ur'd; ch a peal, llur'd, ad procur'd,

XXXII.

They alfo do by his divine Permiffion
Upon the Thrones of mortal Princes tend,
And often treat for Pardon and Remiffion
To Suppliants, through Frailty which offend.
Thofe did upon Mercilla's Throne attend :
Juft Dice, wife Eunomy, mild Eirene;
And them emongft, her Glory to commend,
Sate goodly Temperance in Garments clean,
And facred Reverence, yborn of heavenly Strene.
XXXIII.

Thus did fhe fit in royal rich Eftate,
Admir'd of many, honoured of all;
Whilft underneath her Feet, there as fhe fate,
A huge great Lion lay, that mote appall
An hardy Courage, like captived Thrall,
With a strong iron Chain and Collar bound,
That once he could not move, nor quich at all;
Yet did he murmur with rebellious Sound,
And foftly royne, when falvage Choler 'gan redound.
XXXIV.

So, fitting high in dreadded Sovereignty,

Those two strange Knights were to her Prefence brought,
Who, bowing low before her Majefty,

Did to her mild Obeyfance, as they ought,
And meekeft Boon, that they imagine mought.
To whom she eke inclining her withal,
As a fair Stoop of her high-foaring Thought,
A chearful Countenance on them let fall,
Yet tempred with fome Majefty Imperial.

XXXV.

As the bright Sun, what time his fiery Team
Towards the western Brim begins to draw,
'Gins to abate the Brightness of his Beam,
And Fervour of his Flames fomewhat adaw:
So did this mighty Lady, when the faw

Those two strange Knights fuch Homage to her make,
Bate fomewhat of that Majefty and Awe,

t whylom wont to do fo many quake,
more mild Afpect those two to entertake.

XXXVI.

Now, at that Inftant, as occafion fell,
When these two stranger Knights arriv'd in place,
She was about Affairs of Common-weal,
Dealing of Justice with indifferent Grace,
And hearing Pleas of People mean and base.
'Mongft which as then, there was for to be heard
The Trial of a great and weighty Case,

Which on both fides was then debating hard:
But at the fight of these, those were awhile debar'd.
XXXVII.

But, after all her princely Entertain,

To th' hearing of that former Caufe in hand, Her felf eftfoons fhe 'gan convert again; Which, that thofe Knights likewife mote understand, And witness forth aright in foreign Land, Taking them up unto her fately Throne, Where they mote hear the Matter throughly fcan'd On either part, fhe placed th' one on th' one, The other on the other fide, and near them none.

XXXVIII.

Then was there brought, as Prifoner to the Bar,
A Lady of great Countenance and Place,
But that the it with foul Abufe did mar;
Yet did appear rare Beauty in her Face,
But blotted with Condition vile and base,
That all her other Honour did obfcure,
And Titles of Nobility deface:

Yet, in that wretched Semblant, she did fure
The Peoples great Compaffion unto her allure.
XXXIX.

Then up arofe a Perfon of deep Reach,
And rare In-fight, hard Matters to reveal;
That well could charm his Tongue, and time his Speech
To all Affaies; his Name was called Zeal:
He 'gan that Lady ftrongly to appeal

Of many heinous Crimes, by her enur'd;
And with fharp Reasons rang her fuch a peal,
That thofe, whom the to Pity had allur'd,
He now t'abhor and loath her Perfon had procur'd,

XL.

First, 'gan he tell, how this that feem'd fo fair
And royally array'd, Duessa hight,

That falfe Duea, which had wrought great Care,
And mickle Mischief unto many a Knight,
By her beguiled, and confounded quite :
But not for those she now in question came,
Though alfo those mote question'd be aright,
But for vile Treasons, and outrageous Shame.
Which she against the dread Mercilla oft did frame.
XLI.

For, fhe whylome (as ye mote yet right well
Remember) had her Counfels false confpir'd,
With faithlefs Blandamour and Paridel
(Both two her Paramours, both by her hir'd,
And both with hope of Shadows vain inspir'd)
And with them practis'd, how for to deprive
Mercilla of her Crown, by her aspir'd,
That he might it unto herself derive,

And triumph in their Blood, whom the to Death did drive.
XLII.

But through high Heaven's Grace (which favours not The wicked Drifts of traiterous Defigns

'Gain't loyal Princes) all this curfed Plot,

E'er Proof it took, discover'd was betimes,

And th' Actors won the Meed meet for their Crimes.
Such be the Meed of all, that by fuch Mean
Unto the Type of Kingdoms Title climbs.
But falfe Duelfa, now untitled Queen,

Was brought to her fad Doom, as here was to be seen.
XLIII.

Strongly did Zeal her heinous Fact enforce,
And many other Crimes of foul Defame
Against her brought, to banish all Remorse,
And aggravate the Horror of her Blame.
And with him to make part against her, came
Many grave Perfons, that against her plead ;
Firft, was a fage old Sire, that had to Name
The Kingdom's Care, with a white filver Head,
That many high Regards and Reasons 'gainst her read.

XLIV.

;

Then, 'gan Authority her to oppofe
With peremptory Power, that made all mute
And then the Law of Nations 'gainst her rofe,
And Reasons brought, that no Man could refute;
Next, 'gan Religion 'gainst her to impute
High God's Beheaft, and Power of holy Laws;
Then 'gan the Peoples Cry, and Commons Sute,
Importune care of their own publick Cause;
And lastly, Justice charged her with breach of Laws.
XLV.

But then for her, on the contrary part,
Rofe many Advocates for her to plead :
Firft there came Pity, with full tender Heart,
And with her join'd Regard of Woman-head;
And then came Danger threatning hidden Dread,
And high Alliance unto foreign Power;
Then came Nobility of Birth, that bred

Great Ruth through her Misfortunes tragick Stower; And lastly Grief did plead, and many Tears forth pour, XLVI.

With the near Touch whereof in tender Heart
The Briton Prince was fore empaffionate,
And wox inclined much unto her Part,
Through the fad Terror of fo dreadful Fate,
And wretched Ruin of fo high Estate;
That for great Ruth his Courage 'gan relent.
Which when-as Zeal perceived to abate,
He 'gan his earnest Fervour to augment,
And many fearful Objects to them to prefent.
XLVII.

He 'gan t'efforce the Evidence anew,

And new Accufements to produce in place:
He brought forth that old Hag of hellish Hue,
The curfed Até, brought her Face to Face,
Who privy was, and party in the Cafe:
She, glad of Spoil and ruinous Decay,

Did her appeach, and to her more Disgrace,
The Plot of all her Practice did display,

And all her Trains, and all her Treafons forth did lay.