their hands their idle troncheons held,
Which neither able were to wag, or once to weld.

Which when the noble Ferramont espide,
  He pricked forth in ayd of Satyran;
  And him against Sir Blandamour did ride
  With all the strength and stifnesse that he can.
  But the more strong and stiffely that he ran,
  So much more sorely to the ground he fell,
  That on an heape were tumbled horse and man.
  Vnto whose rescue forth rode Paridell;
But him likewise with that same speare he eke did quell.

Which Braggadocchio seeing, had no will
  To hasten greatly to his parties ayd,
  Albee his turne were next; but stood there still,
  As one that seemed doubtfull or dismayd.
  But Triamond halfe wroth to see him staid,
  Sternly stept forth, and raught away his speare,
  With which so sore he Ferramont assaid,
  That horse and man to ground he quite did beare,
That neither could in hast themselues againe vpreare.

Which to auenge, Sir Deuon him did dight,
  But with no better fortune then the rest:
  For him likewise he quickly downe did smight,
  And after him Sir Douglas him addrest,
  And after him Sir Paliumord forth prest,
  But none of them against his strokes could stand,
  But all the more, the more his praise increst.
  For either they were left vppon the land,
Or went away sore wounded of his haplesse hand.

And now by this, Sir Satyrane abraid,
  Out of the swowne, in which too long he lay;
  And looking round about, like one dismaid,
  When as he saw the mercilesse affray
  Which doughty Triamond had wrought that day,
  Vnto the noble Knights of Maidenhead,
  His mighty heart did almost rend in tway,
  For very gall, that rather wholly dead
Himselfe he wisht haue beene, then in so bad a stead.

Eftsoones he gan to gather vp around
  His weapons, which lay scattered all abrode,
  And as it fell, his steed he ready found.
  On whom remounting, fiercely forth he rode,
  Like sparke of fire that from the anduile glode.
  There where he saw the valiant Triamond
  Chasing, and laying on them heauy lode,
  That none his force were able to withstond,
So dreadfull were his strokes, so deadly was his hond.

With that, at him his beam-like speare he aimed,
  And thereto all his power and might applide:
  The wicked steele for mischiefe first ordained,
  And hauing now misfortune got for guide,
  Staid not, till it arriued in his side.
  And therein made a very griesly wound,
  That streames of bloud his armour all bedide.
  Much was he daunted with that direfull stound,
That scarse he him vpheld from falling in a sound.

Yet as he might, himselfe he soft withdrew
  Out of the field, that none perceiu'd it plaine.
  Then gan the part of Chalengers anew
  To range the field, and victorlike to raine,
  That none against them battell durst maintaine.
  By that the gloomy euening on them fell,
  That forced them from fighting to refraine,
  And trumpets sound to cease did them compell.
So Satyrane that day was iudg'd to beare the bell.

The morrow next the Turney gan anew,
  And with the first the hardy Satyrane
  Appear'd in place, with all his noble crew:
  On th'other side, full many a warlike swaine,
  Assembled were, that glorious prize to gaine.
  But mongst them all, was not Sir Triamond,
  Vnable he new battell to darraine,
  Through grieuaunce of his late receiued wound,
That doubly did him grieue, when so himselfe he found.

Which Cambell seeing, though he could not salue,
  Ne done vndoe, yet for to salue his name,
  And purchase honour in his friends behalue,
  This goodly counterfesaunce he did frame.
  The shield and armes well knowne to be the same,
  Which Triamond had worne, vnwares to wight,
  And to his friend vnwist, for doubt of blame,
  If he misdid, he on himselfe did dight,
That none could him discerne, and so went forth to fight.

There Satyrane Lord of the field he found,
  Triumphing in great ioy and iolity;
  Gainst whom none able was to stand on ground;
  That much he gan his glorie to enuy,
  And cast t'auenge his friends indignity.
  A mightie speare eftsoones at him he bent;
  Who seeing him come on so furiously,
  Met him mid-way with equall hardiment,
That forcibly to ground they both together went.

They vp againe them selues can lightly reare,
  And to their tryed swords them selues betake;
  With which they wrought such wondrous maruels there,
  That all the rest it did amazed make,
  Ne any dar'd their perill to partake;
  Now cuffling close, now chacing to and fro,
  Now hurtling round aduantage for to take:
  As two wild Boares together grapling go,
Chaufing and foming choler each against his fo.

So as they courst, and turneyd here and theare,
  It chaunst Sir Satyrane his steed at last,
  Whether through foundring or through sodein feare
  To stumble, that his rider nigh he cast;
  Which vauntage Cambell did pursue so fast,
  That ere him selfe he had recouered well,
  So sore he sowst him on the compast creast,
  That forced him to leaue his loftie sell,
And rudely tumbling downe vnder his horse feete fell.

Lightly Cambello leapt downe from his steed,
  For to haue rent his shield and armes away,
  That whylome wont to be the victors meed;
  When all vnwares he felt an hideous sway
  Of many swords, that lode on him did lay.
  An hundred knights had him enclosed round,
  To rescue Satyrane out of his pray;
  All which at once huge strokes on him did pound,
In hope to take him prisoner, where he stood on ground.

He with their multitude was nought dismayd,
  But with stout courage turnd vpon them all,
  And with his brondiron round about him layd;
  Of which he dealt large almes, as did befall:
  Like as a Lion that by chaunce doth fall
  Into the hunters toile, doth rage and rore,
  In royall heart disdaining to be thrall.
  But all in vaine: for what might one do more?
They haue him taken captiue, though it grieue him sore.

Whereof when newes to Triamond was brought,
  There as he lay, his wound he soone forgot,
  And starting vp, streight for his armour sought:
  In vaine he sought; for there he found it not;
  Cambello it away before had got:
  Cambelloes armes therefore he on him threw,
  And lightly issewd forth to take his lot.
  There he in troupe found all that warlike crew,
Leading his friend away, full sorie to his vew.

Into the thickest of that knightly preasse
  He thrust, and smote downe all that was betweene,
  Caried with feruent zeale, ne did he ceasse,
  Till that he came, where he had Cambell seene,
  Like captive thral two other Knights atweene,
  There he amongst them cruell hauocke makes;
  That they which lead him, soone enforced beene
  To let him loose, to saue their proper stakes;
Who being freed, from one a weapon fiercely takes.

With that he driues at them with dreadfull might,
  Both in remembrance of his friends late harme,
  And in reuengement of his owne despight,
  So both together giue a new allarme,
  As if but now the battell wexed warme.
  As when two greedy Wolues doe breake by force
  Into an heard, farre from the husband farme,
  They spoile and rauine without all remorse,
So did these two through all the field their foes enforce.

Fiercely they followd on their bolde emprize,
  Till trumpets sound did warne them all to rest;
  Then all with one consent did yeeld the prize
  To Triamond and Cambell as the best.
  But Triamond to Cambell it relest,
  And Cambell it to Triamond transferd;
  Each labouring t'aduance the others gest,
  And make his praise before his owne preferd:
So that the doome was to another day differd.

The last day came, when all those knightes againe
  Assembled were their deedes of armes to shew.
  Full many deedes that day were shewed plaine:
  But Satyrane boue all the other crew,
  His wondrous worth declared in all mens view.
  For from the first he to the last endured,
  And though some while Fortune from him withdrew,
  Yet euermore his honour he recured,
And with vnwearied powre his party still assured.

Ne was there Knight that euer thought of armes,
  But that his vtmost prowesse there made knowen,
  That by their many wounds, and carelesse harmes,
  By shiuered speares, and swords all vnder strowen,
  By scattered shields was easie to be showen.
  There might ye see loose steeds at randon ronne,
  Whose luckelesse riders late were ouerthrowen;
  And squiers make hast to helpe their Lords fordonne.
But still the Knights of Maidenhead the better wonne.

Till that there entred on the other side,
  A straunger knight, from whence no man could reed,
  In quyent disguise, full hard to be descride.
  For all his armour was like saluage weed,
  With woody mosse bedight, and all his steed
  With oaken leaues attrapt, that seemed fit
  For saluage wight, and thereto well agreed
  His word, which on his ragged shield was writ,
Saluagesse sans finesse, shewing secret wit.

He at his first incomming, charg'd his spere
  At him, that first appeared in his sight:
  That was to weet, the stout Sir Sangliere,
  Who well was knowen to be a valiant Knight,
  Approued oft in many a perlous fight.
  Him at the first encounter downe he smote,
  And ouerbore beyond his crouper quight,
  And after him another Knight, that hote
Sir Brianor, so sore, that none him life behote.

Then ere his hand he reard, he ouerthrew
  Seuen Knights one after other as they came:
  And when his speare was brust, his sword he drew,
  The instrument of wrath, and with the same
  Far'd like a lyon in his bloodie game,
  Hewing, and slashing shields, and helmets bright,
  And beating downe, what euer nigh him came,
  That euery one gan shun his dreadfull sight,
No lesse then death it selfe, in daungerous affright.

Much wondred all men, what, or whence he came,
  That did amongst the troupes so tyrannize;
  And each of other gan inquire his name.
  But when they could not learne it by no wize,
  Most answerable to his wyld disguize
  It seemed, him to terme the saluage knight.
  But certes his right name was otherwize,
  Though knowne to few, that Arthegall he hight,
The doughtiest knight that liv'd that day, and most of might.

Thus was Sir Satyrane with all his band
  By his sole manhood and atchieuement stout
  Dismayd, that none of them in field durst stand,
  But beaten were, and chased all about.
  So he continued all that day throughout,
  Till euening, that the Sunne gan downward bend.
  Then rushed forth out of the thickest rout
  A stranger knight, that did his glorie shend:
So nought may be esteemed happie till the end.

He at his entrance charg'd his powrefull speare
  At Artegall, in middest of his pryde,
  And therewith smote him on his Vmbriere
  So sore, that tombling backe, he downe did slyde
  Ouer his horses taile aboue a stryde:
  Whence litle lust he had to rise againe.
  Which Cambell seeing, much the same enuyde,
  And ran at him with all his might and maine;
But shortly was likewise seene lying on the plaine.

Whereat full inly wroth was Triamond,
  And cast t'auenge the shame doen to his freend:
  But by his friend himselfe eke soone he fond,
  In no lesse neede of helpe, then him he weend.
  All which when Blandamour from end to end
  Beheld, he woxe therewith displeased sore,
  And thought in mind it shortly to amend:
  His speare he feutred, and at him it bore;
But with no better fortune, then the rest afore.

Full many others at him likewise ran:
  But all of them likewise dismounted were,
  Ne certes wonder; for no powre of man
  Could bide the force of that enchaunted speare,
  The which this famous Britomart did beare;
  With which she wondrous deeds of arms atchieued,
  And ouerthrew, what euer came her neare,
  That all those stranger knights full sore agrieued,
And that late weaker band of chalengers relieued.

Like as in sommers day when raging heat
  Doth burne the earth, and boyled riuers drie,
  That all brute beasts forst to refraine fro meat,
  Doe hunt for shade, where shrowded they may lie,
  And missing it, faine from themselues to flie;
  All trauellers tormented are with paine:
  A watry cloud doth ouercast the skie,
  And poureth forth a sudden shoure of raine,
That all the wretched world recomforteth againe.

So did the warlike Britomart restore
  The prize, to knights of Maydenhead that day,
  Which else was like to haue bene lost, and bore
  The prayse of prowesse from them all away.
  Then shrilling trompets loudly gan to bray,
  And bad them leaue their labours and long toyle,
  To ioyous feast and other gentle play;
  Where beauties prize shold win that pretious spoyle:
Where I with sound of trompe will also rest a whyle.

The Ladies for the Girdle striue
  of famous Florimell:
Scudamour comming to Cares house,
  doth sleepe from him expell.

I T hath bene through all ages euer seene,
  That with the praise of armes and cheualrie,
  The prize of beautie still hath ioyned beene;
  And that for reasons speciall priuitie:
  For either doth on other much relie.
  For he me seemes most fit the faire to serue,
  That can her best defend from villenie;
  And she most fit his seruice doth deserue,
That fairest is and from her faith will neuer swerue.

So fitly now here commeth next in place,
  After the proofe of prowesse ended well,
  The controuerse of beauties soueraine grace;
  In which to her that doth the most excell,
  Shall fall the girdle of faire Florimell:
  That many wish to win for glorie vaine,
  And not for vertuous vse, which some doe tell
  That glorious belt did in it selfe containe,
Which Ladies ought to loue, and seeke for to obtaine.

That girdle gaue the vertue of chast loue,
  And wiuehood true, to all that did it beare;
  But whosoeuer contrarie doth proue,
  Might not the same about her middle weare.
  But it would loose, or else a sunder teare.
  Whilome it was (as Faeries wont report)
  Dame Venus girdle, by her steemed deare,
  What time she vsd to liue in wiuely sort;
But layd aside, when so she vsd her looser sport.

Her husband Vulcan whylome for her sake,
  When first he loued her with heart entire,
  This pretious ornament they say did make,
  And wrought in Lemno with vnquenched fire:
  And afterwards did for her loues first hire,
  Giue it to her, for euer to remaine,
  Therewith to bind lasciuious desire,
  And loose affections streightly to restraine;
Which vertue it for euer after did retaine.

The same one day, when she her selfe disposd
  To visite her beloued Paramoure,
  The God of warre, she from her middle loosd,
  And left behind her in her secret bowre,
  On Acidalian mount, where many an howre
  She with the pleasant Graces wont to play.
  There Florimell in her first ages flowre
  Was fostered by those Graces, (as they say)
And brought with her fro[m] thence that goodly belt away.

That goodly belt was Cestus hight by name,
  And as her life by her esteemed deare.
  No wonder then, if that to winne the same
  So many Ladies sought, as shall appeare;
  For pearelesse she was thought, that did it beare.
  And now by this their feast all being ended,
  The iudges which thereto selected were,
  Into the Martian field adowne descended,
To deeme this doutfull case, for which they all co[n]tended.

But first was question made, which of those Knights
  That lately turneyd, had the wager wonne:
  There was it iudged by those worthie wights,
  That Satyrane the first day best had donne:
  For he last ended, hauing first begonne.
  The second was to Triamond behight,
  For that he sau'd the victour from fordonne:
  For Cambell victour was in all mens sight,
Till by mishap he in his foemens hand did light.

The third dayes prize vnto that straunger Knight,
  Whom all men term'd Knight of the Hebene speare,
  To Britomart was giuen by good right;
  For that with puissant stroke she downe did beare
  The Saluage Knight, that victour was whileare,
  And all the rest, which had the best afore,
  And to the last vnconquer'd did appeare;
  For last is deemed best. To her therefore
The fayrest Ladie was adiudgd for Paramore.

But thereat greatly grudged Arthegall,
  And much repynd, that both of victors meede,
  And eke of honour she did him forestall.
  Yet mote he not withstand, what was decreede;
  But inly thought of that despightfull deede
  Fit time t'awaite auenged for to bee.
  This being ended thus, and all agreed,
  Then next ensew'd the Paragon to see
Of beauties praise, and yeeld the fayrest her due fee.

Then first Cambello brought vnto their view
  His faire Cambina, couered with a veale;
  Which being once withdrawne, most perfect hew
  And passing beautie did eftsoones reueale,
  That able was weake harts away to steale.
  Next did Sir Triamond vnto their sight
  The face of his deare Canacee vnheale;
  Whose beauties beame eftsoones did shine so bright,
That daz'd the eyes of all, as with exceeding light.

And after her did Paridell produce
  His false Duessa, that she might be seene;
  Who with her forged beautie did seduce
  The hearts of some, that fairest her did weene;
  As diuerse wits affected diuers beene.
  Then did Sir Ferramont vnto them shew
  His Lucida, that was full faire and sheene,
  And after these an hundred Ladies moe
Appear'd in place, the which each other did outgoe.

All which who so dare thinke for to enchace,
  Him needeth sure a golden pen I weene,
  To tell the feature of each goodly face.
  For since the day that they created beene,
  So many heauenly faces were not seene
  Assembled in one place: ne he that thought
  For Chian folke to pourtraict beauties Queene,
  By view of all the fairest to him brought,
So many faire did see, as here he might haue sought.

At last the most redoubted Britonesse,
Her louely Amoret did open shew;
  Whose face discouered, plainely did expresse
  The heauenly pourtraict of bright Angels hew.
  Well weened all, which her that time did vew,
  That she should surely beare the bell away,
  Till Blandamour, who thought he had the trew
  And very Florimell, did her display:
  The sight of whom once seene did all the rest dismay.

For all afore that seemed fayre and bright,
  Now base and contemptible did appeare,
  Compar'd to her, that shone as Phebes light,
  Amongst the lesser starres in euening cleare.
  All that her saw with wonder rauisht weare,
  And weend no mortall creature she should bee,
  But some celestiall shape, that flesh did beare:
  Yet all were glad there Florimell to see;
Yet thought that Florimell was not so faire as shee.

As guilefull Goldsmith that by secret skill,
  With golden foyle doth finely ouer spred
  Some baser metall, which commend he will
  Vnto the vulgar for good gold insted,
  He much more goodly glosse thereon doth shed,
  To hide his falshood, then if it were trew:
  So hard, this Idole was to be ared,
  That Florimell her selfe in all mens vew
She seem'd to passe: so forged things do fairest shew.

Then was that golden belt by doome of all
  Graunted to her, as to the fayrest Dame.
  Which being brought, about her middle small
  They thought to gird, as best it her became;
  But by no meanes they could it thereto frame.
  For euer as they fastned it, it loos'd
  And fell away, as feeling secret blame.
  Full oft about her wast she it enclos'd;
And it as oft was from about her wast disclos'd.

That all men wondred at the vncouth sight,
  And each one thought, as to their fancies came.
  But she her selfe did thinke it doen for spight,
  And touched was with secret wrath and shame
  Therewith, as thing deuiz'd her to defame.
  Then many other Ladies likewise tride,
  About their tender loynes to knit the same;
  But it would not on none of them abide,
But when they thought it fast, eftsoones it was vntide.

Which when that scornefull Squire of Dames did vew,
  He lowdly gan to laugh, and thus to iest;
  Alas for pittie that so faire a crew,
  As like can not be seene from East to West,
  Cannot find one this girdle to inuest.
  Fie on the man, that did it first inuent,
  To shame vs all with this, Vngirt vnblest.
  Let neuer Ladie to his loue assent,
That hath this day so many so vnmanly shent.

Thereat all Knights gan laugh, and Ladies lowre:
  Till that at last the gentle Amoret
  Likewise assayd, to proue that girdles powre;
  And hauing it about her middle set,
  Did find it fit, withouten breach or let.
  Whereat the rest gan greatly to enuie:
  But Florimell exceedingly did fret,
  And snatching from her hand halfe angrily
The belt againe, about her bodie gan it tie.

