XV.

His dreadfull hand he heaved up aloft,
And with his dreadfull instrument of yre
Thought sure have pownded him to powder soft,
Or deepe emboweld in the earth entyre,
But Fortune did not with his will conspire;
For ere his stroke attayned his intent,
The noble childe, preventing his desire,
Under his club with wary boldnesse went,
And smote him on the knee that never yet was ben
XVI.

It never yet was bent, ne bent it now,
Albe the stroke so strong and puissant were,
That seem'd a marble pillour it could bow ;
But all that leg, which did his body beare,
It crackt throughout, yet did no bloud appeare ;
So as it was unable to support

So huge a burden on such broken geare,
But fell to ground like to a lumpe of durt;

Whence he assayed to rise, but could not for his hurt.
XVII.

Eftsoones the prince to him full nimbly stept,
And least he should recover foote againe,

His head meant from his shoulders to have swept; Which when the lady saw, she cryde amaine, "Stay, stay, Sir Knight, for love of God abstaine "From that unwares ye weetlesse doe intend; "Slay not that carle, though worthy to be slaine, "For more on him doth then himselfe depend "My life will by his death have lamentable end.”

XVIII.

He staide his hand according her desire,
Yet nathemore him suffred to arize,
But still suppressing, gan of her inquire,

What meaning mote those uncouth words comprize,
That in that villaines health her safety lies;
That were no might in man, nor heart in knights,
Which durst her dreaded reskue enterprize,
Yet heavens themselves, that favour feeble rights,
Would for itselfe redresse, and punish such de-

XIX.

[spights. Then bursting forth in teares, which gushed fast Like many water streams, awhile she stayd, Till the sharp passion being overpast,

Her tongue to her restor❜d, then thus she sayd; "Nor heavens nor men can me most wretched mayd! "Deliver from the doome of my desart,

"The which the god of Love hath on me layd, "And damned to endure this direfull smart, "For penaunce of my proud and hard rebellious

XX.

[hart. "In prime of youthly yeares, when first the flowre "Of beauty gan to bud, and bloosme delight, "And Nature me endu'd with plenteous dowre "Of all her gifts that pleasde each living sight, "I was belov'd of many a gentle knight,

“ And sude and sought with all the service dew; "Full many a one for me deepe groand and sight, "And to the dore of death for sorrow drew, [rew. "Complayning out on me that would not on them

XXI.

"But let them love that list, or live or die, "Me list not die for any lover's doole; "Ne list me leave my loved libertie "To pitty him that list to play the foole; "To love myself I learned had in schoole. “Thus I triumphed long in lovers paine, "And sitting carelesse on the scorner's stoole, "Did laugh at those that did lament and plaine; "But all is now repayd with interest againe.

.XXII.

"For loe the winged god that woundeth harts, "Cauşde me be called to accompt therefore, "And for revengement of those wrongfull smarts "Which I to others did inflict afore,

"Addeem'd me to endure this penaunce sore, "That in this wize, and this unmeete array, "With these two lewd companions, and no more, "Disdaine and Scorne, I through the world should "Till I have sav'd so many as I earst did slay."[stray, XXIII.

"Certés," sayd then the prince," the god is just, "That taketh vengeaunce of his peoples spoile; "For were no law in love, but all that lust

66

Might them oppresse, and painefully turmoile, "His kingdome would continue but awhile. "But tell me, Lady, wherefore doe you beare "This bottle thus before you with such toile, "And eeke this wallet at your backe arreare, "That for these carles to carry much more comely

were?"

. XXIV.

"Here in this bottle," sayd the sory mayd, "I put the tears of my contrition,

"Till to the brim I have it full defrayd; "And in this bag, which I behinde me don, "I put repentaunce for things past and gon: "Yet is the bottle leake, and bag so torne, "That all which I put in fals out anon, "And is behinde me trodden downe of Scorné, "Who mocketh all my paine, and laughs the more

XXV.

[I mourn." The infant hearkned wisely to her tale,

And wondred much at Cupid's iudg'ment wise, That could so meekly make proud hearts avale, And wreake himselfe on them that him despise : Then suffred he Disdaine up to arise,

Who was not able up himselfe to reare,

By meanes his leg, through his late lucklesse prise, Was crackt in twaine, but by his foolish feare Was holpen up, who him supported standing neare. XXVI.

But being up, he lookt againe aloft,

As if he never had received fall,

And with sterne eye-brows stared at him oft,
As if he would have daunted him withall;
And standing on his tiptoes, to seeme tall,
Downe on his golden feete he often gazed,
As if such pride the other could apall,
Who was so far from being ought amazed,
That he his lookes despised, and his boast dispraized.
Volume VI,

G

XXVII.

Then turning backe unto that captive thrall,
Who all this while stood there beside them bound,
Unwilling to be knowne or seene at all,

He from those bands weend him to have unwound;
But when approaching neare he plainely found
It was his owne true groome, the gentle squire ;
He thereat wext exceedingly astound,

And him did oft embrace, and oft admire,
Ne could with seeing satisfie his great desire.
XXVIII.

Meane while the salvage man, when he beheld
That huge great foole oppressing th' other knight,
Whom with his weight unweldy downe he held,
He flew upon him like a greedy kight

Unto some carrion offered to his sight,

And downe him plucking, with his nailes and teeth
Gan him to hale, and teare, and scratch, and bite;
And from him taking his owne whip, therewith
So sore him scourgeth that the bloud downe followeth.
XXIX.

And sure I weene had not the ladies cry
Procur'd the prince his cruell hand to stay,
He would with whipping him have done to dye;
But being checkt, he did abstaine streightway,
And let him rise: then thus the prince gan say;
“Now, Lady, sith your fortunes thus dispose,
"That if ye list have liberty, ye may,

"Unto yourselfe I freely leave to chose,

[lose."

"Whether I shall you leave, or from these villaines