Him when the Damzel faw faft by her fide,
So ugly creature, fhe was nigh difmay'd;
And now for help aloud in earneft cride.
But when the villain faw her fo affraid.
He 'gan with guileful words her to perfuade
To banish fear and with Sardonian smile
Laughing on her, his falfe intent to fhade,
'Gan forth to lay his bait her to beguile,
That from herself unwares he might her fteal the while.
XIII.
Like as the Fowler on his guileful pipe,
Charms to the birds full many a pleasant lay,
That they the whiles may take lefs heedy keep,
How he his nets doth for their ruin lay:
So did the villain to her prate
and play,
And many pleafant tricks before her fhow,
To turn her eyes from his intent away:
For he in fleights and jugling feats did flow,
And of legier-demain the mysteries did know.
XIV.
To which whilft fhe lent her intentive mind,
He fuddenly his net upon her threw,
That overspread her like a puff of wind;
And fnatching her foon up ere well fhe knew,
Ran with her faft away unto his mew,
Crying for help aloud. But whenas nigh
He came unto his cave, and there did view
The armed Knights ftopping his paffage by,
He threw his burden down and faft away did fly.
XV.
But Arthegal him after did purfue,
The whiles the Prince there kept the entrance ftill:
Up to the rock he ran, and thereon flew
Like a wild Goat, leaping from hill to hill,
And dancing on the craggy cliffs at will;
That deadly danger feem'd in all mens fight,
To tempt fuch steps, where footing was fo ill:
Ne ought availed for the armed Knight,
To think to follow him that was fo fwift and light.
Which when he faw, his iron man he fent
To follow him: for he was swift in chace.
He him purfu'd wherever that he went,
Both over rocks, and hills, and every place:
Wherefo he fled, he follow'd him apace:
So that he shortly forc'd him to forfake
The height, and down defcend unto the base.
There he him courst afresh, and foon did make
To leave his proper form, and other fhape to take.
XVII.
Into a Fox himself he firft did tourn;
But he him hunted like a Fox full faft:
Then to a bufh himself he did transform;
But he the bufh did beat, till that at last
Into a Bird it chang'd, and from him past,
Flying from tree to tree, from wand to wand : .
But he then ftones at it fo long did caft,
That like a stone it fell upon the land,
But he then took it up, and held fast in his hand.
XVIII.
So he it brought with him unto the Knights,
And to his Lord Sir Arthegal it lent,
Warning him hold it faft, for fear of fleights.
Who whilft in hand it griping hard he hent,
Into an Hedgehog all unwares it went,
And prickt him fo, that he away it threw.
Then 'gan it run away incontinent,
Being returned to his former hue:
But Talus foon him over-took, and backward drew. XIX.
But whenas he would to a Snake again
Have turn'd himself, he with his iron flail
'Gan drive at him, with fo huge might and main,
That all his bones, as fmall as fandy grail
He broke, and did his bowels difentrail;
Crying in vain for help, when help was paft.
So did deceipt the felf deceiver fail:
There they him left a carrion outcast,
For beats and fowls to feed upon for their repaft.
Thenceforth they paffed with that gentle Maid,
To fee her Lady, as they did agree.
To which when the approached, thus fhe faid;
Lo now, right noble Knights, arriv'd ye be
Nigh to the place which ye defir'd to fee:
There fhall ye fee my fov'raine Lady Queen,
Moft facred wight, moft debonair and free,
That ever yet upon this earth was seen,
Or that with diadem hath ever crowned been.
XXI.
The gentle Knight rejoiced much to hear
The praises of that Prince fo manifold;
And paffing little further, comen were
Where they a stately palace did behold,
Of pompous fhow, much more than she had told;
With many towres, and tarras mounted high
And all their tops bright gliftering with gold,
That feemed to outfhine the dimmed sky,
And with thir brightness daz'd the strange beholders eye.
XXII.
