An armed knight approaching to the place,
With a faire lady lincked by his syde,
The which themselves prepard thorough the foord
to ride.

XXXI.

Whom Calepine faluting, as became, Befought of courtefie in that his neede (For fafe conducting of his fickely dame Through that fame perillous foord with better heede)

To take him up behinde upon his steed; To whom that other did this taunt returne: Perdy, thou peasant knight mightst rightly reed "Me then to be full base and evill borne, "If I would beare behinde a burden of fuch "fcorne:

XXXII.

"But as thou haft thy fteed forlorne with fhame, "So fare on foote till thou another gayne, "And let thy lady likewife doe the fame, "Or beare her on thy backe with pleasing payne, "And prove thy manhood on the billowes vayne." With which rude fpeach his lady much difpleafed Did him reprove, yet could him not reftrayne, And would on her owne palfrey him have eased For pitty of his dame, whom the saw so diseased.

XXXIII.

Sir Calepine her thanckt, yet inly wroth
Against her knight, her gentlenesse refused,
And carelefly into the river goth,
As in defpight to be fo fowle abufed
Of a rude churle, whom often he accused
Of fowle difcourtefie, unfit for knight;
And ftrongly wading through the waves unused,
With fpeare in th' one hand, ftayd himselfe up-
right,

With th other ftaide his lady up with teddy might.

XXXIV.

And all the while that fame difcourteous knight
Stood on the further bancke beholding him;
At whofe calamity, for more defpight,
He laught, and mockt to fee him like to swim;
But whenas Calepine came to the brim,
And faw his carriage paft that perill well,
Looking at that fame carle with count'nance
grim,

His heart with vengeaunce inwardly did fwell, And forth at laft did breake in fpeaches fharpe and fell:

XXXV.

"Unknightly knight, the blemish of that name, "And blot of all that armes uppon them take, "That is the badge of honour and of fame, "Lo I defie thee, and here challenge make, "That thou for ever doe thofe armes forfake, "And be for ever held a recreant knight, "Unleffe thou dare, for thy deare ladies fake, "And for thine owne defence, on foote alight, "To iuftifie thy fault gainft me in equall fight."

XXXVI.

The daftard, that did heare himselfe defyde, Seem'd not to weigh his threatfull words at all, But laught them out, as if his greater pryde

Did fcorne the challenge of fo bafe a thrall,
Or had no courage, or else had no gall:
So much the more was Calepine offended,
That him to no revenge he forth could call,
But both his challenge and himselfe contemned,
Ne cared as a coward fo to be condemned.

XXXVII.

But he nought weighing what he fayd or did,
Turned his fleede about another way,
And with his lady to the castle rid
Where was his won; ne did the other stay,
But after went directly as he may,
For his ficke charge fome harbour there to feeke;
Where he arriving with the fall of day,
Drew to the gate, and there with prayers meeke,
And myld entreaty, lodging for her did befecke.

XXXVIII.

But the rude porter, that no manners had,
Did fhut the gate against him in his face,
And entraunce boldly unto him forbad;
Natheleffe the knight, now in fo needy case,
Gan him entreat even with fubmiffion base,
And humbly praid to let them in that night;
Who to him aunfwer'd, that there was no place
Of lodging fit for any errant knight,

Unleffe that with his lord he formerly did fight.

XXXIX.

"Full loth am I," quoth he, " as now at earf, "When day is spent, and reft us needeth most, "And that this lady, both whofe fides are perf "With wounds, is ready to forgo the ghoft; "Ne would I gladly combate with mine hoft, "That should to me fuch curtefie afford, "Unleffe that I were thereunto enforst; "But yet aread to me, how hight thy lord, "That doth thus ftrongly ward the Caftle of the "Ford."

XL.

"His name," quoth he, "if that thou lift t "learne,

"Is hight Sir Turpine, one of mickle might "And manhood rare, but terrible and stearne "In all affaies to every errant knight, "Because of one that wrought him fowle dei "pight."

"Ill fecmes," fayd he, " if he so valiaunt be, "That he fhould be fo fterne to ftranger wight; "For feldome yet did living creature fee "That curtefie and manhood ever disagree.

XLI.

"But go thy waies to him, and from me fay "That here is at his gate an errant knight, "That houfe-rome craves, yet would be lethi "t'affay

"The proofe of battell now in doubtfull night, "Or curtefie with rudenesse to requite; "Yet if he ncedes will fight, crave leave till

morne;

"And tell withall the lamentable plight "In which this lady languifheth forlorne, "That pitty eraves, as he of woman was yborne."

XLII.

The groome went ftreightway in, and to his lord Declar'd the meffage which that knight did move