Yet nathemore would it her bodie fit;
  Yet nathelesse to her, as her dew right,
  It yeelded was by them, that iudged it:
  And she her selfe adiudged to the Knight,
  That bore the Hebene speare, as wonne in fight.
  But Britomart would not thereto assent,
  Ne her owne Amoret forgoe so light
  For that strange Dame, whose beauties wonderment
She lesse esteem'd, then th'others vertuous gouernment.

Whom when the rest did see her to refuse,
  They were full glad, in hope themselues to get her:
  Yet at her choice they all did greatly muse.
  But after that the Iudges did arret her
  Vnto the second best, that lou'd her better;
  That was the Saluage Knight: but he was gone
  In great displeasure, that he could not get her.
  Then was she iudged Triamond his one;
But Triamond lou'd Canacee, and other none.

Tho vnto Satyran she was adiudged,
  Who was right glad to gaine so goodly meed:
  But Blandamour thereat full greatly grudged,
  And litle prays'd his labours euill speed,
  That for to winne the saddle, lost the steed.
  Ne lesse thereat did Paridell complaine,
  And thought t'appeale from that, which was decreed,
  To single combat with Sir Satyrane.
Thereto him Ate stird, new discord to maintaine.

And eke with these, full many other Knights
  She through her wicked working did incense,
  Her to demaund, and chalenge as their rights,
  Deserued for their perils recompense.
  Amongst the rest with boastfull vaine pretense
  Stept Braggadochio forth, and as his thrall
  Her claym'd, by him in battell wonne long sens:
  Whereto her selfe he did to witnesse call;
Who being askt, accordingly confessed all.

Thereat exceeding wroth was Satyran;
  And wroth with Satyran was Blandamour;
  And wroth with Blandamour was Eriuan;
  And at them both Sir Paridell did loure.
  So all together stird vp strifull stoure,
  And readie were new battell to darraine.
  Each one profest to be her paramoure,
  And vow'd with speare and shield it to maintaine;
Ne Iudges powre, ne reasons rule mote them restraine.

Which troublous stirre when Satyrane auiz'd:
  He gan to cast how to appease the same,
  And to accord them all, this meanes deuiz'd:
  First in the midst to set that fayrest Dame,
  To whom each one his chalenge should disclame,
  And he himselfe his right would eke releasse:
  Then looke to whom she voluntarie came,
  He should without disturbance her possesse:
Sweete is the loue that comes alone with willingnesse.

They all agreed, and then that snowy Mayd
  Was in the middest plast among them all;
  All on her gazing wisht, and vowd, and prayd,
  And to the Queene of beautie close did call,
  That she vnto their portion might befall.
  Then when she long had lookt vpon each one,
  As though she wished to haue pleasd them all,
  At last to Braggadochio selfe alone
She came of her accord, in spight of all his fone.

Which when they all beheld they chaft and rag'd,
  And woxe nigh mad for very harts despight,
  That from reuenge their willes they scarse asswag'd:
  Some thought from him her to haue reft by might;
  Some proffer made with him for her to fight.
  But he nought car'd for all that they could say:
  For he their words as wind esteemed light.
  Yet not fit place he thought it there to stay,
But secretly from thence that night her bore away.

They which remaynd, so soone as they perceiu'd,
  That she was gone, departed thence with speed,
  And follow'd them, in mind her to haue reau'd
  From wight vnworthie of so noble meed.
  In which poursuit how each one did succeede,
  Shall else be told in order, as it fell.
  But now of Britomart it here doth neede,
  The hard aduentures and strange haps to tell;
Since with the rest she went not after Florimell.

For soone as she them saw to discord set,
  Her list no longer in that place abide;
  But taking with her louely Amoret,
  Vpon her first aduenture forth did ride,
  To seeke her lou'd, making blind Loue her guide.
  Vnluckie Mayd to seeke her enemie!
  Vnluckie Mayd to seeke him farre and wide,
  Whom, when he was vnto her selfe most nie,
She through his late disguizeme[n]t could him not descrie.

So much the more her griefe, the more her toyle:
  Yet neither toyle nor griefe she once did spare,
  In seeking him, that should her paine assoyle;
  Whereto great comfort in her sad misfare
  Was Amoret, companion of her care:
  Who likewise sought her louer long miswent,
  The gentle Scudamour, whose hart whileare
  That stryfull hag with gealous discontent
Had fild, that he to fell reueng was fully bent.

Bent to reuenge on blamelesse Britomart
  The crime, which cursed Ate kindled earst,
  The which like thornes did pricke his gealous hart,
  And through his soule like poysned arrow perst,
  That by no reason it might be reuerst,
  For ought that Glauce could or doe or say.
  For aye the more that she the same reherst,
  The more it gauld, and grieu'd him night and day,
That nought but dire reuenge his anger mote defray.

So as they trauelled, the drouping night
  Couered with cloudie storme and bitter showre,
  That dreadfull seem'd to euery liuing wight,
  Vpon them fell, before her timely howre;
  That forced them to seeke some couert bowre,
  Where they might hide their heads in quiet rest,
  And shrowd their persons from that stormie stowre.
  Not farre away, not meete for any guest
They spide a little cottage, like some poore mans nest.

Vnder a steepe hilles side it placed was,
  There where the mouldred earth had cav'd the banke;
  And fast beside a little brooke did pas
  Of muddie water, that like puddle stanke;
  By which few crooked sallowes grew in ranke:
  Whereto approaching nigh, they heard the sound
  Of many yron hammers beating ranke,
  And answering their wearie turnes around,
That seemed some blacksmith dwelt in that desert grou[n]d.

There entring in, they found the goodman selfe,
  Full busily vnto his worke ybent;
  Who was to weet a wretched wearish elfe,
  With hollow eyes and rawbone cheekes forspent,
  As if he had in prison long bene pent:
  Full blacke and griesly did his face appeare,
  Besmeard with smoke that nigh his eye-sight blent;
  With rugged beard, and hoarie shagged heare,
The which he neuer wont to combe, or comely sheare.

Rude was his garment, and to rags all rent,
  Ne better had he, ne for better cared:
  With blistred hands emongst the cinders brent,
  And fingers filthie, with long nayles vnpared,
  Right fit to rend the food, on which he fared.
  His name was Care; a blacksmith by his trade,
  That neither day nor night from working spared,
  But to small purpose yron wedges made;
Those be vnquiet thoughts, that carefull minds inuade.

In which his worke he had sixe seruants prest,
  About the Andvile standing euermore,
  With huge great hammers, that did neuer rest
  From heaping stroakes, which thereon soused sore:
  All sixe strong groomes, but one then other more:
  For by degrees they all were disagreed;
  So likewise did the hammers which they bore,
  Like belles in greatnesse orderly succeed,
That he which was the last, the first did farre exceede.

He like a monstrous Gyant seem'd in sight,
  Farre passing Bronteus, or Pynacmon great,
  The which in Lipari doe day and night
  Frame thunderbolts for Ioues auengefull threate.
  So dreadfully he did the anduile beat,
  That seem'd to dust he shortly would it driue:
  So huge his hammer and so fierce his heat,
  That seem'd a rocke of Diamond it could riue,
And rend a sunder quite, if he thereto list striue.

Sir Scudamour there entring, much admired
  The manner of their worke and wearie paine;
  And hauing long beheld, at last enquired
  The cause and end thereof: but all in vaine;
  For they for nought would from their worke refraine,
  Ne let his speeches come vnto their eare.
  And eke the breathfull bellowes blew amaine,
  Like to the Northren winde, that none could heare:
Those Pensifenesse did moue; and Sighes the bellows weare.

Which when that warriour saw, he said no more,
  But in his armour layd him downe to rest:
  To rest he layd him downe vpon the flore,
  (Whylome for ventrous Knights the bedding best)
  And thought his wearie limbs to haue redrest.
  And that old aged Dame, his faithfull Squire,
  Her feeble ioynts layd eke a downe to rest;
  That needed much her weake age to desire,
After so long a trauell, which them both did tire.

There lay Sir Scudamour long while expecting,
  When gentle sleepe his heauie eyes would close;
  Oft chaunging sides, and oft new place electing,
  Where better seem'd he mote himselfe repose;
  And oft in wrath he thence againe vprose;
  And oft in wrath he layd him downe againe.
  But wheresoeuer he did himselfe dispose,
  He by no meanes could wished ease obtaine:
So euery place seem'd painefull, and ech changing vaine.

And euermore, when he to sleepe did thinke,
  The hammers sound his senses did molest;
  And euermore, when he began to winke,
  The bellowes noyse disturb'd his quiet rest,
  Ne suffred sleepe to settle in his brest.
  And all the night the dogs did barke and howle
  About the house, at sent of stranger guest:
  And now the crowing Cocke, and now the Owle
Lowde shriking him afflicted to the very sowle.

And if by fortune any litle nap
  Vpon his heauie eye-lids chaunst to fall,
  Eftsoones one of those villeins him did rap
  Vpon his headpeece with his yron mall;
  That he was soone awaked therewithall,
  And lightly started vp as one affrayd;
  Or as if one him suddenly did call.
  So oftentimes he out of sleepe abrayd,
And then lay musing long, on that him ill apayd.

So long he muzed, and so long he lay,
  That at the last his wearie sprite opprest
  With fleshly weaknesse, which no creature may
  Long time resist, gaue place to kindly rest,
  That all his senses did full soone arrest:
  Yet in his soundest sleepe, his dayly feare
  His ydle braine gan busily molest,
  And made him dreame those two disloyall were:
The things that day most minds, at night doe most appeare.

With that, the wicked carle the maister Smith
  A paire of redwhot yron tongs did take
  Out of the burning cinders, and therewith
  Vnder his side him nipt, that forst to wake,
  He felt his hart for very paine to quake,
  And started vp auenged for to be
  On him, the which his quiet slomber brake:
  Yet looking round about him none could see;
Yet did the smart remaine, though he himselfe did flee.

In such disquiet and hartfretting payne,
  He all that night, that too long night did passe.
  And now the day out of the Ocean mayne
  Began to peepe aboue this earthly masse,
  With pearly dew sprinkling the morning grasse:
  Then vp he rose like heauie lumpe of lead,
  That in his face, as in a looking glasse,
  The signes of anguish one mote plainely read,
And ghesse the man to be dismayd with gealous dread.

Vnto his lofty steede he clombe anone,
  And forth vpon his former voiage fared,
  And with him eke that aged Squire attone;
  Who whatsoeuer perill was prepared,
  Both equall paines and equall perill shared:
  The end whereof and daungerous euent
  Shall for another canticle be spared.
  But here my wearie teeme nigh ouer spent
Shall breath it selfe awhile, after so long a went.

Both Scudamour and Arthegall
  Doe fight with Britomart:
He sees her face; doth fall in loue,
  and soone from her depart.

VV Hat equall torment to the griefe of mind,
  And pyning anguish hid in gentle hart,
  That inly feeds it selfe with thoughts vnkind,
  And nourisheth her owne consuming smart?
  What medicine can any Leaches art
  Yeeld such a sore, that doth her grieuance hide,
  And will to none her maladie impart?
  Such was the wound that Scudamour did gride;
For which Dan Phebus selfe cannot a salue prouide.

Who hauing left that restlesse house of Care,
  The next day, as he on his way did ride,
  Full of melancholie and sad misfare,
  Through misconceipt; all vnawares espide
  An armed Knight vnder a forrest side,
  Sitting in shade beside his grazing steede;
  Who soone as them approaching he descride,
  Gan towards them to pricke with eger speede,
That seem'd he was full bent to some mischieuous deede.

Which Scudamour perceiuing, forth issewed
  To haue rencountred him in equall race;
  But soone as th'other nigh approaching, vewed
  The armes he bore, his speare he gan abase,
  And voide his course: at which so suddain case
  He wondred much. But th'other thus can say;
  Ah gentle Scudamour, vnto your grace
  I me submit, and you of pardon pray,
That almost had against you trespassed this day.

Whereto thus Scudamour, Small harme it were
  For any knight, vpon a ventrous knight
  Without displeasance for to proue his spere.
  But reade you Sir, sith ye my name haue hight,
  What is your owne, that I mote you requite?
  Certes (sayd he) ye mote as now excuse
  Me from discouering you my name aright:
  For time yet serues that I the same refuse,
But call ye me the Saluage Knight, as others vse.

Then this, Sir Saluage Knight (quoth he) areede;
  Or doe you here within this forrest wonne,
  That seemeth well to answere to your weede?
  Or haue ye it for some occasion donne?
  That rather seemes, sith knowen armes ye shonne.
  This other day (sayd he) a stranger knight
  Shame and dishonour hath vnto me donne;
  On whom I waite to wreake that foule despight,
When euer he this way shall passe by day or night.

Shame be his meede (quoth he) that meaneth shame.
  But what is he, by whom ye shamed were?
  A stranger knight, sayd he, vnknowne by name,
  But knowne by fame, and by an Hebene speare,
  With which he all that met him, downe did beare.
  He in an open Turney lately held,
  Fro me the honour of that game did reare;
  And hauing me all wearie earst, downe feld,
The fayrest Ladie reft, and euer since withheld.

When Scudamour heard mention of that speare,
  He wist right well, that it was Britomart,
  The which from him his fairest loue did beare.
  Tho gan he swell in euery inner part,
  For fell despight, and gnaw his gealous hart,
  That thus he sharply sayd; Now by my head,
  Yet is not this the first vnknightly part,
  Which that same knight, whom by his launce I read,
Hath doen to noble knights, that many makes him dread.

For lately he my loue hath fro me reft,
  And eke defiled with foule villanie
  The sacred pledge, which in his faith was left,
  In shame of knighthood and fidelitie;
  The which ere long full deare he shall abie.
  And if to that auenge by you decreed
  This hand may helpe, or succour ought supplie,
  It shall not fayle, when so ye shall it need.
So both to wreake their wrathes on Britomart agreed.

Whiles thus they communed, lo farre away
  A Knight soft ryding towards them they spyde,
  Attyr'd in forraine armes and straunge aray:
  Who[m] when they nigh approcht, they plaine descryde
  To be the same, for whom they did abyde.
  Sayd then Sir Scudamour, Sir Saluage knight
  Let me this craue, sith first I was defyde,
  That first I may that wrong to him requite:
And if I hap to fayle, you shall recure my right.

Which being yeelded, he his threatfull speare
  Gan fewter, and against her fiercely ran.
  Who soone as she him saw approaching neare
  With so fell rage, her selfe she lightly gan
  To dight, to welcome him, well as she can:
  But entertaind him in so rude a wise,
  That to the ground she smote both horse and man;
  Whence neither greatly hasted to arise,
But on their common harmes together did deuise.

But Artegall beholding his mischaunce,
  New matter added to his former fire;
  And eft auentring his steeleheaded launce,
  Against her rode, full of despiteous ire,
  That nought but spoyle and vengeance did require.
  But to himselfe his felonous intent
  Returning, disappointed his desire,
  Whiles vnawares his saddle he forwent,
And found himselfe on ground in great amazement.

Lightly he started vp out of that stound,
  And snatching forth his direfull deadly blade,
  Did leape to her, as doth an eger hound
  Thrust to an Hynd within some couert glade,
  Whom without perill he cannot inuade.
  With such fell greedines he her assayled,
  That though she mounted were, yet he her made
  To giue him ground, (so much his force preuayled)
And shun his mightie strokes, gainst which no armes auayled.

So as they coursed here and there, it chaunst
  That in her wheeling round, behind her crest
  So sorely he her strooke, that thence it glaunst
  Adowne her backe, the which it fairely blest
  From foule mischance; ne did it euer rest,
  Till on her horses hinder parts it fell;
  Where byting deepe, so deadly it imprest,
  That quite it chynd his backe behind the sell,
And to alight on foote her algates did compell.

Like as the lightning brond from riuen skie,
  Throwne out by angry Ioue in his vengeance,
  With dreadfull force falles on some steeple hie;
  Which battring, downe it on the church doth glance,
  And teares it all with terrible mischance.
  Yet she no whit dismayd, her steed forsooke,
  And casting from her that enchaunted lance,
  Vnto her sword and shield her soone betooke;
And therewithall at him right furiously she strooke.

So furiously she strooke in her first heat,
  Whiles with long fight on foot he breathlesse was,
  That she him forced backward to retreat,
  And yeeld vnto her weapon way to pas:
  Whose raging rigour neither steele nor bras
  Could stay, but to the tender flesh it went,
  And pour'd the purple bloud forth on the gras;
  That all his mayle yriv'd, and plates yrent,
Shew'd all his bodie bare vnto the cruell dent.

At length when as he saw her hastie heat
  Abate, and panting breath begin to fayle,
  He through long sufferance growing now more great,
  Rose in his strength, and gan her fresh assayle,
  Heaping huge strokes, as thicke as showre of hayle,
  And lashing dreadfully at euery part,
  As if he thought her soule to disentrayle.
  Ah cruell hand, and thrise more cruell hart,
That workst such wrecke on her, to whom thou dearest art.

What yron courage euer could endure,
  To worke such outrage on so faire a creature?
  And in his madnesse thinke with hands impure
  To spoyle so goodly workmanship of nature,
  The maker selfe resembling in her feature?
  Certes some hellish furie, or some feend
  This mischiefe framd, for their first loues defeature,
  To bath their hands in bloud of dearest freend,
Thereby to make their loues beginning, their liues end.

Thus long they trac'd, and trauerst to and fro,
  Sometimes pursewing, and sometimes pursewed,
  Still as aduantage they espyde thereto:
  But toward th'end Sir Arthegall renewed
  His strength still more, but she still more decrewed.
  At last his lucklesse hand he heau'd on hie,
  Hauing his forces all in one accrewed,
  And therewith stroke at her so hideouslie,
That seemed nought but death mote be her destinie.

The wicked stroke vpon her helmet chaunst,
  And with the force, which in it selfe it bore,
  Her ventayle shard away, and thence forth glaunst
  A downe in vaine, ne harm'd her any more.
  With that her angels face, vnseene afore,
  Like to the ruddie morne appeard in sight,
  Deawed with siluer drops, through sweating sore;
  But somewhat redder, then beseem'd aright,
Through toylesome heate and labour of her weary fight.

And round about the same, her yellow heare
  Hauing through stirring loosd their wonted band,
  Like to a golden border did appeare,
  Framed in goldsmithes forge with cunning hand:
  Yet goldsmithes cunning could not vnderstand
  To frame such subtile wire, so shinie cleare.
  For it did glister like the golden sand,
  The which Pactolus with his waters shere,
Throwes forth vpon the riuage round about him nere.

And as his hand he vp againe did reare,
  Thinking to worke on her his vtmost wracke,
  His powrelesse arme benumbd with secret feare
  From his reuengefull purpose shronke abacke,
  And cruell sword out of his fingers slacke
  Fell downe to ground, as if the steele had sence,
  And felt some ruth, or sence his hand did lacke,
  Or both of them did thinke, obedience
To doe to so diuine a beauties excellence.