There they alighting, by that Damzel were
Directed in, and fhewed all the fight:
Whose porch that most magnifick did appear,
Stood open wide to all men day and night;
Yet warded well by one of mickle might,
That fate thereby, with Giant-like refemblance,
To keep out guile, and malice, and defpight,'
That under fhew oft-times of feigned femblance,
Are wont in Princes courts to work great fcath and hin-
XXIII.
[drance.
His name was Awe; by whom they paffing in
Went up
the hall, that was a large wide room,
All full of people making troublous din,
And wondrous noife, as if that there were fome,
Which unto them were dealing righteous doom.
By whom they paffing through the thickeft preace,
The Marfhal of the hall to them did come;
His name hight Order, who commanding peace,
Them guided through the throng, that did their clamours
They ceaft their clamours upon them to gaze;
Whom feeing all in armour bright as day,
Strange there to fee, it did them much amaze,
And with unwonted terrour half affray.
For never faw they there the like array.
Ne ever was the name of war there spoken,
But joyous peace and quietness alway,
Dealing juft judgements, that mote not be broken
For any bribes, or threats of any to be wroken.
XXV..
Thereas they entred at the fcriene, they faw
Some one whofe tongue was for his trefpafs vile
Naild to a poft adjudged fo by law:
For that therewith he falfely did revile,
And foul blafpheme that Queen for forged guile,
Both with bold fpeeches, which he blazed had,
And with lewd poems, which he did compile;
For the bold title of a Poet bad
He on himself had ta'en, and railing rhimes had sprad.
XXVI.
Thus there he ftood, whilft high over his head,
There written was the purport of his fin,
In cyphers ftrange, that few could rightly read,
BON FONS: but Bon that once had written bin,
Was raced out, and Mal was now put in.
So now Malfons was plainly to be read;
Either for th'evil, which he did therein,
Or that he liken'd was to a well-head
Of evil words, and wicked flanders by him shed.
XXVII.
They paffing by, were guided by degree
Unto the presence of that gracious Queen :
Who fate on high, that the might all men fee,
And might of all men royally be seen,
Upon a throne of gold full bright and sheen
Adorned all with gems of endless price,
As either might for wealth have gotten been, Or could be fram'd by workmans rare device; And all emboft with Lions, and with flowr-delice.
XXVIII.
All over her a cloth of ftate was spread,
Not of rich tiffew, nor of cloth of gold, Nor of ought elfe, that may be richest read, But like a cloud, as likeft may be told, That her broad fpreading wings did wide unfold; Whose skirts were bordred with bright funny beams, Gliftring like gold amongst the pleights enrold, And here and there fhooting forth filver streams, Mongft which crept little Angels through the glittering XXIX.
Seemed thofe little Angels did uphold
The cloth of ftate, and on their purpled wings
Did bear the pendants, through their nimblefs bold. Belides a thousand more of fuch as fings
Hymns to high God, and carol heavenly things, Encompaffed the throne, on which fhe fate; She Angel-like, the heir of ancient Kings And mighty conquerors, in royal state, Whilft Kings and Kefars at her feet did them proftrate. XXX.
Thus fhe did fit in foveraine majesty,
Holding a scepter in her royal hand,
The facred pledge of peace and clemency,
With which high God had bleft her happy land,
Maugre fo many foes, which did withstand.
But at her feet her fword was likewife laid,
Whofe long reft, rufted the bright steely brand;
Yet whenas foes enforc'd, or friends fought aid,
She could it fternly draw, that all the world difmay'd.
XXXI.
And round about, before her feet there fate
A beavy of fair Virgins clad in white,
That goodly feem'd t'adorn her royal state,
All lovely Daughters of high Jove, that hight
Lita, by him begot in loves delight,
Upon the righteous Themis: those they say,
Upon Joves Judgement-feat wait day and night,
And when in wrath he threats the worlds decay,
They do his anger calm, and cruel vengeance ftay.
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