(A privy token which betweene them paft) Bad hini to flie with all the fpeed he could To Crudor, and defire him that he would Veuchfafe to refkue her againft a knight
Nathleffe at length himfelfe he did uprcare
In luftleffe wife, as if againft his will,
Ere he had flept his fill, he wakened were,
Who, through ftrong powrè, had now herfelfe in And gan to ftretch his limbs; which feeling ill
Having late flaine her fenechall in fight,
And all her people murdred with outragious might.
Of his late fall, awhile he refted still;
But when he faw his foe before in vew,
He fhooke of lufkifhneffe, and courage chill
Kindling afresh, gan battell to renew,
To prove if better foote then horfebacke would
enfew.
With that his mortall hand awhile he ftayd, And having fomewhat calm'd his wrathfull hest With goodly patience, thus he to him fayd: "And is the boaft of that proud ladies threat, "That menaced me from the field to beat,
Now brought to this? by this now may ye
"Strangers no more fo rudely to entreat; "But put away proud looke and ufage fterne, "The which fhall nought to you but foule difho46 nour yearne :
"For nothing is more blamefull to a knight, "That cour: fie doth as well as armes profeffe, "However ftrong and fortunate in fight, "Then the reproch of pride and crucineffe : "In vaine he feeketh others to fuppreffe,
All which accepting, and with faithfull oth
Bynding himfelfe most firmely to obay,
He up arofe, however liefe or loth,
And fwore to him true fealtie for aye:
Then forth he cald, from forrowfull dismay,
The fad Briana, which all this beheld,
Who comming forth, yet full of late affray,
Sir Calidore up-cheard and to her teld
All this accord to which he Crudor had compeld,
Whercot he now more glad then fory earst,
"Who hath not learnd himfelfe first to fub- All overcome ith infinite affect
"All flesh is frayle, and full of fickleneffe, "Subiect to Fortune's chance, still chaunging
"What haps to day to me, to-morrow may to 66 you.
Who will not mercie unto others fhew, "How can he mercy ever hope to have? "To pay each with his owne is right and dew: "Yet fince ye mercie now doe need to crave, "I will it graunt, your hopelesse life to fave, "With thefe conditions which I will propound; "First, that ye better fhall yourselfe behave "Unto all errant knights, wherefo on ground; "Next, that ye ladies ayde in every stead and "ftound."
The wretched man, that all this while did dwell
In dread of death, his heafts did gladly heare,
And promift to performe his precept well,
And whatsoever elfe he would requere:
So fuffring him to rife, he made him fweare
By his own (word, and by the croffe thereon,
To take Briana for his loving fere
Withouten dowie or compofition,
But to release his former foule condition.
For his exceeding cou in pearst
Her fubborne hart with inward deepe en.
Before his feet herfelfe she did proiect,
And him adoring as her live's deare lord,
With all due thankes and dutifull refpect
Herfelfe acknowledg'd bound for that accord,
By which he had to her both life and love restord.
So all returning to the caftle glad,.
Moft joyfully the them did entertaine,
Where goodly glee and feast to them she made,
To fhew her thankefull mind and meaning faine,
By all the meanes fhe mote it beft explaine;
And after all, unto Sir Calidore
She freely gave that caftle for his paine,
And her felfe bound to him for evermore; [afore.
So wondrously now chaung'd from that he was
But Calidore himfelfe would not retaine,
Nor land nor fee for hyre of his good deede,
But gave them ftreight unto that squire againe,
Whom from her fenefchali he lately freed,
And to his damzell, as their rightfull meed,
For recompence of all their former wrong:
There he remaind with them tight well agreed,
Till of his wounds he wexed hole and strong,
And then to his first quest he passed forth along.
"And me in lieu thereof revil'd againe,
"Whom when my knight did fee fo lovely faire, "He inly gan her lover to envy,
"Threatning to chasize me, as doth t'a chyld" And with that he part of his fpoyle might
"Meanewhile his ladie, which this outrage faw, "Whileft they together for the quarrey frove, "Into the covert did herfelfe withdraw,
"And closely hid herselfe within the grove.
"So paffed we, till this young man us met;
"And being moov'd with pittie of my plight,
"Spake, as was meet, for ease of my regret :
"Whereof befell what now is in your fight."
"Now fure," then faid Sir Cafidore, “ and right
"Me feemes, that him befell by his owne fault :
"Whoever thinkes through confidence of might,
"Or through fupport of count'nance proud and
" hault,
"To wrong the weaker, oft falles in his owne
"affault."
Then turning backe unto that gentle boy,
Which had himselfe fo ftoutly well acquit,
Seeing his face fo lovely sterne and coy,
And hearing th' answeres of his pregnant wit,
He prayfd it much, and much admyred it,
That fure he weend him born of noble blood,
With whom those graces did fo goodly fit;
And when he long had him beholding stood,
He burft into thefe wordes, as to him feemed
good;
"Faire gentle Swayne! and yet as ftout as fayre! "That in these woods amongst the nymphs doft
"Which daily may to thy fweete lookes repayre,
"As they are wont unto Latonaes forne
"After his chace on woodie Cynthus donne,
"Well may 1, certes, fuch an one thee read,
"As by thy worth thou worthily haft wonne,
"My knight her's foone, as feemes, to daunger" Or furely borne of fome heroicke fead;
"That in thy face appeares and gratious goodly " head.
"But should it not difplease thee it to tell,
"(Unleffe thou in these woods thyfelfe conceale
"For love amongst the woodie gods to dwell)
"I would thy elfe require thee to revele;
"For deare affection and unfayned zeale
"Which to thy noble perfonage I beare,
"And wish thee grow in worship and great
"weale;
"For fince the day that armes I first did reare,
"I never faw in any greater hope appeare.”
To whom then thus the noble youth; " May be,
"Sir knight, that by difcovering my estate,
"Harme may arife unweeting unto me;
"Natheleffe, fith ye fo courteous feemed late,
"To you I will not feare it to relate.
"Then wote ye that I am a Briton borne,
"Sonne of a king, however thorough fate
"Or fortune I my countrie have forlorne,
"And loft the crowne which fhould my head by
" right adorne:
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