And he himselfe long gazing thereupon,
  At last fell humbly downe vpon his knee,
  And of his wonder made religion,
  Weening some heauenly goddesse he did see,
  Or else vnweeting, what it else might bee;
  And pardon her besought his errour frayle,
  That had done outrage in so high degree:
  Whilest trembling horrour did his sense assayle,
And made ech member quake, and manly hart to quayle.

Nathelesse she full of wrath for that late stroke,
  All that long while vpheld her wrathfull hand,
  With fell intent, on him to bene ywroke,
  And looking sterne, still ouer him did stand,
  Threatning to strike, vnlesse he would withstand:
  And bad him rise, or surely he should die.
  But die or liue for nought he would vpstand
  But her of pardon prayd more earnestlie,
Or wreake on him her will for so great iniurie.

Which when as Scudamour, who now abrayd,
  Beheld, whereas he stood not farre aside,
  He was therewith right wondrously dismayd,
  And drawing nigh, when as he plaine descride
  That peerelesse paterne of Dame natures pride,
  And heauenly image of perfection,
  He blest himselfe, as one sore terrifide,
  And turning his feare to faint deuotion,
Did worship her as some celestiall vision.

But Glauce, seeing all that chaunced there,
  Well weeting how their errour to assoyle,
  Full glad of so good end, to them drew nere,
  And her salewd with seemely belaccoyle,
  Ioyous to see her safe after long toyle.
  Then her besought, as she to her was deare,
  To graunt vnto those warriours truce a whyle;
  Which yeelded, they their beuers vp did reare,
And shew'd themselues to her, such as indeed they were.

When Britomart with sharpe auizefull eye
  Beheld the louely face of Artegall,
  Tempred with sternesse and stout maiestie,
  She gan eftsoones it to her mind to call,
  To be the same which in her fathers hall
  Long since in that enchaunted glasse she saw.
  Therewith her wrathfull courage gan appall,
  And haughtie spirits meekely to adaw,
That her enhaunced hand she downe can soft withdraw.

Yet she it forst to haue againe vpheld,
  As fayning choler, which was turn'd to cold:
  But euer when his visage she beheld,
  Her hand fell downe, and would no longer hold
  The wrathfull weapon gainst his countnance bold:
  But when in vaine to fight she oft assayd,
  She arm'd her tongue, and thought at him to scold;
  Nathlesse her tongue not to her will obayd,
But brought forth speeches myld, when she would haue missayd.

But Scudamour now woxen inly glad,
  That all his gealous feare he false had found,
  And how that Hag his loue abused had
  With breach of faith and loyaltie vnsound,
  The which long time his grieued hart did wound,
  He thus bespake; Certes Sir Artegall,
  I ioy to see you lout so low on ground,
  And now become to liue a Ladies thrall,
That whylome in your minde wont to despise them all.

Soone as she heard the name of Artegall,
  Her hart did leape, and all her hart-strings tremble,
  For sudden ioy, and secret feare withall,
  And all her vitall powres with motion nimble,
  To succour it, themselues gan there assemble,
  That by the swift recourse of flushing blood
  Right plaine appeard, though she it would dissemble,
  And fayned still her former angry mood,
Thinking to hide the depth by troubling of the flood.

When Glauce thus gan wisely all vpknit;
  Ye gentle Knights, whom fortune here hath brought,
  To be spectators of this vncouth fit,
  Which secret fate hath in this Ladie wrought,
  Against the course of kind, ne meruaile nought,
  Ne thenceforth feare the thing that hethertoo
  Hath troubled both your mindes with idle thought,
  Fearing least she your loues away should woo,
Feared in vaine, sith meanes ye see there wants theretoo.

And you Sir Artegall, the saluage knight,
  Henceforth may not disdaine, that womans hand
  Hath conquered you anew in second fight:
  For whylome they haue conquerd sea and land,
  And heauen it selfe, that nought may them withstand,
  Ne henceforth be rebellious vnto loue,
  That is the crowne of knighthood, and the band
  Of noble minds deriued from aboue,
Which being knit with vertue, neuer will remoue.

And you faire Ladie knight, my dearest Dame,
  Relent the rigour of your wrathfull will,
  Whose fire were better turn'd to other flame;
  And wiping out remembrance of all ill,
  Graunt him your grace, but so that he fulfill
  The penance, which ye shall to him empart:
  For louers heauen must passe by sorrowes hell.
  Thereat full inly blushed Britomart;
But Artegall close smyling ioy'd in secret hart.

Yet durst he not make loue so suddenly,
  Ne thinke th'affection of her hart to draw
  From one to other so quite contrary:
  Besides her modest countenance he saw
  So goodly graue, and full of princely aw,
  That it his ranging fancie did refraine,
  And looser thoughts to lawfull bounds withdraw;
  Whereby the passion grew more fierce and faine,
Like to a stubborne steede whom strong hand would restraine.

But Scudamour whose hart twixt doubtfull feare
  And feeble hope hung all this while suspence,
  Desiring of his Amoret to heare
  Some gladfull newes and sure intelligence,
  Her thus bespake; But Sir without offence
  Mote I request you tydings of my loue,
  My Amoret, sith you her freed fro thence,
  Where she captiued long, great woes did proue;
That where ye left, I may her seeke, as doth behoue.

To whom thus Britomart, Certes Sir knight,
  What is of her become, or whether reft,
  I can not vnto you aread a right.
  For from that time I from enchaunters theft
  Her freed, in which ye her all hopelesse left,
  I her preseru'd from perill and from feare,
  And euermore from villenie her kept:
  Ne euer was there wight to me more deare
Then she, ne vnto whom I more true loue did beare.

Till on a day as through a desert wyld
  We trauelled, both wearie of the way
  We did alight, and sate in shadow myld;
  Where fearelesse I to sleepe me downe did lay.
  But when as I did out of sleepe abray,
  I found her not, where I her left whyleare,
  But thought she wandred was, or gone astray.
  I cal'd her loud, I sought her farre and neare;
But no where could her find, nor tydings of her heare.

When Scudamour those heauie tydings heard,
  His hart was thrild with point of deadly feare;
  Ne in his face or bloud or life appeard,
  But senselesse stood, like to a mazed steare,
  That yet of mortall stroke the stound doth beare.
  Till Glauce thus; Faire Sir, be nought dismayd
  With needelesse dread, till certaintie ye heare:
  For yet she may be safe though somewhat strayd;
Its best to hope the best, though of the worst affrayd.

Nathlesse he hardly of her chearefull speech
  Did comfort take, or in his troubled sight
  Shew'd change of better cheare: so sore a breach
  That sudden newes had made into his spright;
  Till Britomart him fairely thus behight;
  Great cause of sorrow certes Sir ye haue:
  But comfort take: for by this heauens light
  I vow, you dead or liuing not to leaue,
Till I her find, and wreake on him that her did reaue.

Therewith he rested, and well pleased was.
  So peace being confirm'd amongst them all,
  They tooke their steeds, and forward thence did pas
  Vnto some resting place, which mote befall,
  All being guided by Sir Artegall.
  Where goodly solace was vnto them made,
  And dayly feasting both in bowre and hall,
  Vntill that they their wounds well healed had,
And wearie limmes recur'd after late vsage bad.

In all which time, Sir Artegall made way
  Vnto the loue of noble Britomart,
  And with meeke seruice and much suit did lay
  Continuall siege vnto her gentle hart;
  Which being whylome launcht with louely dart,
  More eath was new impression to receiue,
  How euer she her paynd with womanish art
  To hide her wound, that none might it perceiue:
Vaine is the art that seekes it selfe for to deceiue.

So well he woo'd her, and so well he wrought her,
  With faire entreatie and sweet blandishment,
  That at the length vnto a bay he brought her,
  So as she to his speeches was content
  To lend an eare, and softly to relent.
  At last through many vowes which forth he pour'd,
  And many othes, she yeelded her consent
  To be his loue, and take him for her Lord,
Till they with mariage meet might finish that accord.

Tho when they had long time there taken rest,
  Sir Artegall, who all this while was bound
  Vpon an hard aduenture yet in quest,
  Fit time for him thence to depart it found,
  To follow that, which he did long propound;
  And vnto her his congee came to take.
  But her therewith full sore displeasd he found,
  And loth to leaue her late betrothed make,
Her dearest loue full loth so shortly to forsake.

Yet he with strong perswasions her asswaged,
  And wonne her will to suffer him depart;
  For which his faith with her he fast engaged,
  And thousand vowes from bottome of his hart
  That all so soone as he by wit or art
  Could that atchieue, whereto he did aspire,
  He vnto her would speedily reuert:
  No longer space thereto he did desire,
But till the horned moone three courses did expire.

With which she for the present was appeased,
  And yeelded leaue, how euer malcontent
  She inly were, and in her mind displeased.
  So early in the morrow next he went
  Forth on his way, to which he was ybent.
  Ne wight him to attend, or way to guide,
  As whylome was the custome ancient
  Mongst Knights, when on aduentures they did ride,
Saue that she algates him a while accompanide.

And by the way she sundry purpose found
  Of this or that, the time for to delay,
  And of the perils whereto he was bound,
  The feare whereof seem'd much her to affray:
  But all she did was but to weare out day.
  Full oftentimes she leaue of him did take;
  And eft againe deuiz'd some what to say,
  Which she forgot, whereby excuse to make:
So loth she was his companie for to forsake.

At last when all her speeches she had spent,
  And new occasion fayld her more to find,
  She left him to his fortunes gouernment,
  And backe returned with right heauie mind,
  To Scudamour, who she had left behind:
  With whom she went to seeke faire Amoret,
  Her second care, though in another kind;
  For vertues onely sake, which doth beget
True loue and faithfull friendship, she by her did set.

Backe to that desert forrest they retyred,
  Where sorie Britomart had lost her late;
  There they her sought, and euery where inquired,
  Where they might tydings get of her estate;
  Yet found they none. But by what haplesse fate,
  Or hard misfortune she was thence conuayd,
  And stolne away from her beloued mate,
  Were long to tell; therefore I here will stay
Vntill another tyde, that I it finish may.

Amoret rapt by greedie lust
  Belphebe saues from dread:
The Squire her loues, and being blam'd
  his dayes in dole doth lead.

G Reat God of loue, that with thy cruell darts,
  Doest conquer greatest conquerors on ground,
  And setst thy kingdome in the captiue harts
  Of Kings and Keasars, to thy seruice bound,
  What glorie, or what guerdon hast thou found
  In feeble Ladies tyranning so sore;
  And adding anguish to the bitter wound,
  With which their liues thou lanchedst long afore,
By heaping stormes of trouble on them daily more?

So whylome didst thou to faire Florimell;
  And so and so to noble Britomart:
  So doest thou now to her, of whom I tell,
  The louely Amoret, whose gentle hart
  Thou martyrest with sorow and with smart,
  In saluage forrests, and in deserts wide,
  With Beares and Tygers taking heauie part,
  Withouten comfort, and withouten guide,
That pittie is to heare the perils, which she tride.

So soone as she with that braue Britonesse
  Had left that Turneyment for beauties prise,
  They trauel'd long, that now for wearinesse,
  Both of the way, and warlike exercise,
  Both through a forest ryding did deuise
  T'alight, and rest their wearie limbs awhile.
  There heauie sleepe the eye-lids did surprise
  Of Britomart after long tedious toyle,
That did her passed paines in quiet rest assoyle.

The whiles faire Amoret, of nought affeard,
  Walkt through the wood, for pleasure, or for need;
  When suddenly behind her backe she heard
  One rushing forth out of the thickest weed,
  That ere she backe could turne to taken heed,
  Had vnawares her snatched vp from ground.
  Feebly she shriekt, but so feebly indeed,
  That Britomart heard not the shrilling sound,
There where through weary trauel she lay sleeping sou[n]d.

It was to weet a wilde and saluage man,
  Yet was no man, but onely like in shape,
  And eke in stature higher by a span,
  All ouergrowne with haire, that could awhape
  An hardy hart, and his wide mouth did gape
  With huge great teeth, like to a tusked Bore:
  For he liu'd all on rauin and on rape
  Of men and beasts; and fed on fleshly gore,
The signe whereof yet stain'd his bloudy lips afore.

His neather lip was not like man nor beast,
  But like a wide deepe poke, downe hanging low,
  In which he wont the relickes of his feast,
  And cruell spoyle, which he had spard, to stow:
  And ouer it his huge great nose did grow,
  Full dreadfully empurpled all with bloud;
  And downe both sides two wide long eares did glow,
  And raught downe to his waste, when vp he stood,
More great then th'eares of Elephants by Indus flood.

His wast was with a wreath of yuie greene
  Engirt about, ne other garment wore:
  For all his haire was like a garment seene;
  And in his hand a tall young oake he bore,
  Whose knottie snags were sharpned all afore,
  And beath'd in fire for steele to be in sted.
  But whence he was, or of what wombe ybore,
  Of beasts, or of the earth, I haue not red:
But certes was with milke of Wolues and Tygres fed.

This vgly creature in his armes her snatcht,
  And through the forrest bore her quite away,
  With briers and bushes all to rent and scratcht;
  Ne care he had, ne pittie of the pray,
  Which many a knight had sought so many a day.
  He stayed not, but in his armes her bearing
  Ran, till he came to th'end of all his way,
  Vnto his caue farre from all peoples hearing,
And there he threw her in, nought feeling, ne nought fearing.

For she deare Ladie all the way was dead,
  Whilest he in armes her bore; but when she felt
  Her selfe downe soust, she waked out of dread
  Streight into griefe, that her deare hart nigh swelt,
  And eft gan into tender teares to melt.
  Then when she lookt about, and nothing found
  But darknesse and dread horrour, where she dwelt,
  She almost fell againe into a swound,
Ne wist whether aboue she were, or vnder ground.

With that she heard some one close by her side
  Sighing and sobbing sore, as if the paine
  Her tender hart in peeces would diuide:
  Which she long listning, softly askt againe
  What mister wight it was that so did plaine?
  To whom thus aunswer'd was: Ah wretched wight
  That seekes to know anothers griefe in vaine,
  Vnweeting of thine owne like haplesse plight:
Selfe to forget to mind another, is ouersight.

Aye me (said she) where am I, or with whom?
  Emong the liuing, or emong the dead?
  What shall of me vnhappy maid become?
  Shall death be th'end, or ought else worse, aread.
  Vnhappy mayd (then answerd she) whose dread
  Vntride, is lesse then when thou shalt it try:
  Death is to him, that wretched life doth lead,
  Both grace and gaine; but he in hell doth lie,
That liues a loathed life, and wishing cannot die.

This dismall day hath thee a caytiue made,
  And vassall to the vilest wretch aliue,
  Whose cursed vsage and vngodly trade
  The heauens abhorre, and into darkenesse driue.
  For on the spoile of women he doth liue,
  Whose bodies chast, when euer in his powre
  He may them catch, vnable to gainestriue,
  He with his shamefull lust doth first deflowre,
And afterwards themselues doth cruelly deuoure.

Now twenty daies, by which the sonnes of men
  Diuide their works, haue past through heuen sheene,
  Since I was brought into this dolefull den;
  During which space these sory eies haue seen
  Seauen women by him slaine, and eaten clene.
  And now no more for him but I alone,
  And this old woman here remaining beene;
  Till thou cam'st hither to augment our mone,
And of vs three to morrow he will sure eate one.

Ah dreadfull tidings which thou doest declare,
  (Quoth she) of all that euer hath bene knowen:
  Full many great calamities and rare
  This feeble brest endured hath, but none
  Equall to this, where euer I haue gone.
  But what are you, whom like vnlucky lot
  Hath linckt with me in the same chaine attone?
  To tell (quoth she) that which ye see, needs not;
A wofull wretched maid, of God and man forgot.

But what I was, it irkes me to reherse
  Daughter vnto a Lord of high degree;
  That ioyd in happy peace, till fates peruerse
  With guilefull loue did secretly agree,
  To ouerthrow my state and dignitie.
  It was my lot to loue a gentle swaine,
  Yet was he but a Squire of low degree;
  Yet was he meet, vnlesse mine eye did faine,
By any Ladies side for Leman to haue laine.

But for his meannesse and disparagement,
  My Sire, who me too dearely well did loue,
  Vnto my choise by no meanes would assent,
  But often did my folly fowle reproue.
  Yet nothing could my fixed mind remoue,
  But whether willed or nilled friend or foe,
  I me resolu'd the vtmost end to proue,
  And rather then my loue abandon so,
Both sire, and friends, and all for euer to forego.

Thenceforth I sought by secret meanes to worke
  Time to my will, and from his wrathfull sight
  To hide th'intent, which in my heart did lurke,
  Till I thereto had all things ready dight.
  So on a day vnweeting vnto wight,
  I with that Squire agreede away to flit,
  And in a priuy place, betwixt vs hight,
  Within a groue appointed him to meete;
To which I boldly came vpon my feeble feete.

But ah vnhappy houre me thither brought:
  For in that place where I him thought to find,
  There was I found, contrary to my thought,
  Of this accursed Carle of hellish kind;
  The shame of men, and plague of womankind,
  Who trussing me, as Eagle doth his pray,
  Me hether brought with him, as swift as wind,
  Where yet vntouched till this present day,
I rest his wretched thrall, the sad AEmylia.

Ah sad AEmylia (then sayd Amoret,)
  Thy ruefull plight I pitty as mine owne.
  But read to me, by what deuise or wit,
  Hast thou in all this time, from him vnknowne
  Thine honor sau'd, though into thraldome throwne?
  Through helpe (quoth she) of this old woman here
  I haue so done, as she to me hath showne.
  For euer when he burnt in lustfull fire,
She in my stead supplide his bestiall desire.

Thus of their euils as they did discourse,
  And each did other much bewaile and mone;
  Loe where the villaine selfe, their sorrowes sourse,
  Came to the caue, and rolling thence the stone,
  Which wont to stop the mouth thereof, that none
  Might issue forth, came rudely rushing in,
  And spredding ouer all the flore alone,
  Gan dight him selfe vnto his wonted sinne;
Which ended, then his bloudy banket should beginne.

Which when as fearefull Amoret perceiued,
  She staid not the vtmost end thereof to try,
  But like a ghastly Gelt, whose wits are reaued,
  Ran forth in hast with hideous outcry,
  For horrour of his shamefull villany.
  But after her full lightly he vprose,
  And her pursu'd as fast as she did flie:
  Full fast she flies, and farre afore him goes,
Ne feeles the thorns and thickets pricke her tender toes.

Nor hedge, nor ditch, nor hill, nor dale she staies,
  But ouerleapes them all, like Robucke light,
  And through the thickest makes her nighest waies;
  And euermore when with regardfull sight
  She looking backe, espies that griesly wight
  Approching nigh, she gins to mend her pace,
  And makes her feare a spur to hast her flight:
  More swift then Myrrh' or Daphne in her race,
Or any of the Thracian Nimphes in saluage chase.

