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XII.

As when a sturdy ploughman with his hynde
By strength have overthrowne a stubborne steare,
They downe him hold, and fast with cords do bynde,
Till they him force the buxome yoke to beare:
So did these two this knight oft tug and teare.
Which when the prince beheld, there standing by,
He left his lofty fteede to aide him neare;
And buckling foone himselfe, gan fiercely fly
Upon that carle, to fave his friend from ieopardy.
XIII.

The villaine, leaving him unto his mate
To be captiv'd and handled as he lift,
Himfelfe addreft unto this new debate,
And with his club him all about so blist,
That he which way to turne him scarcely wift:
Sometimes aloft he layd, fometimes alow,

Now here, now there, and oft him neare he mist;
So doubtfully, that hardly one could know
Whether more wary were to give or ward the blow.

But yet the prince fo well enured was

XIV.

With fuch huge strokes, approved oft in fight,.
That way to them he gave forth right to pas;
Ne would endure the daunger of their might,
But wayt advantage when they downe did light.
At last the caytive after long difcourse,

When all his ftrokes he faw avoyded quite,

Refolved in one t'affemble all his force,

And make one end of him without ruth or remorse..

XV..

Elis dreadfull hand he heaved up aloft,

And with his dreadfull instrument of yre
Thought sure have pownded him to powder foft
Or deepe emboweld in the earth entyre;

But fortune did not with his will confpire:

For ere his stroke attayned his intent,
The noble childe, preventing his defire,,
Under his club with wary boldneffe went,,

And smote him on the knee that never yet was bent..

XVI. It

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 fuch broken geare,

But fell to ground like to a lumpe of durt;
Whence he affayed to rife, but could not for his hurt.
XVII.

Eftfoones the prince to him full nimbly stept,

And least he should recover foote againe,

His head meant from his shoulders to have fwept :
Which when the lady faw, fhe cryde amaine;
Stay, ftay, fir knight, for love of God abftaine
From that unwares ye weetleffe dee intend;
Slay not that carle, though worthy to be flaine;
For more on him doth then himselfe depend;
My life will by his death bave lamentable end.

XVIII.

He staide his hand according her defire,
Yet nathemore him fuffred to arize;
But still fuppreffing, 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 durft her dreaded reskue enterprize,
Yet heavens themselves, that favour feeble rights,
Would for itfelfe redreffe, and punish such despights.

XIX.

Then bursting forth in teares, which gushed fast
Like many water-ftreams, awhile she stayd;
Till the fharp paffion being overpast

Her tongue to her restord, then thus fhe fayd,
Nor heavens, nor men can me most wretched mayd
Deliver from the doome of my defart,

The which the god of love bath on me layd,
And damned to endure this direfull fmart,

For penaunce of my proud and hard rebellious bart.

Hh 2

XX. In

XX.

In prime of youthly yeares, when first the flowre
Of beauty gan to bud, and bloofme delight,
And nature me endu'd with plenteous dowre
Of all her gifts, that pleafde each living fight,
I was belov'd of many a gentle knight,
And fude and fought with all the fervice dew:
Full many a one for me deepe groand and fight,
And to the dore of death for forrow drew,
Complayning out on me that would not on them rew.

XXI.

But let them love that lift, or live or die;
Me lift not die for any lovers doole:
Ne lift me leave my loved libertie
To pitty him that lift to play the foole:
To love myself I learned had in fchoole.
Thus I triumphed long in lovers paine,
And fitting careleffe on the fcorners foole
Did laugh at thofe that did lament and plaine :
But all is now repayd with intereft againe.

XXII.

Fer loe the winged god that woundeth harts,
Caufde me be called to accompt therefore;
And for revengement of those wrong full smarts,
Which I to others did inflict afore,

Addeem'd me to endure this penaunce fore;

That in this wize, and this unmeete array,
With thefe two lewd companions, and no more,
Difdaine and Scorne, I through the world' fhould fray,

Till I have fav'd fo many as 'Tearft did flay.

XXIII.

Certes, fayd then the prince, the god is just,
That taketh vengeaunce of his peoples fpoile
For were no law in love, but all that luft
Might them oppreffe, and painefully turmoile,
His kingdome would continue but awhile.
But tell me, lady, wherefore doe you beare
This bottle thus before you with fuch toile,
And eeke this wallet at your backe arreare,

That for thefe carles to carry much more comely were?

XXIV. Here

XXIV.

Here in this bottle, fayd the fory 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 paft and gon.
Yet is the bottle leake, and bag fo torne,
That all which I put in fals out anon,

And is behinde me trodden downe of Scorne,

Who mocketh all my paine, and laughs the more I mourn.

XXV.

The infant hearkned wifely to her tale,

And wondred much at Cupids iudg'ment wise,
That could fo meekly make proud hearts avale,
And wreake himselfe on them that him despise.
Then fuffred he Disdaine up to arife,

Who was not able himfelfe to reare,

up

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

But being up he lookt againe aloft,

As if he never had received fall;

XXVI.

And with sterne eye-brows ftared at him oft,.
As if he would have daunted him withall:
And standing on his tiptoes, to feeme tall,
Downe on his golden feete he often gazed,
As if fuch pride the other could apall;
Who was fo far from being ought amazed,
That he his lookes defpifed, and his boaft difpraized.
XXVII.

Then turning backe unto that captive thrall,

Who all this while stood there befide them bound,.
Unwilling to be knowne or feene at all,

He from thofe bands weend him to have unwound:

But when approaching neare he plainely found
It was his owne true groome, the gentle fquire,
He thereat wext exceedingly astound,

And him did oft embrace, and oft admire,
Ne could with feeing fatisfie his

great defire..

XXVIII. Mean

XXVIII.

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

Unto fome carrion offered to his fight;

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

And fure 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 ftreightway,
And let him rife; then thus the prince gan say,
Now, lady, fith your fortunes thus difpofe,
That if ye lift have liberty, ye may,
Unto your felfe I freely leave to chofe,

Whether I shall you leave, or from thefe villaines lofe.

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