XII.
By fundry means there to the prickt him forth;
Now with remembrance of those spightful speeches,
Now with opinion of his own more worth,
Now with recounting of like former breaches
Made in their friendship, as that Hag him teaches :
And ever when his paffion is allayd,
She it revives, and new occafion reaches:
That on a time, as they together way'd,::
He made him open challenge, and thus boldly faid:
XIII.
Too boastful Blandamour, too long I-bear
The open wrongs thou doft me day by day; Well know'st thou when we friendship firft did swear, The covenant was, that every spoil or prey Should equally be thar'd betwixt us tway: Where is my part then of this Lady bright, Whom to thyself thou takeft quite away? Render therefore therein to me my right, Or answer for thy wrong, as fhall fall out in fight. XIV.
Exceeding wroth thereat was Blandamour,
And 'gan this bitter answer to him make;
Too foolish Paridell, that fairest flowre
Would't gather fain, and yet no pains would't take:
But not fo eafie will I her forfake;
This hand her won, this hand fhall her defend.
With that, they 'gan their fhivering fpears to fhake,
And deadly points at eithers breaft to bend,..
Forgetful each to have been ever others friend.
XV.
Their fiery steeds, with fo untamed force,
Did bear them both to fell avenges end,
That both their fpears with pitiless remorse,
Through fhield and mail, and haberjeon did wend,
And in their flesh a griefly paffage rend,
That with the fury of their own affret,
Each other horfe and man to ground did fend;
Where lying ftill awhile, both did forget
The per❜lous prefent found, in which their lives were fet.
As when two warlike brigandines at fea,
With murd'rous weapons arm'd to cruel fight,
Do meet together on the watry lea,
They stem each other with fo fell defpight,
That with the fhock of their own heedlefs might,
Their wooden ribs are fhaken nigh afunder;
They which from fhore behold the dreadful fight
Of flashing fire, and hear the ordnance thunder,
Do greatly stand amaz'd at such unwonted wonder.
XVII.
At length they both upftarted in amaze;
As men awaked rafhly out of dream,
And round about themselves awhile did
Till seeing her that Florimell did feem,
In doubt to whom the victory should deem,
There with their dulled fprights they edg'd anew,
And drawing both their fwords with rage extream,
Like two mad maftiffs, each on other flew,
And shields did share, and mails did rash, and helms didhew.
XVIII.
So furiously each other did affail,
As if their fouls they would attonce have rent
Out of their breafts, that ftreams of blood did rail
Adown as if their springs of life were spent ;
That all the ground with purple blood was fprent,
And all their armours ftain'd with bloody gore:
Yet fcarcely once to breathe would they relent;
So mortal was their malice and so fore,
Become of feigned friendship which they vow'd afore.
XIX.
And that which is for Ladies moft befitting,
To ftint all ftrife, and fofter friendly peace,
Was from thofe Dames fo far and fo unfitting,
As that instead of praying them furcease,
They did much more their cruelty increase;
Bidding them fight for honour of their Love,
And rather dye than Ladies cause release.
With which vain terms fo much they did them move, That both refolv'd the laft extremities to prove.
There they (I ween) would fight until this day,
Had not a Squire, (even he the Squire of Dames)
By great adventure travelled that way;
Who feeing both bent to fo bloody games,
And both of old well knowing by their names,
Drew nigh, to weet the cause of their debate:
And first, laid on those Ladies thousand blames,
That did not feek t' appease their deadly hate.
But gazed on their harms, not pitying their eftate.
XXI.
And then, thofe Knights he humbly did befeech
To stay their hands, till he awhile had spoken:
Who lookt a little up at that his fpeech,
Yet would not let their battle fo be broken,
Both greedy fierce on other to be wroken.
Yet he to them fo earnestly did call,
And them conjur'd by fome well knowen token, That they at laft, their wrathful hands let fall, Content to hear him fpeak, and glad to reft withall. XXII.