Long so she fled, and so he follow'd long;
  Ne liuing aide for her on earth appeares,
  But if the heauens helpe to redresse her wrong,
  Moued with pity of her plenteous teares.
  It fortuned Belphebe with her peares
  The woody Nimphs, and with that louely boy,
  Was hunting then the Libbards and the Beares,
  In these wild woods, as was her wonted ioy,
To banish sloth, that oft doth noble mindes annoy.

It so befell, as oft it fals in chace,
  That each of them from other sundred were,
  And that same gentle Squire arriu'd in place,
  Where this same cursed caytiue did appeare,
  Pursuing that faire Lady full of feare;
  And now he her quite ouertaken had;
  And now he her away with him did beare
  Vnder his arme, as seeming wondrous glad,
That by his grenning laughter mote farre off be rad.

Which drery sight the gentle Squire espying,
  Doth hast to crosse him by the nearest way,
  Led with that wofull Ladies piteous crying,
  And him assailes with all the might he may:
  Yet will not he the louely spoile downe lay,
  But with his craggy club in his right hand,
  Defends him selfe, and saues his gotten pray.
  Yet had it bene right hard him to withstand,
But that he was full light and nimble on the land.

Thereto the villaine vsed craft in fight;
  For euer when the Squire his iauelin shooke,
  He held the Lady forth before him right,
  And with her body, as a buckler, broke
  The puissance of his intended stroke.
  And if it chaunst, (as needs it must in fight)
  Whilest he on him was greedy to be wroke,
  That any little blow on her did light,
Then would he laugh aloud, and gather great delight.

Which subtill sleight did him encumber much,
  And made him oft, when he would strike, forbeare;
  For hardly could he come the carle to touch,
  But that he her must hurt, or hazard neare:
  Yet he his hand so carefully did beare,
  That at the last he did himselfe attaine,
  And therein left the pike head of his speare.
  A streame of coleblacke bloud thence gusht amaine,
That all her silken garments did with bloud bestaine.

With that he threw her rudely on the flore,
  And laying both his hands vpon his glaue,
  With dreadfull strokes let driue at him so sore,
  That forst him flie abacke, himselfe to saue:
  Yet he therewith so felly still did raue,
  That scarse the Squire his hand could once vpreare,
  But for aduantage ground vnto him gaue,
  Tracing and trauersing, now here, now there;
For bootlesse thing it was to think such blowes to beare.

Whilest thus in battell they embusied were,
  Belphebe raunging in that forrest wide,
  The hideous noise of their huge strokes did heare,
  And drew thereto, making her eare her guide.
  Whom when that theefe approching nigh espide,
  With bow in hand, and arrowes ready bent,
  He by his former combate would not bide,
  But fled away with ghastly dreriment,
Well knowing her to be his deaths sole instrument.

Whom seeing flie, she speedily poursewed
  With winged feete, as nimble as the winde;
  And euer in her bow she ready shewed
  The arrow, to his deadly marke desynde,
  As when Latonaes daughter cruell kynde,
  In vengement of her mothers great disgrace,
  With fell despight her cruell arrowes tynde
  Gainst wofull Niobes vnhappy race,
That all the gods did mone her miserable case.

So well she sped her and so far she ventred,
  That ere vnto his hellish den he raught,
  Euen as he ready was there to haue entred,
  She sent an arrow forth with mighty draught,
  That in the very dore him ouercaught,
  And in his nape arriuing, through it thrild
  His greedy throte, therewith in two distraught,
  That all his vitall spirites thereby spild,
And all his hairy brest with gory bloud was fild.

Whom when on ground she groueling saw to rowle,
  She ran in hast his life to haue bereft:
  But ere she could him reach, the sinfull sowle
  Hauing his carrion corse quite sencelesse left,
  Was fled to hell, surcharg'd with spoile and theft.
  Yet ouer him she there long gazing stood,
  And oft admir'd his monstrous shape, and oft
  His mighty limbs, whilest all with filthy bloud
The place there ouerflowne, seemd like a sodaine flood.

Thence forth she past into his dreadfull den,
  Where nought but darkesome drerinesse she found,
  Ne creature saw, but hearkned now and then
  Some litle whispering, and soft groning sound.
  With that she askt, what ghosts there vnder ground
  Lay hid in horrour of eternall night?
  And bad them, if so be they were not bound,
  To come and shew themselues before the light,
Now freed from feare and danger of that dismall wight.

Then forth the sad AEmylia issewed,
  Yet trembling euery ioynt through former feare;
  And after her the Hag, there with her mewed,
  A foule and lothsome creature did appeare;
  A leman fit for such a louer deare.
  That mou'd Belphebe her no lesse to hate,
  Then for to rue the others heauy cheare;
  Of whom she gan enquire of her estate.
Who all to her at large, as hapned, did relate.

Thence she them brought toward the place, where late
  She left the gentle Squire with Amoret:
  There she him found by that new louely mate,
  Who lay the whiles in swoune, full sadly set,
  From her faire eyes wiping the deawy wet,
  Which softly stild, and kissing them atweene,
  And handling soft the hurts, which she did get.
  For of that Carle she sorely bruz'd had beene,
Als of his owne rash hand one wound was to be seene.

Which when she saw, with sodaine glauncing eye,
  Her noble heart with sight thereof was fild
  With deepe disdaine, and great indignity,
  That in her wrath she thought them both haue thrild,
  With that selfe arrow, which the Carle had kild:
  Yet held her wrathfull hand from vengeance sore,
  But drawing nigh, ere he her well beheld;
  Is this the faith, she said, and said no more,
But turnd her face, and fled away for euermore.

He seeing her depart, arose vp light,
  Right sore agrieued at her sharpe reproofe,
  And follow'd fast: but when he came in sight,
  He durst not nigh approch, but kept aloofe,
  For dread of her displeasures vtmost proofe.
  And euermore, when he did grace entreat,
  And framed speaches fit for his behoofe,
  Her mortall arrowes she at him did threat,
And forst him backe with fowle dishonor to retreat.

At last when long he follow'd had in vaine,
  Yet found no ease of griefe, nor hope of grace,
  Vnto those woods he turned backe againe,
  Full of sad anguish, and in heauy case:
  And finding there fit solitary place
  For wofull wight, chose out a gloomy glade,
  Where hardly eye mote see bright heauens face,
  For mossy trees, which couered all with shade
And sad melancholy: there he his cabin made.

His wonted warlike weapons all he broke,
  And threw away, with vow to vse no more,
  Ne thenceforth euer strike in battell stroke,
  Ne euer word to speake to woman more;
  But in that wildernesse, of men forlore,
  And of the wicked world forgotten quight,
  His hard mishap in dolor to deplore,
  And wast his wretched daies in wofull plight;
So on him selfe to wreake his follies owne despight.

And eke his garment, to be thereto meet,
  He wilfully did cut and shape anew;
  And his faire lockes, that wont with ointment sweet
  To be embaulm'd, and sweat out dainty dew,
  He let to grow and griesly to concrew,
  Vncomb'd, vncurl'd, and carelesly vnshed;
  That in short time his face they ouergrew,
  And ouer all his shoulders did dispred,
That who he whilome was, vneath was to be red.

There he continued in this carefull plight,
  Wretchedly wearing out his youthly yeares,
  Through wilfull penury consumed quight,
  That like a pined ghost he soone appeares.
  For other food then that wilde forrest beares,
  Ne other drinke there did he euer tast,
  Then running water, tempred with his teares,
  The more his weakened body so to wast:
That out of all mens knowledge he was worne at last.

For on a day, by fortune as it fell,
  His owne deare Lord Prince Arthure came that way,
  Seeking aduentures, where he mote heare tell;
  And as he through the wandring wood did stray,
  Hauing espide this Cabin far away,
  He to it drew, to weet who there did wonne;
  Weening therein some holy Hermit lay,
  That did resort of sinfull people shonne;
Or else some woodman shrowded there from scorching sunne.

Arriuing there, he found this wretched man,
  Spending his daies in dolour and despaire,
  And through long fasting woxen pale and wan,
  All ouergrowen with rude and rugged haire;
  That albeit his owne deare Squire he were,
  Yet he him knew not, ne auiz'd at all,
  But like strange wight, whom he had seene no where,
  Saluting him, gan into speach to fall,
And pitty much his plight, that liu'd like outcast thrall.

But to his speach he aunswered no whit,
  But stood still mute, as if he had beene dum,
  Ne signe of sence did shew, ne common wit,
  As one with griefe and anguishe ouercum,
  And vnto euery thing did aunswere mum:
  And euer when the Prince vnto him spake,
  He louted lowly, as did him becum,
  And humble homage did vnto him make,
Midst sorrow shewing ioyous semblance for his sake.

At which his vncouth guise and vsage quaint
  The Prince did wonder much, yet could not ghesse
  The cause of that his sorrowfull constraint;
  Yet weend by secret signes of manlinesse,
  Which close appeard in that rude brutishnesse,
  That he whilome some gentle swaine had beene,
  Traind vp in feats of armes and knightlinesse;
  Which he obseru'd, by that he him had seene
To weld his naked sword, and try the edges keene.

And eke by that he saw on euery tree,
  How he the name of one engrauen had,
  Which likly was his liefest loue to be,
  For whom he now so sorely was bestad;
  Which was by him BELPHEBE rightly rad.
  Yet who was that Belphebe, he ne wist;
  Yet saw he often how he wexed glad,
  When he it heard, and how the ground he kist,
Wherein it written was, and how himselfe he blist:

Tho when he long had marked his demeanor,
  And saw that all he said and did, was vaine,
  Ne ought mote make him change his wonted tenor,
  Ne ought mote ease or mitigate his paine,
  He left him there in languor to remaine,
  Till time for him should remedy prouide,
  And him restore to former grace againe.
  Which for it is too long here to abide,
I will deferre the end vntill another tide.

The gentle Squire recouers grace,
  Sclaunder her guests doth staine:
Corflambo chaseth Placidas,
  And is by Arthure slaine.

W Ell said the wiseman, now prou'd true by this,
  Which to this gentle Squire did happen late.
  That the displeasure of the mighty is
  Then death it selfe more dread and desperate.
  For naught the same may calme ne mitigate,
  Till time the tempest doe thereof delay
  With sufferaunce soft, which rigour can abate,
  And haue the sterne remembrance wypt away
Of bitter thoughts, which deepe therein infixed lay.

Like as it fell to this vnhappy boy,
  Whose tender heart the faire Belphebe had,
  With one sterne looke so daunted, that no ioy
  In all his life, which afterwards he lad,
  He euer tasted, but with penaunce sad
  And pensiue sorrow pind and wore away,
  Ne euer laught, ne once shew'd countenance glad;
  But alwaies wept and wailed night and day,
As blasted bloosme through heat doth languish & decay;

Till on a day, as in his wonted wise
  His doole he made, there chaunst a turtle Doue
  To come, where he his dolors did deuise,
  That likewise late had lost her dearest loue;
  Which losse her made like passion also proue.
  Who seeing his sad plight, her tender heart
  With deare compassion deeply did emmoue,
  That she gan mone his vndeserued smart,
And with her dolefull accent beare with him apart.

Shee sitting by him as on ground he lay,
  Her mournefull notes full piteously did frame,
  And thereof made a lamentable lay,
  So sensibly compyld, that in the same
  Him seemed oft he heard his owne right name.
  With that he forth would poure so plenteous teares,
  And beat his breast vnworthy of such blame,
  And knocke his head, and rend his rugged heares,
That could haue perst the hearts of Tigres & of Beares.

Thus long this gentle bird to him did vse,
  Withouten dread of perill to repaire
  Vnto his wonne, and with her mournefull muse
  Him to recomfort in his greatest care,
  That much did ease his mourning and misfare:
  And euery day for guerdon of her song,
  He part of his small feast to her would share;
  That at the last of all his woe and wrong
Companion she became, and so continued long.

Vpon a day as she him sate beside,
  By chance he certaine miniments forth drew,
  Which yet with him as relickes did abide
  Of all the bounty, which Belphebe threw
  On him, whilst goodly grace she did him shew:
  Amongst the rest a iewell rich he found,
  That was a Ruby of right perfect hew,
  Shap'd like a heart, yet bleeding of the wound,
And with a litle golden chaine about it bound.

The same he tooke, and with a riband new,
  In which his Ladies colours were, did bind
  About the turtles necke, that with the vew
  Did greatly solace his engrieued mind.
  All vnawares the bird, when she did find
  Her selfe so deckt, her nimble wings displaid,
  And flew away, as lightly as the wind:
  Which sodaine accident him much dismaid,
And looking after long, did marke which way she straid.

But when as long he looked had in vaine,
  Yet saw her forward still to make her flight,
  His weary eie returnd to him againe,
  Full of discomfort and disquiet plight,
  That both his iuell he had lost so light,
  And eke his deare companion of his care.
  But that sweet bird departing, flew forth right
  Through the wide region of the wastfull aire,
Vntill she came where wonned his Belphebe faire.

There found she her (as then it did betide)
  Sitting in couert shade of arbors sweet,
  After late weary toile, which she had tride
  In saluage chase, to rest as seem'd her meet.
  There she alighting, fell before her feet,
  And gan to her her mournfull plaint to make,
  As was her wont, thinking to let her weet
  The great tormenting griefe, that for her sake
Her gentle Squire through her displeasure did pertake.

She her beholding with attentiue eye,
  At length did marke about her purple brest
  That precious iuell, which she formerly
  Had knowne right well with colourd ribbands drest:
  Therewith she rose in hast, and her addrest
  With ready hand it to haue reft away.
  But the swift bird obayd not her behest,
  But swaru'd aside, and there againe did stay;
She follow'd her, and thought againe it to assay.

And euer when she nigh approcht, the Doue
  Would flit a litle forward, and then stay,
  Till she drew neare, and then againe remoue;
  So tempting her still to pursue the pray,
  And still from her escaping soft away:
  Till that at length into that forrest wide,
  She drew her far, and led with slow delay.
  In th'end she her vnto that place did guide,
Whereas that wofull man in languor did abide.

Eftsoones she flew vnto his fearelesse hand,
  And there a piteous ditty new deuiz'd,
  As if she would haue made him vnderstand,
  His sorrowes cause to be of her despis'd.
  Whom when she saw in wretched weedes disguiz'd,
  With heary glib deform'd, and meiger face,
  Like ghost late risen from his graue agryz'd,
  She knew him not, but pittied much his case,
And wisht it were in her to doe him any grace.

He her beholding, at her feet downe fell,
  And kist the ground on which her sole did tread,
  And washt the same with water, which did well
  From his moist eies, and like two streames procead;
  Yet spake no word, whereby she might aread
  What mister wight he was, or what he ment:
  But as one daunted with her presence dread,
  Onely few ruefull lookes vnto her sent,
As messengers of his true meaning and intent.

Yet nathemore his meaning she ared,
  But wondred much at his so selcouth case,
  And by his persons secret seemlyhed
  Well weend, that he had beene some man of place,
  Before misfortune did his hew deface:
  That being mou'd with ruth she thus bespake.
  Ah wofull man, what heauens hard disgrace,
  Or wrath of cruell wight on thee ywrake?
Or selfe disliked life doth thee thus wretched make?

If heauen, then none may it redresse or blame,
  Sith to his powre we all are subiect borne:
  If wrathfull wight, then fowle rebuke and shame
  Be theirs, that haue so cruell thee forlorne;
  But if through inward griefe or wilfull scorne
  Of life it be, then better doe aduise.
  For he whose daies in wilfull woe are worne,
  The grace of his Creator doth despise,
That will not vse his gifts for thanklesse nigardise.

When so he heard her say, eftsoones he brake
  His sodaine silence, which he long had pent,
  And sighing inly deepe, her thus bespake;
  Then haue they all themselues against me bent:
  For heauen, first author of my languishment,
  Enuying my too great felicity,
  Did closely with a cruell one consent,
  To cloud my daies in dolefull misery,
And make me loath this life, still longing for to die.

Ne any but your selfe, O dearest dred,
  Hath done this wrong, to wreake on worthlesse wight
  Your high displesure, through misdeeming bred:
  That when your pleasure is to deeme aright,
  Ye may redresse, and me restore to light.
  Which sory words her mightie hart did mate
  With mild regard, to see his ruefull plight,
  That her inburning wrath she gan abate,
And him receiu'd againe to former fauours state.

In which he long time afterwards did lead
  An happie life with grace and good accord,
  Fearlesse of fortunes chaunge or enuies dread,
  And eke all mindlesse of his owne deare Lord
  The noble Prince, who neuer heard one word
  Of tydings, what did vnto him betide,
  Or what good fortune did to him afford,
  But through the endlesse world did wander wide,
Him seeking euermore, yet no where him descride.

Till on a day as through that wood he rode,
  He chaunst to come where those two Ladies late,
  AEmylia and Amoret abode,
  Both in full sad and sorrowfull estate;
  The one right feeble through the euill rate
  Of food, which in her duresse she had found:
  The other almost dead and desperate
  Through her late hurts, and through that haplesse wound,
With which the Squire in her defence her sore astound.

Whom when the Prince beheld, he gan to rew
  The euill case in which those Ladies lay;
  But most was moued at the piteous vew
  Of Amoret, so neare vnto decay,
  That her great daunger did him much dismay.
  Eftsoones that pretious liquour forth he drew,
  Which he in store about him kept alway,
  And with few drops thereof did softly dew
Her wounds, that vnto strength restor'd her soone anew.

Tho when they both recouered were right well,
  He gan of them inquire, what euill guide
  Them thether brought, and how their harmes befell.
  To whom they told all, that did them betide,
  And how from thraldome vile they were vntide
  Of that same wicked Carle, by Virgins hond;
  Whose bloudie corse they shew'd him there beside,
  And eke his caue, in which they both were bond:
At which he wondred much, when all those signes he fond.

And euermore he greatly did desire
  To know, what Virgin did them thence vnbind;
  And oft of them did earnestly inquire,
  Where was her won, and how he mote her find.
  But when as nought according to his mind
  He could outlearne, he them from ground did reare:
  No seruice lothsome to a gentle kind;
  And on his warlike beast them both did beare,
Himselfe by them on foot, to succour them from feare.

So when that forrest they had passed well,
  A litle cotage farre away they spide,
  To which they drew, ere night vpon them fell;
  And entring in, found none therein abide,
  But one old woman sitting there beside,
  Vpon the ground in ragged rude attyre,
  With filthy lockes about her scattered wide,
  Gnawing her nayles for felnesse and for yre,
And there out sucking venime to her parts entyre.

