XXI.

XXVII.

So, as he travelled uppon the way,
He chaunst to come, where happily he spide
A rout of many people farre away;
To whom his course he hastily applide,

To weete the cause of their assemblaunce wide:
To whom when he approched neare in sight,
(An uncouth sight,) he plainely then descride
To be a troupe of women, warlike dight,

With weapons in their hands, as ready for to fight:

XXII.

And in the midst of them he saw a knight,
With both his hands behinde him pinnoed hard,
And round about his necke an halter tight,
And ready for the gallow tree prepard :
His face was covered, and his head was bar'd,
That who he was uneath was to descry;
And with full heavy heart with them he far'd,
Griev'd to the soule, and groning inwardly,

Much was the man confounded in his mind,
Partly with shame, and partly with dismay,
That all astonisht he himselfe did find,
And little had for his excuse to say,

But onely thus; "Most haplesse well ye may
Me iustly terme, that to this shame am brought,
And made the scorne of knighthood this same day.
But who can scape what his owne fate hath wrought?
The worke of heavens will surpasseth humaine
thought."

XXVIII.

"Right true: but faulty men use oftentimes To attribute their folly unto fate,

And lay on heaven the guilt of their owne crimes. But tell, Sir Terpin, ne let you amate

Your misery, how fell ye in this state?"

"Then sith ye needs," quoth he, "will know my shame, And all the ill which chaunst to me of late,

I shortly will to you rehearse the same,