And hidden wayes, that fcarfe an hound by Him when the damzell faw faft by her side, fmell So ugly creature, fhe was nigh dismayd, But after all her princely entertayne, To th' hearing of that former caufe in hand Herfelfe eftfoones the gan convert againe, Which that thofe knights likewife mote underftand, And witneffe forth aright in forrain land, They doe his anger calme, and cruell vengeance Taking them up into her stately throne, stay. XXXII. They also doe by his divine permiffion XXXIII. Thus did fhe fit in royall rich estate, XXXIV. So fitting high in dreaded foverayntie, Where they mote heare the matter throughy Those two ftraunge knights were to her prefence That those whom the to pitie had allured, brought, Who bowing low before her maieftie, Did to her myld obeyfance, as they ought, Aad meckest boone, that they imagine mought: To whom the eke inclysing her withall, He now t'abhorre and loath her perfon had pro cured. XL. First gan he tell how this that feem'd fo faire And royally arayd, Duessa hight, That falfe Dueffa, which had wrought great care And mickle mifchiefe unto many a knight, ly her beguiled and confounded quight: but not for thofe fhe now in queftion came, hough alfo thofe mote queftion'd be aright, ut for vyld treafons and outrageous shame, Which he against the dred Mercilla oft did frame. XLI. ar fhe whylome (as ye mote yet right well emember) had her counfels falfe confpyred ith faithleffe Blandamour and Paridell, loth two her paramours, both by her hyred, nd both with hope of fhadowes vaine infpyred) nd with them practiz'd how for to depryve ercilla of her crowne, by her afpyred, at the might it unto herselfe deryve, d tryumph in their blood whom the to death did dryve. XLII. get through high Heaven's grace, which favour not e wicked driftes of trayterous defynes ad th' actours won the meede meet for their crymes: h be the meede of all that by fuch meane to the type of kingdomes title clymes; t falfe Dueffa, now entitled queene, brought to her fad doome, as here was to be feene. XLIII. ongly did Zele her haynous fact enforce, it many high regards and reafons gainst her red. XLIV. en gan Authority her to oppofe th peremptorie powre, that made all mute; d then the Law of Nations gainst her rofe, dreafons brought, that no man could refute; tgan Religion gainft her to impute gh God's beheaft, and powre of holy lawes; en gan the peoples cry and common fute portune care of their owne publicke caufe; And high alliance unto forren powre; And, laftly, Griefe did plead, and many teares forth powre. XLVI. With the near touch whereof in tender hart XLVII. He gan t'efforce the evidence anew, XLVIII. Then brought he forth, with griefly grim af pect, Abhorred Murder, who with bloudie knyfe And lewd Impietie, that her accused sore. XLIX. All which whenas the prince had heard and feene, His former fancies ruth he gan repent, L. But fhe, whofe princely breaft was touched neare With piteous ruth of her fo wretched plight, d, lastly, Iuftice charged her with breach of Though plaine the faw, by all that fhe did heare, lawes. Who then can thee, Mercilla, throughly prayse, Up to the fkies, whence firft deriv'd it was, From th' utmost brinke of the Armericke shore IV. Much more it prayfed was of those two knight, Against Dueffa, damned by them all, N. During all which those knighs continu'd there VI. Amongst the rest, which in that space befell, There came two fpringals of full tender yeares Farre thence from forrein land where they d dwell, To feeke for fuccour of her and of her peares, With humble prayers and intreatfull teares, Sent by their mother, who a widow was, Wrapt in great dolours and in deadly feares But thine owne people do thy mercy prayfe much By a strong tyrant, who invaded has more. Her land, and flaine her children ryefully, alas' |