A foule and loathly creature sure in sight,
  And in conditions to be loath'd no lesse:
  For she was stuft with rancour and despight
  Vp to the throat, that oft with bitternesse
  It forth would breake, and gush in great excesse,
  Pouring out streames of poyson and of gall
  Gainst all, that truth or vertue doe professe,
  Whom she with leasings lewdly did miscall,
And wickedly backbite: Her name men Sclaunder call.

Her nature is all goodnesse to abuse,
  And causelesse crimes continually to frame,
  With which she guiltlesse persons may accuse,
  And steale away the crowne of their good name;
  Ne euer Knight so bold, ne euer Dame
  So chast and loyall liu'd, but she would striue
  With forged cause them falsely to defame;
  Ne euer thing so well was doen aliue,
But she with blame would blot, & of due praise depriue.

Her words were not, as common words are ment,
  T'expresse the meaning of the inward mind,
  But noysome breath, and poysnous spirit sent
  From inward parts, with cancred malice lind,
  And breathed forth with blast of bitter wind;
  Which passing through the eares, would pierce the hart,
  And wound the soule it selfe with griefe vnkind:
  For like the stings of Aspes, that kill with smart,
Her spightfull words did pricke, & wound the inner part.

Such was that Hag, vnmeet to host such guests,
  Whom greatest Princes court would welcome fayne;
  But neede, that answers not to all requests,
  Bad them not looke for better entertayne;
  And eke that age despysed nicenesse vaine,
  Enur'd to hardnesse and to homely fare,
  Which them to warlike discipline did trayne,
  And manly limbs endur'd with little care
Against all hard mishaps and fortunelesse misfare.

Then all that euening welcommed with cold,
  And chearelesse hunger, they together spent;
  Yet found no fault, but that the Hag did scold
  And rayle at them with grudgefull discontent,
  For lodging there without her owne consent:
  Yet they endured all with patience milde,
  And vnto rest themselues all onely lent,
  Regardlesse of that queane so base and vilde,
To be vniustly blamd, and bitterly reuilde.

Here well I weene, when as these rimes be red
  With misregard, that some rash witted wight,
  Whose looser thought will lightly be misled,
  These gentle Ladies will misdeeme too light,
  For thus conuersing with this noble Knight;
  Sith now of dayes such temperance is rare
  And hard to finde, that heat of youthfull spright
  For ought will from his greedie pleasure spare:
More hard for hungry steed t'abstaine from pleasant lare.

But antique age yet in the infancie
  Of time, did liue then like an innocent,
  In simple truth and blamelesse chastitie,
  Ne then of guile had made experiment,
  But voide of vile and treacherous intent,
  Held vertue for it selfe in soueraine awe:
  Then loyall loue had royall regiment,
  And each vnto his lust did make a lawe,
From all forbidden things his liking to withdraw.

The Lyon there did with the Lambe consort,
  And eke the Doue sate by the Faulcons side,
  Ne each of other feared fraud or tort,
  But did in safe securitie abide,
  Withouten perill of the stronger pride:
  But when the world woxe old, it woxe warre old
  (Whereof it hight) and hauing shortly tride
  The traines of wit, in wickednesse woxe bold,
And dared of all sinnes the secrets to vnfold.

Then beautie, which was made to represent
  The great Creatours owne resemblance bright,
  Vnto abuse of lawlesse lust was lent,
  And made the baite of bestiall delight:
  Then faire grew foule, and foule grew faire in sight,
  And that which wont to vanquish God and man,
  Was made the vassall of the victors might;
  Then did her glorious flowre wex dead and wan,
Despisd and troden downe of all that ouerran.

And now it is so vtterly decayd,
  That any bud thereof doth scarse remaine,
  But if few plants preseru'd through heauenly ayd,
  In Princes Court doe hap to sprout againe,
  Dew'd with her drops of bountie Soueraine,
  Which from that goodly glorious flowre proceed,
  Sprung of the auncient stocke of Princes straine,
  Now th'onely remnant of that royall breed,
Whose noble kind at first was sure of heauenly seed.

Tho soone as day discouered heauens face
  To sinfull men with darknes ouerdight,
  This gentle crew gan from their eye-lids chace
  The drowzie humour of the dampish night,
  And did themselues vnto their iourney dight.
  So forth they yode, and forward softly paced,
  That them to view had bene an vncouth sight;
  How all the way the Prince on footpace traced,
The Ladies both on horse, together fast embraced.

Soone as they thence departed were afore,
  That shamefull Hag, the slaunder of her sexe,
  Them follow'd fast, and them reuiled sore,
  Him calling theefe, them whores; that much did vexe
  His noble hart; thereto she did annexe
  False crimes and facts, such as they neuer ment,
  That those two Ladies much asham'd did wexe:
  The more did she pursue her lewd intent,
And rayl'd and rag'd, till she had all her poyson spent.

At last when they were passed out of sight,
  Yet she did not her spightfull speach forbeare,
  But after them did barke, and still backbite,
  Though there were none her hatefull words to heare:
  Like as a curre doth felly bite and teare
  The stone, which passed straunger at him threw;
  So she them seeing past the reach of eare,
  Against the stones and trees did rayle anew,
Till she had duld the sting, which in her tongs end grew.

They passing forth kept on their readie way,
  With easie steps so soft as foot could stryde.
  Both for great feeblesse, which did oft assay
  Faire Amoret, that scarcely she could ryde;
  And eke through heauie armes, which sore annoyd
  The Prince on foot, not wonted so to fare;
  Whose steadie hand was faine his steede to guyde,
  And all the way from trotting hard to spare,
So was his toyle the more, the more that was his care.

At length they spide, where towards them with speed
  A Squire came gallopping, as he would flie;
  Bearing a litle Dwarfe before his steed,
  That all the way full loud for aide did crie,
  That seem'd his shrikes would rend the brasen skie:
  Whom after did a mightie man pursew,
  Ryding vpon a Dromedare on hie,
  Of stature huge, and horrible of hew,
That would haue maz'd a man his dreadfull face to vew.

For from his fearefull eyes two fierie beames,
  More sharpe then points of needles did proceede,
  Shooting forth farre away two flaming streames,
  Full of sad powre, that poysonous bale did breede
  To all, that on him lookt without good heed,
  And secretly his enemies did slay:
  Like as the Basiliske of serpents seede,
  From powrefull eyes close venim doth conuay
Into the lookers hart, and killeth farre away.

He all the way did rage at that same Squire,
  And after him full many threatnings threw,
  With curses vaine in his auengefull ire:
  But none of them (so fast away he flew)
  Him ouertooke, before he came in vew.
  Where when he saw the Prince in armour bright,
  He cald to him aloud, his case to rew,
  And rescue him through succour of his might,
From that his cruell foe, that him pursewd in sight.

Eftsoones the Prince tooke downe those Ladies twaine
  From loftie steede, and mounting in their stead
  Came to that Squire, yet trembling euery vaine:
  Of whom he gan enquire his cause of dread;
  Who as he gan the same to him aread,
  Loe hard behind his backe his foe was prest,
  With dreadfull weapon aymed at his head;
  That vnto death had doen him vnredrest,
Had not the noble Prince his readie stroke represt.

Who thrusting boldly twixt him and the blow,
  The burden of the deadly brunt did beare
  Vpon his shield, which lightly he did throw
  Ouer his head, before the harme came neare.
  Nathlesse it fell with so despiteous dreare
  And heauie sway, that hard vnto his crowne
  The shield it droue, and did the couering reare:
  Therewith both Squire and dwarfe did tomble downe
Vnto the earth, and lay long while in senselesse swowne.

Whereat the Prince full wrath, his strong right hand
  In full auengement heaued vp on hie,
  And stroke the Pagan with his steely brand
  So sore, that to his saddle bow thereby
  He bowed low, and so a while did lie:
  And sure had not his massie yron mace
  Betwixt him and his hurt bene happily,
  It would haue cleft him to the girding place,
Yet as it was, it did astonish him long space.

But when he to himselfe returnd againe,
  All full of rage he gan to curse and sweare,
  And vow by Mahoune that he should be slaine.
  With that his murdrous mace he vp did reare,
  That seemed nought the souse thereof could beare,
  And therewith smote at him with all his might.
  But ere that it to him approched neare,
  The royall child with readie quicke foresight,
Did shun the proofe thereof and it auoyded light.

But ere his hand he could recure againe,
  To ward his bodie from the balefull stound,
  He smote at him with all his might and maine,
  So furiously, that ere he wist, he found
  His head before him tombling on the ground.
  The whiles his babling tongue did yet blaspheme
  And curse his God, that did him so confound;
  The whiles his life ran foorth in bloudie streame,
His soule descended downe into the Stygian reame.

Which when that Squire beheld, he woxe full glad
  To see his foe breath out his spright in vaine:
  But that same dwarfe right sorie seem'd and sad,
  And howld aloud to see his Lord there slaine,
  And rent his haire and scratcht his face for paine.
  Then gan the Prince at leasure to inquire
  Of all the accident, there hapned plaine,
  And what he was, whose eyes did flame with fire;
All which was thus to him declared by that Squire.

This mightie man (quoth he) whom you haue slaine,
  Of an huge Geauntesse whylome was bred;
  And by his strength rule to himselfe did gaine
  Of many Nations into thraldome led,
  And mightie kingdomes of his force adred;
  Whom yet he conquer'd not by bloudie fight,
  Ne hostes of men with banners brode dispred,
  But by the powre of his infectious sight,
With which he killed all, that came within his might.

Ne was he euer vanquished afore,
  But euer vanquisht all, with whom he fought;
  Ne was there man so strong, but he downe bore,
  Ne woman yet so faire, but he her brought
  Vnto his bay, and captiued her thought.
  For most of strength and beautie his desire
  Was spoyle to make, and wast them vnto nought,
  By casting secret flakes of lustfull fire
From his false eyes, into their harts and parts entire.

Therefore Corflambo was he cald aright,
  Though namelesse there his bodie now doth lie,
  Yet hath he left one daughter that is hight
  The faire Poeana; who seemes outwardly
  So faire, as euer yet saw liuing eie:
  And were her vertue like her beautie bright,
  She were as faire as any vnder skie.
  But ah she giuen is to vaine delight,
And eke too loose of life, and eke of loue too light.

So as it fell there was a gentle Squire,
  That lou'd a Ladie of high parentage;
  But for his meane degree might not aspire
  To match so high, her friends with counsell sage,
  Dissuaded her from such a disparage.
  But she, whose hart to loue was wholly lent,
  Out of his hands could not redeeme her gage,
  But firmely following her first intent,
Resolu'd with him to wend, gainst all her friends consent.

So twixt themselues they pointed time and place,
  To which when he according did repaire,
  An hard mishap and disauentrous case
  Him chaunst; in stead of his Æmylia faire
  This Gyants sonne, that lies there on the laire
  An headlesse heape, him vnawares there caught,
  And all dismayd through mercilesse despaire,
  Him wretched thrall vnto his dongeon brought,
Where he remaines, of all vnsuccour'd and vnsought.

This Gyants daughter came vpon a day
  Vnto the prison in her ioyous glee,
  To view the thrals, which there in bondage lay:
  Amongst the rest she chaunced there to see
  This louely swaine the Squire of low degree;
  To whom she did her liking lightly cast,
  And wooed him her paramour to bee:
  From day to day she woo'd and prayd him fast,
And for his loue him promist libertie at last.

He though affide vnto a former loue,
  To whom his faith he firmely ment to hold,
  Yet seeing not how thence he mote remoue,
  But by that meanes, which fortune did vnfold,
  Her graunted loue, but with affection cold
  To win her grace his libertie to get.
  Yet she him still detaines in captiue hold
  Fearing least if she should him freely set,
He would her shortly leaue, and former loue forget.

Yet so much fauour she to him hath hight,
  Aboue the rest, that he sometimes may space
  And walke about her gardens of delight,
  Hauing a keeper still with him in place;
  Which keeper is this Dwarfe, her dearling base,
  To whom the keyes of euery prison dore
  By her committed be, of speciall grace,
  And at his will may whom he list restore,
And whom he list reserue, to be afflicted more.

Whereof when tydings came vnto mine eare,
  Full inly sorie for the feruent zeale,
  Which I to him as to my soule did beare;
  I thether went where I did long conceale
  My selfe, till that the Dwarfe did me reueale,
  And told his Dame, her Squire of low degree
  Did secretly out of her prison steale;
  For me he did mistake that Squire to be;
For neuer two so like did liuing creature see.

Then was I taken and before her brought:
  Who through the likenesse of my outward hew,
  Being likewise beguiled in her thought,
  Gan blame me much for being so vntrew,
  To seeke by flight her fellowship t'eschew,
  That lou'd me deare, as dearest thing aliue.
  Thence she commaunded me to prison new;
  Whereof I glad did not gainesay nor striue,
But suffred that same Dwarfe me to her dongeon driue.

There did I finde mine onely faithfull frend
  In heauy plight and sad perplexitie;
  Whereof I sorie, yet my selfe did bend,
  Him to recomfort with my companie.
  But him the more agreeu'd I found thereby:
  For all his ioy, he said, in that distresse
  Was mine and his Æmylias libertie.
  Æmylia well he lou'd, as I mote ghesse;
Yet greater loue to me then her he did professe.

But I with better reason him auiz'd,
  And shew'd him how through error and mis-thought
  Of our like persons eath to be disguiz'd,
  Or his exchange, or freedome might be wrought.
  Whereto full loth was he, ne would for ought
  Consent, that I who stood all fearelesse free,
  Should wilfully be into thraldome brought,
  Till fortune did perforce it so decree.
Yet ouerrul'd at last, he did to me agree.

The morrow next about the wonted howre,
  The Dwarfe cald at the doore of Amyas,
  To come forthwith vnto his Ladies bowre.
  In steed of whom forth came I Placidas,
  And vndiscerned, forth with him did pas.
  There with great ioyance and with gladsome glee,
  Of faire Poeana I receiued was,
  And oft imbrast, as if that I were hee,
And with kind words accoyd, vowing great loue to mee.

Which I, that was not bent to former loue,
  As was my friend, that had her long refusd,
  Did well accept, as well it did behoue,
  And to the present neede it wisely vsd.
  My former hardnesse first I faire excusd;
  And after promist large amends to make.
  With such smooth termes her error I abusd,
  To my friends good, more then for mine owne sake,
For whose sole libertie I loue and life did stake.

Thenceforth I found more fauour at her hand,
  That to her Dwarfe, which had me in his charge,
  She bad to lighten my too heauie band,
  And graunt more scope to me to walke at large.
  So on a day as by the flowrie marge
  Of a fresh streame I with that Elfe did play,
  Finding no meanes how I might vs enlarge,
  But if that Dwarfe I could with me conuay,
I lightly snatcht him vp, and with me bore away.

Thereat he shriekt aloud, that with his cry
  The Tyrant selfe came forth with yelling bray,
  And me pursew'd; but nathemore would I
  Forgoe the purchase of my gotten pray,
  But haue perforce him hether brought away.
  Thus as they talked, loe where nigh at hand
  Those Ladies two yet doubtfull through dismay
  In presence came, desirous t'vnderstand
Tydings of all, which there had hapned on the land.

Where soone as sad Æmylia did espie
  Her captiue louers friend, young Placidas:
  All mindlesse of her wonted modestie,
  She to him ran, and him with streight embras
  Enfolding said, And liues yet Amyas?
  He liues (quoth he) and his Æmylia loues.
  Then lesse (said she) by all the woe I pas,
  With which my weaker patience fortune proues.
But what mishap thus long him fro my selfe remoues?

Then gan he all this storie to renew,
  And tell the course of his captiuitie;
  That her deare hart full deepely made to rew,
  And sigh full sore, to heare the miserie,
  In which so long he mercilesse did lie.
  Then after many teares and sorrowes spent,
  She deare besought the Prince of remedie:
  Who thereto did with readie will consent,
And well perform'd, as shall appeare by his euent.

The Squire of low degree releast
  Poeana takes to wife:
Britomart fightes with many Knights,
  Prince Arthur stints their strife.

H Ard is the doubt, and difficult to deeme,
  When all three kinds of loue together meet,
  And doe dispart the hart with powre extreme,
  Whether shall weigh the balance downe; to weet
  The deare affection vnto kindred sweet,
  Or raging fire of loue to woman kind,
  Or zeale of friends combynd with vertues meet.
  But of them all the band of vertuous mind
Me seemes the gentle hart should most assured bind.

For naturall affection soone doth cesse,
  And quenched is with Cupids greater flame:
  But faithfull friendship doth them both suppresse,
  And them with maystring discipline doth tame,
  Through thoughts aspyring to eternall fame.
  For as the soule doth rule the earthly masse,
  And all the seruice of the bodie frame,
  So loue of soule doth loue of bodie passe,
No lesse then perfect gold surmounts the meanest brasse.

All which who list by tryall to assay,
  Shall in this storie find approued plaine;
  In which these Squires true friendship more did sway,
  Then either care of parents could refraine,
  Or loue of fairest Ladie could constraine.
  For though Poeana were as faire as morne,
  Yet did this trustie Squire with proud disdaine
  For his friends sake her offred fauours scorne,
And she her selfe her syre, of whom she was yborne.

Now after that Prince Arthur graunted had,
  To yeeld strong succour to that gentle swayne,
  Who now long time had lyen in prison sad,
  He gan aduise how best he mote darrayne
  That enterprize, for greatest glories gayne.
  That headlesse tyrants tronke he reard from ground,
  And hauing ympt the head to it agayne,
  Vpon his vsuall beast it firmely bound,
And made it so to ride, as it aliue was found.

Then did he take that chaced Squire, and layd
  Before the ryder, as he captiue were,
  And made his Dwarfe, though with vnwilling ayd,
  To guide the beast, that did his maister beare,
  Till to his castle they approched neare.
  Whom when the watch, that kept continuall ward
  Saw comming home; all voide of doubtfull feare,
  He running downe, the gate to him vnbard;
Whom straight the Prince ensuing, in together far'd.

There he did find in her delitious boure
  The faire Poeana playing on a Rote,
  Complayning of her cruell Paramoure,
  And singing all her sorrow to the note,
  As she had learned readily by rote.
  That with the sweetnesse of her rare delight,
  The Prince halfe rapt, began on her to dote:
  Till better him bethinking of the right,
He her vnwares attacht, and captiue held by might.

Whence being forth produc'd, when she perceiued
  Her owne deare sire, she cald to him for aide.
  But when of him no aunswere she receiued,
  But saw him sencelesse by the Squire vpstaide,
  She weened well, that then she was betraide:
  Then gan she loudly cry, and weepe, and waile,
  And that same Squire of treason to vpbraide.
  But all in vaine, her plaints might not preuaile,
Ne none there was to reskue her, ne none to baile.

