XVI.

Who was it then, faid Arthegal, that wrought?
And why do it declare unto me true.

A Knight, faid he, if Knight he may be thought,
That did his Hand in Lady's Blood embrue,
And for no Caufe, but as I fhall you fhew.
This day as I in Solace fate hereby

With a fair Love, whofe Lofs I now do rue,
There came this Knight, having in Company

This lucklefs Lady, which now here doth headless lie.
XVII.

He, whether mine feem'd fairer in his Eye,
Or that he, wexed weary of his own,
Would change with me; but I did it deny :
So did the Ladies both, as may be known.
But he, whofe Spirit was with Pride up-blown,
Would not fo reft contented with his Right,
But having from his Courfer her down-thrown,
From me reft mine away by lawless Might,
And on his Steed her fet, to bear her out of fight.
XVIII.

Which when his Lady faw, fhe follow'd faft,
And on him catching hold, 'gan loud to cry
Not fo to leave her, nor away to caft,
But rather of his Hand befought to die.
With that, his Sword he drew all wrathfully,
And at one Stroke cropt off her Head with Scorn,
In that fame place, whereas it now doth lie:
So he my Love away with him hath borne,

And left me here, both his and mine own Love to mourn.
XIX.

Aread, faid he, which way then did he make?
And by what Marks may he be known again?
To hope, quoth he, him foon to overtake,
That hence fo long departed, is but vain
But yet he pricked over yonder Plain
And as I marked, bore upon his Shield,
By which it's eafy him to know again,
A broken Sword within a bloody Field:
Expreffing well his Nature which the fame did wield.
VOL. III.

P

XX.

XX.

No fooner faid, but ftraight he after fent
His yron Page, who him purfu'd fo light,
As that it feem'd above the Ground he went:
For he was swift as Swallow in her Flight,
And ftrong as Lion in his lordly Might.
It was not long before he overtook

Sir Sanglier (fo cleeped was that Knight)
Whom at the firft he gueffed by his Look,

And by the other Marks, which off his Shield he took.
XXI.

He bade him ftay, and back with him retire;
Who full of Scorn to be commanded fo,
The Lady to alight did eft require,

Whilft he reformed that uncivil Foe:

And ftraight at him with all his Force did go.
Who mov'd no more therewith, than when a Rock
Is lightly ftriken with fome Stone's throw;
But to him leaping, lent him fuch a knock,
That on the Ground he laid him like a fenfless Block.
XXII.

But e'er he could himself recure again,
Him in his Iron Paw he feized had;

That when he wak'd out of his wareless Pain,

He found himself, unwift, fo ill beftad,

That Limb he could not wag. Thence he him lad,
Bound like a Beaft appointed to the Stall:
The Sight whereof the Lady fore adrad,
And fain'd to fly for fear of being Thrall;

But he her quickly stay'd, and forc'd to wend withall.
XXIII.

When to the Place they came, where Arthegal
By that fame careful Squire did them abide,
He gently 'gan him to demaund of all

That did betwixt him and that Squire betide.
Who with ftern Count'nance and indignant Pride
Did answer, that of all he guiltless stood,
And his Accufer thereupon defy'd:
For neither he did fhed that Lady's Blood,
No took away his Love, but his own proper Good.

XXIV.

Well did the Squire perceive himself too weak,
To answer his Defiance in the Field,

;

And rather chose his Challenge off to break,
Than to approve his Right with Spear and Shield
And rather guilty chofe himself to yield.
But Arthegal by Signs perceiving plain,
That he it was not, which that Lady kill'd,
But that strange Knight, the fairer Love to gain,
Did caft about by Sleight the Truth thereout to ftrain;
XXV.

And faid, Now fure this doubtful Caufe's Right
Can hardly but by Sacrament be try'd,
Or elfe by Ordele, or by bloody Fight;
That ill perhaps mote fall to either fide.
But if ye pleafe, that I your Caufe decide,
Perhaps I may all further Quarrel end,

So

ye will fwear my Judgment to abide. Thereto they both did frankly condescend, And to his Doom with liftful Ears did both attend.

XXVI.

Sith then, faid he, ye both the dead deny,
And both the living Lady claim your Right,
Let both the Dead and Living equally
Divided be betwixt you here in Sight,
And each of either take his Share aright.
But look who does diffent from this my Read,
He for a Twelvemonth's Day fhall in despight
Bear for his Penance that fame Lady's Head;
To witness to the World, that the by him is dead.
XXVII.

Well pleased with that Doom was Sangliere,
And offer'd ftraight the Lady to be flain.
But that fame Squire, to whom she was most dear,
When-as he faw the fhould be cut in twain,
Did yield, fhe rather should with him remain
Alive, than to himself be shared dead :
And rather than his Love fhould fuffer Pain,
He chofe with Shame to bear that Lady's Head.

True Love defpifeth Shame, when Life is call'd in Dread.

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XXVIII.

XXVIII.

Whom when fo willing Arthegal perceiv'd';
No fo, thou Squire, he faid, but thine I deem
The living Lady, which from thee he reav'd:
For worthy thou of her doft rightly feem.
And you, Sir Knight, that love fo light esteem,
As that ye would for little leave the fame,
Take here your own, that doth you beft befeem,
And with it bear the Burden of Defame;

Your own dead Lady's Head, to tell abroad your Shame.
XXIX.

But Sangliere difdained much his Doom,
And fternly 'gan repine at his Beheaft;
Ne would for ought obey, as did become,
To bear that Lady's Head before his Breaft:
Untill that Talus had his Pride reprefs'd,
And forced him, maulgre, it up to rear.
Who, when he faw it bootlefs to refift,
He took it up, and thence with him did bear,
As rated Spaniel takes his Burden up for fear.
XXX.

Much did that Squire Sir Arthegal adore
For his great Juftice, held in high regard ;
And (as his Squire) him offer'd evermore
To ferve, for want of other meet Reward,
And wend with him on his Adventure hard.
But he thereto would by no means confent;
But leaving him, forth on his Journey far'd:
Ne Wight with him but only Talus went ;
They two enough t'encounter an whole Regiment.

CANTO II.

Arthegal bears of Florimel,
Does with the Pagan fight,
Him flays, drowns Lady Munera,
Does rafe ber Caftle quite.

Nought is more honourable to a Knight,

Ne better doth befeem brave Chevalry,
Than to defend the Feeble in their Right,
And Wrong redress in such as wend awry.
Whilom those great Heroes got thereby
Their greatest Glory for their rightful Deeds,
And Place deferved with the Gods on high.
Herein the Noblefs of this Knight exceeds,
Who now to Perils great for Juftice fake proceeds.
II.

To which as he now was upon the way,
He chaunc'd to meet a Dwarf in hafty Courfe;
Whom he requir'd his forward Hafte to ftay,
Till he of Tidings mote with him difcourfe.
Loth was the Dwarf, yet did he ftay perforce,
And 'gan of fundry News his Store to tell,
As to his Memory they had recourse :
But chiefly of the fairest Florimel,

How she was found again, and spous'd to Marinel.
III.

For this was Dony, Florimel's own Dwarf; Whom having loft (as ye have heard whileare) And finding in the way the scatter'd Scarf, The Fortune of her Life long time did fear. But of her Health when Arthegal did hear, And fafe Return, he was full inly glad ; And afk'd him where, and when her bridal Chear Should be folemniz'd: for if time he had, He would be there, and Honour to her Spousal add.