Firft he defir'd their caufe of ftrife to fee:
They faid, it was for love of Florimell.
Ah! gentle Knights, quoth he, how may that be?
And the fo far aftray, as none can tell.
Fond Squire, full angry then faid Paridell,
Seeft not the Lady there before thy face?
He looked back, and her avifing well,
Weend as he faid, by that her outward grace,
That fairest Florimell was prefent there in place.
XXIII.
Glad man was he to fee that joyous fight
(For none alive but joy'd in Florimell)
And lowly to her louting, thus behight;
Faireft of fair, that fairness doft excell,
This happy day I have to greet you well,
In which you fafe I fee, whom thousands late
Mifdoubted loft through mifchief that befell;
Long may you live in health and happy state.
She little anfwer'd him, but lightly did aggrate.
Then turning to thofe Knights, he 'gan anew;
And you Sir Blandamour and Paridell,
That for this Lady prefent in your view,
Have rais'd this cruel war and outrage fell,
Certes (me feems) been not advised well:
But rather ought in friendship for her fake
To join your force, their forces to repell
That feek perforce her from you both to take;
And of your gotten fpoil, their own triumph to make.
XXV.
Thereat, Sir Blandamour, with count'nance ftern, -
All full of wrath, thus fiercely him befpake
Aread, thou Squire, that I the man may learn,
That dare from me think Florimell to take.
Not one, quoth he, but many do partake
Herein, as thus: It lately fo befell,
That Satyrane a girdle did up-take,
Well known to appertain to Florimell;
Which for her fake he wore, as him befeemed well.
XXVI.
But whenas fhe her felf was loft and gone,
Full many Knights, that loved her like dear,
Thereat did greatly grudge, that he alone
That loft fair Ladies ornament fhould wear,
And 'gan therefore close spite to him to bear:
Which he to fhun, and ftop vile envies fting,
Hath lately caus'd to be proclaim'd each where
A folemn feast, with publick turneying,
Towhich all Knights with them their Ladies are tobring.
XXVII.
And of them all, fhe that is fairest found,
Shall have that golden girdle for reward;
And of thofe Knights who is moft ftout on ground,
Shall to that faireft Lady be prefar'd.
Since therefore fhe herfelf is now your ward,
To you that ornament of hers pertains, Against all thofe that challenge it to guard, And fave her honour with your ventrous pains; That shall you win more glory, than ye here find gains..
When they the reafon of his words had heard,
They 'gan abate the rancour of their rage,
And with their honours and their Loves regard,
The furious flames of malice to affuage.
Tho each to other did his faith engage;
Like faithful friends thence-forth to join in one
With all their force, and battle strong to wage
Gainft all thofe Knights, as their profeffed fone,
That challeng'd ought in Florimell, fave they alone..
XXIX.
So well accorded, forth they rode together
In friendly fort, that lasted but awhile;
And of all old diflikes they made fair weather:
Yet all was forg'd, and fpred with golden foil,
That under it hid hate and hollow guile.
Ne certes can that friendship long endure,
However gay and goodly be the ftile,
That doth ill caufe or evil end enure :
For vertue is the band, that bindeth hearts most sure.
XXX.
Thus as they marched all in clofe disguise
Of feigned Love, they chanft to overtake
Two Knights, that linked rode in lovely wife,
As if they fecret counfels did partake;
And each not far behind him had his Make,
To weet, two Ladies of moft goodly hue,
That 'twixt themselves did gentle purpose make,
Unmindful both of that difcordful crew,
The which with fpeedy pace did after them purfue.
XXXI.
Who as they now approached nigh at hand,
Deeming them doughty as they did appear,
They fent that Squire afore, to understand
What mote they be: who viewing them more near
Returned ready news, that thofe fame were
Two of the proweft Knights in Fairy lond,
And those two Ladies their two Lovers dear,
Courageous Cambell, and ftout Triamond,
With Canacee and Cambine, linkt in lovely bond..
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