Then tooke he that same Dwarfe, and him compeld
  To open vnto him the prison dore,
  And forth to bring those thrals, which there he held.
  Thence forth were brought to him aboue a score
  Of Knights and Squires to him vnknowne afore:
  All which he did from bitter bondage free,
  And vnto former liberty restore.
  Amongst the rest, that Squire of low degree
Came forth full weake and wan, not like him selfe to bee.

Whom soone as faire AEmylia beheld,
  And Placidas, they both vnto him ran,
  And him embracing fast betwixt them held,
  Striuing to comfort him all that they can,
  And kissing oft his visage pale and wan.
  That faire Poeana them beholding both,
  Gan both enuy, and bitterly to ban;
  Through iealous passion weeping inly wroth,
To see the sight perforce, that both her eyes were loth.

But when a while they had together beene,
  And diuersly conferred of their case,
  She, though full oft she both of them had seene
  A sunder, yet not euer in one place,
  Began to doubt, when she them saw embrace,
  Which was the captiue Squire she lou'd so deare,
  Deceiued through great likenesse of their face.
  For they so like in person did appeare,
That she vneath discerned, whether whether weare.

And eke the Prince, when as he them auized,
  Their like resemblaunce much admired there,
  And mazd how nature had so well disguized
  Her worke, and counterfet her selfe so nere,
  As if that by one patterne seene somewhere,
  She had them made a paragone to be,
  Or whether it through skill, or errour were.
  Thus gazing long, at them much wondred he,
So did the other knights and Squires, which him did see.

Then gan they ransacke that same Castle strong,
  In which he found great store of hoorded threasure,
  The which that tyrant gathered had by wrong
  And tortious powre, without respect or measure.
  Vpon all which the Briton Prince made seasure,
  And afterwards continu'd there a while,
  To rest him selfe, and solace in soft pleasure
  Those weaker Ladies after weary toile;
To whom he did diuide part of his purchast spoile.

And for more ioy, that captiue Lady faire
  The faire Poeana he enlarged free;
  And by the rest did set in sumptuous chaire,
  To feast and frollicke; nathemore would she
  Shew gladsome countenaunce nor pleasaunt glee:
  But grieued was for losse both of her sire,
  And eke of Lordship, with both land and fee:
  But most she touched was with griefe entire,
For losse of her new loue, the hope of her desire.

But her the Prince through his well wonted grace,
  To better termes of myldnesse did entreat,
  From that fowle rudenesse, which did her deface;
  And that same bitter corsiue, which did eat
  Her tender heart, and made refraine from meat,
  He with good thewes and speaches well applyde,
  Did mollifie, and calme her raging heat.
  For though she were most faire, and goodly dyde,
Yet she it all did mar with cruelty and pride.

And for to shut vp all in friendly loue,
  Sith loue was first the ground of all her griefe,
  That trusty Squire he wisely well did moue
  Not to despise that dame, which lou'd him liefe,
  Till he had made of her some better priefe,
  But to accept her to his wedded wife.
  Thereto he offred for to make him chiefe
  Of all her land and lordship during life:
He yeelded, and her tooke; so stinted all their strife.

From that day forth in peace and ioyous blis,
  They liu'd together long without debate:
  Ne priuate iarre, ne spite of enemis
  Could shake the safe assuraunce of their state.
  And she whom Nature did so faire create,
  That she mote match the fairest of her daies,
  Yet with lewd loues and lust intemperate
  Had it defaste; thenceforth reformd her waies,
That all men much admyrde her change, and spake her praise.

Thus when the Prince had perfectly compylde
  These paires of friends in peace and setled rest,
  Him selfe, whose minde did trauell as with chylde,
  Of his old loue, conceau'd in secret brest,
  Resolued to pursue his former quest;
  And taking leaue of all, with him did beare
  Faire Amoret, whom Fortune by bequest
  Had left in his protection whileare,
Exchanged out of one into an other feare.

Feare of her safety did her not constraine,
  For well she wist now in a mighty hond,
  Her person late in perill, did remaine,
  Who able was all daungers to withstond.
  But now in feare of shame she more did stond,
  Seeing her selfe all soly succourlesse,
  Left in the victors powre, like vassall bond;
  Whose will her weakenesse could no way represse,
In case his burning lust should breake into excesse.

But cause of feare sure had she none at all
  Of him, who goodly learned had of yore
  The course of loose affection to forstall,
  And lawlesse lust to rule with reasons lore;
  That all the while he by his side her bore,
  She was as safe as in a Sanctuary;
  Thus many miles they two together wore,
  To seeke their loues dispersed diuersly,
Yet neither shewed to other their hearts priuity.

At length they came, whereas a troupe of Knights
  They saw together skirmishing, as seemed:
  Sixe they were all, all full of fell despight,
  But foure of them the battell best beseemed,
  That which of them was best, mote not be deemed.
  Those foure were they, from whom false Florimell
  By Braggadochio lately was redeemed.
  To weet, sterne Druon, and lewd Claribell,
Loue-lauish Blandamour, and lustfull Paridell.

Druons delight was all in single life,
  And vnto Ladies loue would lend no leasure:
  The more was Claribell enraged rife
  With feruent flames, and loued out of measure:
  So eke lou'd Blandamour, but yet at pleasure
  Would change his liking, and new Lemans proue:
  But Paridell of loue did make no threasure,
  But lusted after all, that him did moue.
So diuersly these foure disposed were to loue.

But those two other which beside them stoode,
  Were Britomart, and gentle Scudamour,
  Who all the while beheld their wrathfull moode,
    And wondred at their impacable stoure,
  Whose like they neuer saw till that same houre:
  So dreadfull strokes each did at other driue,
  And laid on load with all their might and powre,
  As if that euery dint the ghost would riue
Out of their wretched corses, and their liues depriue.

As when Dan AEolus in great displeasure,
  For losse of his deare loue by Neptune hent,
  Sends forth the winds out of his hidden threasure,
  Vpon the sea to wreake his fell intent;
  They breaking forth with rude vnruliment,
  From all foure parts of heauen doe rage full sore,
  And tosse the deepes, and teare the firmament,
  And all the world confound with wide vprore,
As if in stead thereof they Chaos would restore.

Cause of their discord, and so fell debate,
  Was for the loue of that same snowy maid,
  Whome they had lost in Turneyment of late,
  And seeking long, to weet which way she straid
  Met here together; where through lewd vpbraide
  Of Ate and Duessa they fell out,
  And each one taking part in others aide,
  This cruell conflict raised thereabout,
Whose dangerous successe depended yet in dout.

For sometimes Paridell and Blandamour
  The better had, and bet the others backe,
  Eftsoones the others did the field recoure,
  And on their foes did worke full cruell wracke:
  Yet neither would their fiendlike fury slacke,
  But euermore their malice did augment;
  Till that vneath they forced were for lacke
  Of breath, their raging rigour to relent,
And rest themselues for to recouer spirits spent.

There gan they change their sides, and new parts take;
  For Paridell did take to Druons side,
  For old despight, which now forth newly brake
  Gainst Blandamour, whom alwaies he enuide:
  And Blandamour to Claribell relide.
  So all afresh gan former fight renew.
  As when two Barkes, this caried with the tide,
  That with the wind, contrary courses sew,
If wind and tide doe change, their courses change anew.

Thenceforth they much more furiously gan fare,
  As if but then the battell had begonne,
  Ne helmets bright, ne hawberks strong did spare,
  That through the clifts the vermeil bloud out sponne,
  And all adowne their riuen sides did ronne.
  Such mortall malice, wonder was to see
  In friends profest, and so great outrage donne:
  But sooth is said, and tride in each degree,
Faint friends when they fall out, most cruell fomen bee.

Thus they long while continued in fight,
  Till Scudamour, and that same Briton maide,
  By fortune in that place did chance to light:
  Whom soone as they with wrathfull eie bewraide,
  They gan remember of the fowle vpbraide,
  The which that Britonesse had to them donne,
  In that late Turney for the snowy maide;
  Where she had them both shamefully fordonne,
And eke the famous prize of beauty from them wonne.

Eftsoones all burning with a fresh desire,
  Of fell reuenge, in their malicious mood
  They from them selues gan turne their furious ire,
  And cruell blades yet steeming with whot bloud,
  Against those two let driue, as they were wood:
  Who wondring much at that so sodaine fit,
  Yet nought dismayd, them stoutly well withstood;
  Ne yeelded foote, ne once abacke did flit,
But being doubly smitten likewise doubly smit.

The warlike Dame was on her part assaid,
  Of Claribell and Blandamour attone;
  And Paridell and Druon fiercely laid
  At Scudamour, both his professed fone.
  Foure charged two, and two surcharged one;
  Yet did those two them selues so brauely beare,
  That the other litle gained by the lone,
  But with their owne repayed duely weare,
And vsury withall: such gaine was gotten deare.

Full oftentimes did Britomart assay
  To speake to them, and some emparlance moue;
  But they for nought their cruell hands would stay,
  Ne lend an eare to ought, that might behoue,
  As when an eager mastiffe once doth proue
  The tast of bloud of some engored beast,
  No words may rate, nor rigour him remoue
  From greedy hold of that his blouddy feast:
So litle did they hearken to her sweet beheast.

Whom when the Briton Prince a farre beheld
  With ods of so vnequall match opprest,
  His mighty heart with indignation sweld,
  And inward grudge fild his heroicke brest:
  Eftsoones him selfe he to their aide addrest,
  And thrusting fierce into the thickest preace,
  Diuided them, how euer loth to rest,
  And would them faine from battell to surceasse,
With gentle words perswading them to friendly peace.

But they so farre from peace or patience were,
  That all at once at him gan fiercely flie,
  And lay on load, as they him downe would beare;
  Like to a storme, which houers vnder skie
  Long here and there, and round about doth stie,
  At length breakes downe in raine, and haile, and sleet,
  First from one coast, till nought thereof be drie;
  And then another, till that likewise fleet;
And so from side to side till all the world it weet.

But now their forces greatly were decayd,
  The Prince yet being fresh vntoucht afore;
  Who them with speaches milde gan first disswade
  From such foule outrage, and them long forbore:
  Till seeing them through suffrance hartned more,
  Him selfe he bent their furies to abate,
  And layd at them so sharpely and so sore,
  That shortly them compelled to retrate,
And being brought in daunger, to relent too late.

But now his courage being throughly fired,
  He ment to make them know their follies prise,
  Had not those two him instantly desired
  T'asswage his wrath, and pardon their mesprise.
  At whose request he gan him selfe aduise
  To stay his hand, and of a truce to treat
  In milder tearmes, as list them to deuise:
  Mongst which the cause of their so cruell heat
He did them aske, who all that passed gan repeat.

And told at large how that same errant Knight,
  To weet faire Britomart, them late had foyled
  In open turney, and by wrongfull fight
  Both of their publicke praise had them despoyled,
  And also of their priuate loues beguyled;
  Of two full hard to read the harder theft.
  But she that wrongfull challenge soone assoyled,
  And shew'd that she had not that Lady reft,
(As they supposd) but her had to her liking left.

To whom the Prince thus goodly well replied;
  Certes sir Knight[s], ye seemen much to blame,
  To rip vp wrong, that battell once hath tried;
  Wherein the honor both of Armes ye shame,
  And eke the loue of Ladies foule defame;
  To whom the world this franchise euer yeelded,
  That of their loues choise they might freedom clame,
  And in that right should by all knights be shielded:
Gainst which me seemes this war ye wrongfully haue wielded.

And yet (quoth she) a greater wrong remaines:
  For I thereby my former loue haue lost,
  Whom seeking euer since with endlesse paines,
  Hath me much sorrow and much trauell cost;
  Aye me to see that gentle maide so tost.
  But Scudamour then sighing deepe, thus saide,
  Certes her losse ought me to sorrow most,
  Whose right she is, where euer she be straide,
Through many perils wonne, and many fortunes waide.

For from the first that I her loue profest,
  Vnto this houre, this present lucklesse howre,
  I neuer ioyed happinesse nor rest,
  But thus turmoild from one to other stowre,
  I wast my life, and doe my daies deuowre
  In wretched anguishe and incessant woe,
  Passing the measure of my feeble powre,
  That liuing thus, a wretch and louing so,
I neither can my loue, ne yet my life forgo.

Then good sir Claribell him thus bespake,
  Now were it not sir Scudamour to you,
  Dislikefull paine, so sad a taske to take,
  Mote we entreat you, sith this gentle crew
  Is now so well accorded all anew;
  That as we ride together on our way,
  Ye will recount to vs in order dew
  All that aduenture, which ye did assay
For that faire Ladies loue: past perils well apay.

So gan the rest him likewise to require,
  But Britomart did him importune hard,
  To take on him that paine: whose great desire
  He glad to satisfie, him selfe prepar'd
  To tell through what misfortune he had far'd,
  In that atchieuement, as to him befell.
  And all those daungers vnto them declar'd,
  Which sith they cannot in this Canto well
Comprised be, I will them in another tell.

Scudamour doth his conquest tell,
  Of vertuous Amoret:
Great Venus Temple is describ'd,
  And louers life forth set.

T Rue he it said, what euer man it sayd,
  That loue with gall and hony doth abound,
  But if the one be with the other wayd,
  For euery dram of hony therein found,
  A pound of gall doth ouer it redound.
  That I too true by triall haue approued:
  For since the day that first with deadly wound
  My heart was launcht, and learned to haue loued,
I neuer ioyed howre, but still with care was moued.

And yet such grace is giuen them from aboue,
  That all the cares and euill which they meet,
  May nought at all their setled mindes remoue,
  But seeme gainst common sence to them most sweet;
  As bosting in their martyrdome vnmeet.
  So all that euer yet I haue endured,
  I count as naught, and tread downe vnder feet,
  Since of my loue at length I rest assured,
That to disloyalty she will not be allured.

Long were to tell the trauell and long toile,
  Through which this shield of loue I late haue wonne,
  And purchased this peerelesse beauties spoile,
  That harder may be ended, then begonne.
  But since ye so desire, your will be donne.
  Then hearke ye gentle knights and Ladies free,
  My hard mishaps, that ye may learne to shonne;
  For though sweet loue to conquer glorious be,
Yet is the paine thereof much greater then the fee.

What time the fame of this renowmed prise
  Flew first abroad, and all mens eares possest,
  I hauing armes then taken, gan auise
  To winne me honour by some noble gest,
  And purchase me some place amongst the best.
  I boldly thought (so young mens thoughts are bold)
  That this same braue emprize for me did rest,
  And that both shield and she whom I behold,
Might be my lucky lot; sith all by lot we hold.

So on that hard aduenture forth I went,
  And to the place of perill shortly came.
  That was a temple faire and auncient,
  Which of great mother Venus bare the name,
  And farre renowmed through exceeding fame;
  Much more then that, which was in Paphos built,
  Or that in Cyprus, both long since this same,
  Though all the pillours of the one were guilt,
And all the others pauement were with yuory spilt.

And it was seated in an Island strong,
  Abounding all with delices most rare,
  And wall'd by nature gainst inuaders wrong,
  That none mote haue accesse, nor inward fare,
  But by one way, that passage did prepare.
  It was a bridge ybuilt in goodly wize,
  With curious Corbes and pendants grauen faire,
  And arched all with porches, did arize
On stately pillours, fram'd after the Doricke guize.

And for defence thereof, on th'other end
  There reared was a castle faire and strong,
  That warded all which in or out did wend,
  And flancked both the bridges sides along,
  Gainst all that would it faine to force or wrong.
  And therein wonned twenty valiant Knights;
  All twenty tride in warres experience long;
  Whose office was, against all manner wights
By all meanes to maintaine that castels ancient rights.

Before that Castle was an open plaine,
  And in the midst thereof a piller placed;
  On which this shield, of many sought in vaine,
  The shield of Loue, whose guerdon me hath graced,
  Was hangd on high with golden ribbands laced;
  And in the marble stone was written this,
  With golden letters goodly well enchaced,
  Blessed the man that well can vse his blis:
VVhose euer be the shield, faire Amoret be his.

Which when I red, my heart did inly earne,
  And pant with hope of that aduentures hap:
  Ne stayed further newes thereof to learne,
  But with my speare vpon the shield did rap,
  That all the castle ringed with the clap.
  Streight forth issewd a Knight all arm'd to proofe,
  And brauely mounted to his most mishap:
  Who staying nought to question from aloofe,
Ran fierce at me, that fire glaunst from his horses hoofe.

Whom boldly I encountred (as I could)
  And by good fortune shortly him vnseated.
  Eftsoones out sprung two more of equall mould;
  But I them both with equall hap defeated:
  So all the twenty I likewise entreated,
  And left them groning there vpon the plaine.
  Then preacing to the pillour I repeated
  The read thereof for guerdon of my paine,
And taking downe the shield, with me did it retaine.

So forth without impediment I past,
  Till to the Bridges vtter gate I came:
  The which I found sure lockt and chained fast.
  I knockt, but no man aunswred me by name;
  I cald, but no man answerd to my clame.
  Yet I perseuer'd still to knocke and call,
  Till at the last I spide within the same,
  Where one stood peeping through a creuis small,
To whom I cald aloud, halfe angry therewithall.

That was to weet the Porter of the place,
  Vnto whose trust the charge thereof was lent:
  His name was Doubt, that had a double face,
  Th'one forward looking, th'other backeward bent,
  Therein resembling Ianus auncient,
  Which hath in charge the ingate of the yeare:
  And euermore his eyes about him went,
  As if some proued perill he did feare,
Or did misdoubt some ill, whose cause did not appeare.

On th'one side he, on th'other sate Delay,
  Behinde the gate, that none her might espy;
  Whose manner was all passengers to stay,
  And entertaine with her occasions sly,
  Through which some lost great hope vnheedily,
  Which neuer they recouer might againe;
  And others quite excluded forth, did ly
  Long languishing there in vnpittied paine,
And seeking often entraunce, afterwards in vaine.

Me when as he had priuily espide,
  Bearing the shield which I had conquerd late,
  He kend it streight, and to me opened wide.
  So in I past, and streight he closd the gate.
  But being in, Delay in close awaite
  Caught hold on me, and thought my steps to stay,
  Feigning full many a fond excuse to prate,
  And time to steale, the threasure of mans day;
Whose smallest minute lost, no riches render may.

But by no meanes my way I would forslow,
  For ought that euer she could doe or say,
  But from my lofty steede dismounting low,
  Past forth on foote, beholding all the way
  The goodly workes, and stones of rich assay,
  Cast into sundry shapes by wondrous skill,
  That like on earth no where I recken may:
  And vnderneath, the riuer rolling still
With murmure soft, that seem'd to serue the workmans will.

Thence forth I passed to the second gate,
  The Gate of good desert, whose goodly pride
  And costly frame, were long here to relate.
  The same to all stoode alwaies open wide:
  But in the Porch did euermore abide
  An hideous Giant, dreadfull to behold,
  That stopt the entraunce with his spacious stride,
  And with the terrour of his countenance bold
Full many did affray, that else faine enter would.

His name was Daunger dreaded ouer all,
  Who day and night did watch and duely ward,
  From fearefull cowards, entrance to forstall,
  And faint-heart-fooles, whom shew of perill hard
  Could terrifie from Fortunes faire adward:
  For oftentimes faint hearts at first espiall
  Of his grim face, were from approaching scard;
  Vnworthy they of grace, whom one deniall
Excludes from fairest hope, withouten further triall.

Yet many doughty warriours, often tride
  In greater perils to be stout and bold,
  Durst not the sternnesse of his looke abide,
  But soone as they his countenance did behold,
  Began to faint, and feele their corage cold.
  Againe some other, that in hard assaies
  Were cowards knowne, and litle count did hold,
  Either through gifts, or guile, or such like waies,
Crept in by stouping low, or stealing of the kaies.

But I though meanest man of many moe,
  Yet much disdaining vnto him to lout,
  Or creepe betweene his legs, so in to goe,
  Resolu'd him to assault with manhood stout,
  And either beat him in, or driue him out.
  Eftsoones aduauncing that enchaunted shield,
  With all my might I gan to lay about:
  Which when he saw, the glaiue which he did wield
He gan forthwith t'auale, and way vnto me yield.

So as I entred, I did backeward looke,
  For feare of harme, that might lie hidden there;
  And loe his hindparts, whereof heed I tooke,
  Much more deformed fearefull vgly were,
  Then all his former parts did earst appere.
  For hatred, murther, treason, and despight,
  With many moe lay in ambushment there,
  Awayting to entrap the warelesse wight,
Which did not them preuent with vigilant foresight.

Thus hauing past all perill, I was come
  Within the compasse of that Islands space;
  The which did seeme vnto my simple doome,
  The onely pleasant and delightfull place,
  That euer troden was of footings trace.
  For all that nature by her mother wit
  Could frame in earth, and forme of substance base,
  Was there, and all that nature did omit,
Art playing second natures part, supplyed it.

No tree, that is of count, in greenewood growes,
  From lowest Iuniper to Ceder tall,
  No flowre in field, that daintie odour throwes,
  And deckes his branch with blossomes ouer all,
  But there was planted, or grew naturall:
  Nor sense of man so coy and curious nice,
  But there mote find to please it selfe withall;
  Nor hart could wish for any queint deuice,
But there it present was, and did fraile sense entice.

In such luxurious plentie of all pleasure,
  It seem'd a second paradise to ghesse,
  So lauishly enricht with natures threasure,
  That if the happie soules, which doe possesse
  Th'Elysian fields, and liue in lasting blesse,
  Should happen this with liuing eye to see,
  They soone would loath their lesser happinesse,
  And wish to life return'd againe to bee,
That in this ioyous place they mote haue ioyance free.

Fresh shadowes, fit to shroud from sunny ray;
  Faire lawnds, to take the sunne in season dew;
  Sweet springs, in which a thousand Nymphs did play;
  Soft rombling brookes, that gentle slomber drew;
  High reared mounts, the lands about to vew;
  Low looking dales, disloignd from common gaze;
  Delightfull bowres, to solace louers trew;
  False Labyrinthes, fond runners eyes to daze;
All which by nature made did nature selfe amaze.

And all without were walkes and alleyes dight,
  With diuers trees, enrang'd in euen rankes;
  And here and there were pleasant arbors pight,
  And shadie seates, and sundry flowring bankes,
  To sit and rest the walkers wearie shankes,
  And therein thousand payres of louers walkt,
  Praysing their god, and yeelding him great thankes,
  Ne euer ought but of their true loues talkt,
Ne euer for rebuke or blame of any balkt.

All these together by themselves did sport
  Their spotlesse pleasures, and sweet loues content.
  But farre away from these, another sort
  Of louers lincked in true harts consent;
  Which loued not as these, for like intent,
  But on chast vertue grounded their desire,
  Farre from all fraud, or fayned blandishment;
  Which in their spirits kindling zealous fire,
Braue thoughts and noble deedes did euermore aspire.

Such were great Hercules, and Hylas deare;
  Trew Ionathan, and Dauid trustie tryde;
  Stout Theseus, and Pirithous his feare;
  Pylades and Orestes by his syde;
  Myld Titus and Gesippus without pryde;
  Damon and Pythias whom death could not seuer;
  All these and all that euer had bene tyde,
  In bands of friendship, there did liue for euer,
Whose liues although decay'd, yet loues decayed neuer.

Which when as I, that neuer tasted blis,
  Nor happie howre, beheld with gazefull eye,
  I thought there was none other heauen then this;
  And gan their endlesse happinesse enuye,
  That being free from feare and gealosye,
  Might frankely there their loues desire possesse;
  Whilest I through paines and perlous ieopardie,
  Was forst to seeke my lifes deare patronesse:
Much dearer be the things, which come through hard distresse.

Yet all those sights, and all that else I saw,
  Might not my steps withhold, but that forthright
  Vnto that purposd place I did me draw,
  Where as my loue was lodged day and night:
  The temple of great Venus, that is hight
  The Queene of beautie, and of loue the mother,
  There worshipped of euery liuing wight;
  Whose goodly workmanship farre past all other
That euer were on earth, all were they set together.

Not that same famous Temple of Diane,
  Whose hight all Ephesus did ouersee,
  And which all Asia sought with vowes prophane,
  One of the worlds seuen wonders sayd to bee,
  Might match with this by many a degree:
  Nor that, which that wise King of Iurie framed,
  With endlesse cost, to be th'Almighties see;
  Nor all that else through all the world is named
To all the heathen Gods, might like to this be clamed.

I much admyring that so goodly frame,
  Vnto the porch approcht, which open stood;
  But therein sate an amiable Dame,
  That seem'd to be of very sober mood,
  And in her semblant shewed great womanhood:
  Strange was her tyre; for on her head a crowne
  She wore much like vnto a Danisk hood
  Poudred with pearle and stone, and all her gowne
Enwouen was with gold, that raught full low a downe.

On either side of her, two young men stood,
  Both strongly arm'd, as fearing one another;
  Yet were they brethren both of halfe the blood,
  Begotten by two fathers of one mother,
  Though of contrarie natures each to other:
  The one of them hight Loue, the other Hate,
  Hate was the elder, Loue the younger brother;
  Yet was the younger stronger in his state
Then th'elder, and him maystred still in all debate.

Nathlesse that Dame so well them tempred both,
  That she them forced hand to ioyne in hand,
  Albe that Hatred was thereto full loth,
  And turn'd his face away, as he did stand,
  Vnwilling to behold that louely band.
  Yet she was of such grace and vertuous might,
  That her commaundment he could not withstand,
  But bit his lip for felonous despight,
And gnasht his yron tuskes at that displeasing sight.

Concord she cleeped was in common reed,
  Mother of blessed Peace, and Friendship trew;
  They both her twins, both borne of heauenly seed,
  And she her selfe likewise diuinely grew;
  The which right well her workes diuine did shew:
  For strength, and wealth, and happinesse she lends,
  And strife, and warre, and anger does subdew:
  Of litle much, of foes she maketh frends,
And to afflicted minds sweet rest and quiet sends.

By her the heauen is in his course contained,
  And all the world in state vnmoued stands,
  As their Almightie maker first ordained,
  And bound them with inuiolable bands;
  Else would the waters ouerflow the lands,
  And fire deuoure the ayre, and hell them quight,
  But that she holds them with her blessed hands.
  She is the nourse of pleasure and delight,
And vnto Venus grace the gate doth open right.

By her I entring halfe dismayed was,
  But she in gentle wise me entertayned,
  And twixt her selfe and Loue did let me pas;
  But Hatred would my entrance haue restrayned,
  And with his club me threatned to haue brayned,
  Had not the Ladie with her powrefull speach
  Him from his wicked will vneath refrayned;
  And th'other eke his malice did empeach,
Till I was throughly past the perill of his reach.

Into the inmost Temple thus I came,
  Which fuming all with frankensence I found,
  And odours rising from the altars flame.
  Vpon an hundred marble pillors round
  The roofe vp high was reared from the ground,
  All deckt with crownes, & chaynes, and girlands gay,
  And thousand pretious gifts worth many a pound,
  The which sad louers for their vowes did pay;
And all the ground was strow'd with flowres, as fresh as May.

An hundred Altars round about were set,
  All flaming with their sacrifices fire,
  That with the steme thereof the Temple swet,
  Which rould in clouds to heauen did aspire,
  And in them bore true louers vowes entire:
  And eke an hundred brasen caudrons bright,
  To bath in ioy and amorous desire,
  Euery of which was to a damzell hight;
For all the Priests were damzels, in soft linnen dight.

Right in the midst the Goddesse selfe did stand
  Vpon an altar of some costly masse,
  Whose substance was vneath to vnderstand:
  For neither pretious stone, nor durefull brasse,
  Nor shining gold, nor mouldring clay it was;
  But much more rare and pretious to esteeme,
  Pure in aspect, and like to christall glasse,
  Yet glasse was not, if one did rightly deeme,
But being faire and brickle, likest glasse did seeme.

But it in shape and beautie did excell
  All other Idoles, which the heathen adore
  Farre passing that, which by surpassing skill
  Phidias did make in Paphos Isle of yore,
  With which that wretched Greeke, that life forlore
  Did fall in loue: yet this much fairer shined,
  But couered with a slender veile afore;
  And both her feete and legs together twyned
Were with a snake, whose head & tail were fast co[m]byned.

The cause why she was couered with a vele,
  Was hard to know, for that her Priests the same
  From peoples knowledge labour'd to concele.
  But sooth it was not sure for womanish shame,
  Nor any blemish, which the worke mote blame;
  But for, they say, she hath both kinds in one,
  Both male and female, both vnder one name:
  She syre and mother is her selfe alone,
Begets and eke conceiues, ne needeth other none.

And all about her necke and shoulders flew
  A flocke of litle loues, and sports, and ioyes,
  With nimble wings of gold and purple hew;
  Whose shapes seem'd not like to terrestriall boyes,
  But like to Angels playing heauenly toyes;
  The whilest their eldest brother was away,
  Cupid their eldest brother; he enioyes
  The wide kingdome of loue with Lordly sway,
And to his law compels all creatures to obay.

And all about her altar scattered lay
  Great sorts of louers piteously complayning,
  Some of their losse, some of their loues delay,
  Some of their pride, some paragons disdayning,
  Some fearing fraud, some fraudulently fayning,
  As euery one had cause of good or ill.
  Amongst the rest some one through loues constrayning,
  Tormented sore, could not containe it still,
But thus brake forth, that all the temple it did fill.

Great Venus, Queene of beautie and of grace,
  The ioy of Gods and men, that vnder skie
  Doest fayrest shine, and most adorne thy place,
  That with thy smyling looke doest pacifie
  The raging seas, and makst the stormes to flie;
  Thee goddesse, thee the winds, the clouds doe feare,
  And when thou spredst thy mantle forth on hie,
  The waters play and pleasant lands appeare,
And heauens laugh, & all the world shews ioyous cheare.

Then doth the dædale earth throw forth to thee
  Out of her fruitfull lap aboundant flowres,
  And then all liuing wights, soone as they see
  The spring breake forth out of his lusty bowres,
  They all doe learne to play the Paramours;
  First doe the merry birds, thy prety pages
  Priuily pricked with thy lustfull powres,
  Chirpe loud to thee out of their leauy cages,
And thee their mother call to coole their kindly rages.

Then doe the saluage beasts begin to play
  Their pleasant friskes, and loath their wonted food;
  The Lyons rore, the Tygres loudly bray,
  The raging Buls rebellow through the wood,
  And breaking forth, dare tempt the deepest flood,
  To come where thou doest draw them with desire:
  So all things else, that nourish vitall blood,
  Soone as with fury thou doest them inspire,
In generation seeke to quench their inward fire.

So all the world by thee at first was made,
  And dayly yet thou doest the same repayre:
  Ne ought on earth that merry is and glad,
  Ne ought on earth that louely is and fayre,
  But thou the same for pleasure didst prepayre.
  Thou art the root of all that ioyous is,
  Great God of men and women, queene of th'ayre,
  Mother of laughter, and welspring of blisse,
O graunt that of my loue at last I may not misse.

So did he say: but I with murmure soft,
  That none might heare the sorrow of my hart,
  Yet inly groning deepe and sighing oft,
  Besought her to graunt ease vnto my smart,
  And to my wound her gratious help impart.
  Whilest thus I spake, behold with happy eye
  I spyde, where at the Idoles feet apart
  A beuie of fayre damzels close did lye,
Wayting when as the Antheme should be sung on hye.

The first of them did seeme of ryper yeares,
  And grauer countenance then all the rest;
  Yet all the rest were eke her equall peares,
  Yet vnto her obayed all the best.
  Her name was VVomanhood, that she exprest
  By her sad semblant and demeanure wyse:
  For stedfast still her eyes did fixed rest,
  Ne rov'd at randon after gazers guyse,
Whose luring baytes oftimes doe heedlesse harts entyse.

And next to her sate goodly Shamefastnesse,
  Ne euer durst her eyes from ground vpreare,
  Ne euer once did looke vp from her desse,
  As if some blame of euill she did feare,
  That in her cheekes made roses oft appeare:
  And her against sweet Cherefulnesse was placed,
  Whose eyes like twinkling stars in euening cleare,
  Were deckt with smyles, that all sad humors chaced,
And darted forth delights, the which her goodly graced.

And next to her sate sober Modestie,
  Holding her hand vpon her gentle hart;
  And her against sate comely Curtesie,
  That vnto euery person knew her part;
  And her before was seated ouerthwart
  Soft Silence, and submisse Obedience,
  Both linckt together neuer to dispart,
  Both gifts of God not gotten but from thence,
Both girlonds of his Saints against their foes offence.

Thus sate they all a round in seemely rate:
  And in the midst of them a goodly mayd,
  Euen in the lap of VVomanhood there sate,
  The which was all in lilly white arayd,
  With siluer streames amongst the linnen stray'd;
  Like to the Morne, when first her shyning face
  Hath to the gloomy world it selfe bewray'd,
  That same was fayrest Amoret in place,
Shyning with beauties light, and heauenly vertues grace.

Whom soone as I beheld, my hart gan throb,
  And wade in doubt, what best were to be donne:
  For sacrilege me seem'd the Church to rob,
  And folly seem'd to leaue the thing vndonne,
  Which with so strong attempt I had begonne.
  Tho shaking off all doubt and shamefast feare,
  Which Ladies loue I heard had neuer wonne
  Mongst men of worth, I to her stepped neare,
And by the lilly hand her labour'd vp to reare.

Thereat that formost matrone me did blame,
  And sharpe rebuke, for being ouer bold;
  Saying it was to Knight vnseemely shame,
  Vpon a recluse Virgin to lay hold,
  That vnto Venus seruices was sold.
  To whom I thus, Nay but it fitteth best,
  For Cupids man with Venus mayd to hold,
  For ill your goddesse seruices are drest
By virgins, and her sacrifices let to rest.

With that my shield I forth to her did show,
  Which all that while I closely had conceld;
  On which when Cupid with his killing bow
  And cruell shafts emblazond she beheld,
  At sight thereof she was with terror queld,
  And said no more: but I which all that while
  The pledge of faith, her hand engaged held,
  Like warie Hynd within the weedie soyle,
For no intreatie would forgoe so glorious spoyle.

And euermore vpon the Goddesse face
  Mine eye was fixt, for feare of her offence:
  Whom when I saw with amiable grace
  To laugh at me, and fauour my pretence,
  I was emboldned with more confidence;
  And nought for nicenesse nor for enuy sparing,
  In presence of them all forth led her thence:
  All looking on, and like astonisht staring,
Yet to lay hand on her, not one of all them daring.

She often prayd, and often me besought,
  Sometime with tender teares to let her goe,
  Sometime with witching smyles: but yet for nought,
  That euer she to me could say or doe,
  Could she her wished freedome fro me wooe;
  But forth I led her through the Temple gate,
  By which I hardly past with much adoe:
  But that same Ladie which me friended late
In entrance, did me also friend in my retrate.

No lesse did Daunger threaten me with dread,
  When as he saw me, maugre all his powre,
  That glorious spoyle of beautie with me lead,
  Then Cerberus, when Orpheus did recoure
  His Leman from the Stygian Princes boure.
  But euermore my shield did me defend,
  Against the storme of euery dreadfull stoure:
  Thus safely with my loue I thence did wend.
So ended he his tale, where I this Canto end.

Marinells former wound is heald,
  he comes to Proteus hall,
Where Thames doth the Medway wedd,
  and feasts the Sea-gods all.

B Vt ah for pittie that I haue thus long
  Left a fayre Ladie languishing in payne:
  Now well away, that I haue doen such wrong,
  To let faire Florimell in bands remayne,
  In bands of loue, and in sad thraldomes chayne;
  From which vnlesse some heauenly powre her free
  By miracle, not yet appearing playne,
  She lenger yet is like captiu'd to bee:
That euen to thinke thereof, it inly pitties mee.

Here neede you to remember, how erewhile
  Vnlouely Proteus, missing to his mind
  That Virgins loue to win by wit or wile,
  Her threw into a dongeon deepe and blind,
  And there in chaynes her cruelly did bind,
  In hope thereby her to his bent to draw:
  For when as neither gifts nor graces kind
  Her constant mind could moue at all he saw,
He thought her to compell by crueltie and awe.

Deepe in the bottome of an huge great rocke
  The dongeon was, in which her bound he left,
  That neither yron barres, nor brasen locke
  Did neede to gard from force, or secret theft
  Of all her louers, which would her haue reft.
  For wall'd it was with waues, which rag'd and ror'd
  As they the cliffe in peeces would haue cleft;
  Besides ten thousand monsters foule abhor'd
Did waite about it, gaping griesly all begor'd.

And in the midst thereof did horror dwell,
  And darkenesse dredd, that neuer viewed day,
  Like to the balefull house of lowest hell,
  In which old Styx her aged bones alway,
  Old Styx the Grandame of the Gods, doth lay.
  There did this lucklesse mayd seuen months abide,
  Ne euer euening saw, ne mornings ray,
  Ne euer from the day the night descride,
But thought it all one night, that did no houres diuide.

And all this was for loue of Marinell,
  Who her despysd (ah who would her despyse?)
  And wemens loue did from his hart expell,
  And all those ioyes that weake mankind entyse.
  Nathlesse his pride full dearely he did pryse;
  For of a womans hand it was ywroke,
  That of the wound he yet in languor lyes,
  Ne can be cured of that cruell stroke
Which Britomart him gaue, when he did her prouoke.

Yet farre and neare the Nymph his mother sought,
  And many salues did to his sore applie,
  And many herbes did vse. But when as nought
  She saw could ease his rankling maladie,
  At last to Tryphon she for helpe did hie,
  (This Tryphon is the seagods surgeon hight)
  Whom she besought to find some remedie:
  And for his paines a whistle him behight
That of a fishes shell was wrought with rare delight.

So well that Leach did hearke to her request,
  And did so well employ his carefull paine,
  That in short space his hurts he had redrest,
  And him restor'd to healthfull state againe:
  In which he long time after did remaine
  There with the Nymph his mother, like her thrall;
  Who sore against his will did him retaine,
  For feare of perill, which to him mote fall,
Through his too ventrous prowesse proued ouer all.

It fortun'd then, a solemne feast was there
  To all the Sea-gods and their fruitfull seede,
  In honour of the spousalls, which then were
  Betwixt the Medway and the Thames agreed.
  Long had the Thames (as we in records reed)
  Before that day her wooed to his bed;
  But the proud Nymph would for no worldly meed,
  Nor no entreatie to his loue be led;
Till now at last relenting, she to him was wed.

So both agreed, that this their bridale feast
  Should for the Gods in Proteus house be made;
  To which they all repayr'd, both most and least,
  Aswell which in the mightie Ocean trade,
  As that in riuers swim, or brookes doe wade.
  All which not if an hundred tongues to tell,
  And hundred mouthes, and voice of brasse I had,
  And endlesse memorie, that mote excell,
In order as they came, could I recount them well.

Helpe therefore, O thou sacred imp of Ioue,
  The noursling of Dame Memorie his deare,
  To whom those rolles, layd vp in heauen aboue,
  And records of antiquitie appeare,
  To which no wit of man may comen neare;
  Helpe me to tell the names of all those floods,
  And all those Nymphes, which then assembled were
  To that great banquet of the watry Gods,
And all their sundry kinds, and all their hid abodes.

First came great Neptune with his threeforkt mace,
  That rules the Seas, and makes them rise or fall;
  His dewy lockes did drop with brine apace,
  Vnder his Diademe imperiall:
  And by his side his Queene with coronall,
  Faire Amphitrite, most diuinely faire,
  Whose yuorie shoulders weren couered all,
  As with a robe, with her owne siluer haire,
And deckt with pearles, which th'Indian seas for her prepaire.

These marched farre afore the other crew;
  And all the way before them as they went,
  Triton his trompet shrill before them blew,
  For goodly triumph and great iollyment,
  That made the rockes to roare, as they were rent.
  And after them the royall issue came,
  Which of them sprung by lineall descent:
  First the Sea-gods, which to themselues doe clame
The powre to rule the billowes, and the waues to tame.

Phorcys, the father of that fatall brood,
  By whom those old Heroes wonne such fame;
  And Glaucus, that wise southsayes vnderstood;
  And tragicke Inoes sonne, the which became
  A God of seas through his mad mothers blame,
  Now hight Palemon, and is saylers frend;
  Great Brontes, and Astraeus, that did shame
  Himselfe with incest of his kin vnkend;
And huge Orion, that doth tempests still portend.

The rich Cteatus, and Eurytus long;
  Neleus and Pelias louely brethren both;
  Mightie Chrysaor, and Caicus strong;
  Eurypulus, that calmes the waters wroth;
  And faire Euphaemus, that vpon them go'th
  As on the ground, without dismay or dread:
  Fierce Eryx, and Alebius that know'th
  The waters depth, and doth their bottome tread;
And sad Asopus, comely with his hoarie head.

There also some most famous founders were
  Of puissant Nations, which the world possest;
  Yet sonnes of Neptune, now assembled here:
  Ancient Ogyges, even th'auncientest,
  And Inachus renowmd aboue the rest;
  Phoenix, and Aon, and Pelasgus old,
  Great Belus, Phoeax, and Agenor best;
  And mightie Albion, father of the bold
And warlike people, which the Britaine Islands hold.

For Albion the sonne of Neptune was,
  Who for the proofe of his great puissance,
  Out of his Albion did on dry-foot pas
  Into old Gall, that now is cleeped France,
  To fight with Hercules, that did aduance
  To vanquish all the world with matchlesse might,
  And there his mortall part by great mischance
  Was slaine: but that which is th'immortall spright
Liues still: and to this feast with Neptunes seed was dight.

But what doe I their names seeke to reherse,
  Which all the world haue with their issue fild?
  How can they all in this so narrow verse
  Contayned be, and in small compasse hild?
  Let them record them, that are better skild,
  And know the moniments of passed times:
  Onely what needeth, shall be here fulfild,
  T'expresse some part of that great equipage,
Which from great Neptune do deriue their parentage.

Next came the aged Ocean, and his Dame,
  Old Tethys, th'oldest two of all the rest,
  For all the rest of those two parents came,
  Which afterward both sea and land possest:
  Of all which Nereus th'eldest, and the best,
  Did first proceed, then which none more vpright,
  Ne more sincere in word and deed profest;
  Most voide of guile, most free from fowle despight,
Doing him selfe, and teaching others to doe right.

Thereto he was expert in prophecies,
  And could the ledden of the Gods vnfold,
  Through which, when Paris brought his famous prise
  The faire Tindarid lasse, he him fortold,
  That her all Greece with many a champion bold
  Should fetch againe, and finally destroy
  Proud Priams towne. So wise is Nereus old,
  And so well skild; nathlesse he takes great ioy
Oft-times amo[n]gst the wanton Nymphs to sport and toy.

And after him the famous riuers came,
  Which doe the earth enrich and beautifie:
  The fertile Nile, which creatures new doth frame;
  Long Rhodanus, whose sourse springs from the skie;
  Faire Ister, flowing from the mountaines hie;
  Diuine Scamander, purpled yet with blood
  Of Greekes and Troians, which therein did die;
  Pactolus glistring with his golden flood,
And Tygris fierce, whose streames of none may be withstood.

Great Ganges, and immortall Euphrates,
  Deepe Indus, and Maeander intricate,
  Slow Peneus, and tempestuous Phasides,
  Swift Rhene, and Alpheus still immaculate:
  Ooraxes, feared for great Cyrus fate;
  Tybris, renowmed for the Romaines fame,
  Rich Oranochy, though but knowen late;
  And that huge Riuer, which doth beare his name
Of warlike Amazons, which doe possesse the same.

Ioy on those warlike women, which so long
  Can from all men so rich a kingdome hold;
  And shame on you, ô men, which boast your strong
  And valiant hearts, in thoughts lesse hard and bold,
  Yet quaile in conquest of that land of gold.
  But this to you, ô Britons, most pertaines,
  To whom the right hereof it selfe hath sold;
  The which for sparing litle cost or paines,
Loose so immortall glory, and so endlesse gaines.

Then was there heard a most celestiall sound,
  Of dainty musicke, which did next ensew
  Before the spouse: that was Arion crownd;
  Who playing on his harpe, vnto him drew
  The eares and hearts of all that goodly crew,
  That euen yet the Dolphin, which him bore
  Through the AEgaean seas from Pirates vew,
  Stood still by him astonisht at his lore,
And all the raging seas for ioy forgot to rore.

So went he playing on the watery plaine.
  Soone after whom the louely Bridegroome came,
  The noble Thamis, with all his goodly traine,
  But him before there went, as best became
  His auncient parents, namely th'auncient Thame.
  But much more aged was his wife then he,
  The Ouze, whom men doe Isis rightly name;
  Full weake and crooked creature seemed she,
And almost blind through eld, that scarce her way could see.

Therefore on either side she was sustained
  Of two smal grooms, which by their names were hight
  The Churne, and Charwell, two small streames, which   pained
  Them selues her footing to direct aright,
  Which fayled oft through faint and feeble plight:
  But Thame was stronger, and of better stay;
  Yet seem'd full aged by his outward sight,
With head all hoary, and his beard all gray,
Deawed with siluer drops, that trickled downe alway.

And eke he somewhat seem'd to stoupe afore
  With bowed backe, by reason of the lode,
  And auncient heauy burden, which he bore
  Of that faire City, wherein make abode
  So many learned impes, that shoote abrode,
  And with their braunches spred all Britany,
  No lesse then do her elder sisters broode.
  Ioy to you both, ye double noursery
Or Arts, but Oxford thine doth Thame most glorify.

But he their sonne full fresh and iolly was,
  All decked in a robe of watchet hew,
  On which the waues, glittering like Christall glas,
  So cunningly enwouen were, that few
  Could weenen, whether they were false or trew.
  And on his head like to a Coronet
  He wore, that seemed strange to common vew,
  In which were many towres and castels set,
That it encompast round as with a golden fret.

Like as the mother of the Gods, they say,
  In her great iron charet wonts to ride,
  When to Ioues pallace she doth take her way;
  Old Cybele, arayd with pompous pride,
  Wearing a Diademe embattild wide
  With hundred turrets, like a Turribant.
  With such an one was Thamis beautifide;
  That was to weet the famous Troynouant,
In which her kingdomes throne is chiefly resiant.

And round about him many a pretty Page
  Attended duely, ready to obay;
  All little Riuers, which owe vassallage
  To him, as to their Lord, and tribute pay:
  The chaulky Kenet, and the Thetis gray,
  The morish Cole, and the soft sliding Breane,
  The wanton Lee, that oft doth loose his way,
  And the still Darent, in whose waters cleane
Ten thousand fishes play, and decke his pleasant streame.

Then came his neighbour flouds, which nigh him dwell,
  And water all the English soile throughout;
  They all on him this day attended well;
  And with meet seruice waited him about;
  Ne none disdained low to him to lout:
  No not the stately Seuerne grudg'd at all,
  Ne storming Humber, though he looked stout;
  But both him honor'd as their principall,
And let their swelling waters low before him fall.

There was the speedy Tamar, which deuides
  The Cornish and the Deuonish confines;
  Through both whose borders swiftly downe it glides,
  And meeting Plim, to Plimmouth thence declines:
  And Dart, nigh chockt with sands of tinny mines.
  But Auon marched in more stately path,
  Proud of his Adamants, with which he shines
  And glisters wide, as als' of wondrous Bath,
And Bristow faire, which on his waues he builded hath.

And there came Stoure with terrible aspect,
  Bearing his sixe deformed heads on hye,
  That doth his course through Blandford plains direct,
  And washeth Winborne meades in season drye.
  Next him went Wylibourne with passage slye,
  That of his wylinesse his name doth take,
  And of him selfe doth name the shire thereby;
  And Mole, that like a nousling Mole doth make
His way still vnder ground, till Thamis he ouertake.

Then came the Rother, decked all with woods
  Like a wood God, and flowing fast to Rhy:
  And Sture, that parteth with his pleasant floods
  The Easterne Saxons from the Southerne ny,
  And Clare, and Harwitch both doth beautify:
  Him follow'd Yar, soft washing Norwitch wall,
  And with him brought a present ioyfully
  Of his owne fish vnto their festiuall,
Whose like none else could shew, the which they Ruffins call.

Next these the plenteous Ouse came far from land,
  By many a city, and by many a towne,
  And many riuers taking vnder hand
  Into his waters, as he passeth downe,
  The Cle, the Were, the Grant, the Sture, the Rowne.
  Thence doth by Huntingdon and Cambridge flit;
  My mother Cambridge, whom as with a Crowne
  He doth adorne, and is adorn'd of it
With many a gentle Muse, and many a learned wit.

And after him the fatall Welland went,
  That if old sawes proue true (which God forbid)
  Shall drowne all Holland with his excrement,
  And shall see Stamford, though now homely hid,
  Then shine in learning, more then euer did
  Cambridge or Oxford, Englands goodly beames.
  And next to him the Nene downe softly slid;
  And bounteous Trent, that in him selfe enseames
Both thirty sorts of fish, and thirty sundry streames.

Next these came Tyne, along whose stony bancke
  That Romaine Monarch built a brasen wall,
  Which mote the feebled Britons strongly flancke
  Against the Picts, that swarmed ouer all,
  Which yet thereof Gualseuer they doe call:
  And Twede the limit betwixt Logris land
  And Albany: And Eden though but small,
  Yet often stainde with bloud of many a band
Of Scots and English both, that tyned on his strand.

Then came those sixe sad brethren, like forlorne,
  That whilome were (as antique fathers tell)
  Sixe valiant Knights, of one faire Nymphe yborne,
  Which did in noble deedes of armes excell,
  And wonned there, where now Yorke people dwell;
  Still Vre, swift Werfe, and Oze the most of might,
  High Swale, vnquiet Nide, and troublous Skell;
  All whom a Scythian king, that Humber hight,
Slew cruelly, and in the riuer drowned quight.

But past not long, ere Brutus warlicke sonne
  Locrinus them aueng'd, and the same date,
  Which the proud Humber vnto them had donne,
  By equall dome repayd on his owne pate:
  For in the selfe same riuer, where he late
  Had drenched them, he drowned him againe;
  And nam'd the riuer of his wretched fate;
  Whose bad condition yet it doth retaine,
Oft tossed with his stormes, which therein still remaine.

These after, came the stony shallow Lone,
  That to old Loncaster his name doth lend;
  And following Dee, which Britons long ygone
  Did call diuine, that doth by Chester tend;
  And Conway which out of his streame doth send
  Plenty of pearles to decke his dames withall,
  And Lindus that his pikes doth most commend,
  Of which the auncient Lincolne men doe call;
All these together marched toward Proteus hall.

Ne thence the Irishe Riuers absent were:
  Sith no lesse famous then the rest they bee,
  And ioyne in neighbourhood of kingdome nere,
  Why should they not likewise in loue agree,
  And ioy likewise this solemne day to see?
  They saw it all, and present were in place;
  Though I them all according their degree,
  Cannot recount, nor tell their hidden race,
Nor read the saluage cũtreis, thorough which they pace.

There was the Liffy rolling downe the lea,
  The sandy Slane, the stony Aubrian,
  The spacious Shenan spreading like a sea,
  The pleasant Boyne, the fishy fruitfull Ban,
  Swift Awniduff, which of the English man
  Is cal'de Blacke water, and the Liffar deep,
  Sad Trowis/, that once his people ouerran,
  Strong Allo tombling from Slewlogher steep,
And Mulla mine, whose waues I whilom taught to weep.

And there the three renowmed brethren were,
  Which that great Gyant Blomius begot,
  Of the faire Nimph Rheusa wandring there.
  One day, as she to shunne the season whot,
  Vnder Slewbloome in shady groue was got,
  This Gyant found her, and by force deflowr'd:
  Whereof conceiuing, she in time forth brought
  These three faire sons, which being the[n]ce forth powrd
In three great riuers ran, and many countreis scowrd.

The first, the gentle Shure that making way
  By sweet Clonmell, adornes rich Waterford;
  The next, the stubborne Newre, whose waters gray
  By faire Kilkenny and Rosseponte boord,
  The third, the goodly Barow, which doth hoord
  Great heapes of Salmons in his deepe bosome:
  All which long sundred, doe at last accord
  To ioyne in one, ere to the sea they come,
So flowing all from one, all one at last become.

There also was the wide embayed Mayre,
  The pleasaunt Bandon crownd with many a wood,
  The spreading Lee, that like an Island fayre
  Encloseth Corke with his deuided flood;
  And balefull Oure, late staind with English blood:
  With many more, whose names no tongue can tell.
  All which that day in order seemly good
  Did on the Thamis attend, and waited well
To doe their duefull seruice, as to them befell.

Then came the Bride, the louely Medua came,
  Clad in a vesture of vnknowen geare,
  And vncouth fashion, yet her well became;
  That seem'd like siluer, sprinckled here and theare
  With glittering spangs, that did like starres appeare,
  And wau'd vpon, like water Chamelot,
  To hide the metall, which yet euery where
  Bewrayd it selfe, to let men plainely wot,
It was no mortall worke, that seem'd and yet was not.

Her goodly lockes adowne her backe did flow
  Vnto her waste, with flowres bescattered,
  The which ambrosiall odours forth did throw
  To all about, and all her shoulders spred
  As a new spring; and likewise on her hed
  A Chapelet of sundry flowers she wore,
  From vnder which the deawy humour shed,
  Did tricle downe her haire, like to the hore
Congealed litle drops, which doe the morne adore.

On her two pretty handmaides did attend,
  One cald the Theise, the other cald the Crane;
  Which on her waited, things amisse to mend,
  And both behind vpheld her spredding traine;
  Vnder the which, her feet appeared plaine,
  Her siluer feet, faire washt against this day:
  And her before there paced Pages twaine,
  Both clad in colours like, and like array,
The Doune & eke the Frith, both which prepard her way.

And after these the Sea Nymphs marched all,
  All goodly damzels, deckt with long greene haire,
  Whom of their sire Nereides men call,
  All which the Oceans daughter to him bare
  The gray eyde Doris: all which fifty are;
  All which she there on her attending had.
  Swift Proto, milde Eucrate, Thetis faire,
  Soft Spio, sweete Eudore, Sao sad,
Light Doto, wanton Glauce, and Galene glad.

White hand Eunica, proud Dynamene,
  Ioyous Thalia, goodly Amphitrite,
  Louely Pasithee, kinde Eulimene,
  Lifht goote Cymothoe, and sweete Melite,
  Fairest Pherusa, Phao lilly white,
  Wondred Agaue, Poris, and Nesæa,
  With Erato that doth in loue delite,
  And Panopæ, and wise Protomedæa,
And snowy neckd Doris, and milkewhite Galathæa.

Speedy Hippothoe, and chaste Actea,
  Large Lisianassa, and Pronæa sage,
  Euagore, and light Pontoporea,
  And she, that with her least word can asswage
  The surging seas, when they do sorest rage,
  Cymodoce, and stout Autonoe,
  And Neso, and Eione well in age,
  And seeming still to smile, Glauconome,
And she that hight of many heastes Polynome,

Fresh Alimeda, deckt with girlond greene;
  Hyponeo, with salt bedewed wrests:
  Laomedia, like the christall sheene;
  Liagore, much praisd for wise behests;
  And Psamathe, for her brode snowy brests;
  Cymo, Eupompe, and Themiste iust;
  And she that vertue loues and vice detests
  Euarna, and Menippe true in trust,
And Nemertea learned well to rule her lust.

All these the daughters of old Nereus were,
  Which haue the sea in charge to them assinde,
  To rule his tides, and surges to vprere,
  To bring forth stormes, or fast them to vpbinde,
  And sailers saue from wreckes of wrathfull winde.
  And yet besides three thousand more there were
  Of th'Oceans seede, but Ioues and Phoebus kinde;
  The which in floods and fountaines doe appere,
And all mankinde do nourish with their waters clere.

The which, more eath it were for mortall wight,
  To tell the sands, or count the starres on hye,
  Or ought more hard, then thinke to reckon right.
  But well I wote, that these which I descry,
  Were present at this great solemnity:
  And there amongst the rest, the mother was
  Of luckelesse Marinell Cymodoce.
  Which, for my Muse her selfe now tyred has,
Vnto an other Canto I will ouerpas.