5. "But he is old, and withered like hay, The privie guilt whereof makes him alway But in close bowre her mewes from all mens fight, Depriv'd of kindly joy and naturall delight. 6. "Malbecco he, and Hellenore fhe hight; Extremely mad the man I surely deeme, 7. "In vaine he feares that which he cannot fhonne; And timely service to her pleasures meet, May her perhaps containe, that else would algates fleet." 8. "Then is he not more mad," (fayd Paridell) That loves his fetters, though they were of gold. Whyles thus we fuffer this fame dotard old 9. "Nay, let us firft" (fayd Satyrane) entreat That counfell pleafd: then Paridell did rise, IO. Whereat foft knocking entrance he defyrd. The good man felfe, which then the Porter playd, And threatned him with force and punishment extreme: II. But all in vaine, for nought mote him relent. And now fo long before the wicket faft с They wayted, that the night was forward spent, And the faire welkin fowly overcaft Gan blowen up a bitter ftormy blast, before the wicket faft.] i. e. before the wicket which had been made faft. Todd rendered the paffage nonsense by printing wicked for "wicket," as if it had reference to the "cancred carl," and not to the gate of his castle. C. With fhowre and hayle so horrible and dred, The which befide the gate for fwyne was ordered. 12. It fortuned, foone after they were gone, Another knight, whom tempeft thether brought, 13. But, to avoyde th' intollerable ftowre, He was compeld to feeke fome refuge neare, Whereat he gan to wex exceeding wroth, And swore that he would lodge with them yfere, 14. Both were full loth to leave that needfull tent, d this faire many.] Company. Spenfer repeatedly uses "many" in this fenfe. TODD. It was common to all the poets of the day. C. of courtefie accufd.] The commentators have mifspent time and fpace upon this very intelligible expreffion, which is merely elliptical: he accufed the Carl of want of courtesy. C. e fall were they liefe or loth.] That is, were they willing, or unwilling. The expreffion occurs again in F. Q. vi. i. 44, and is frequent in our old poets. UPTON. And both full liefe his boafting to abate: That durft not barke; and rather had he dy Then, when he was defyde, in coward corner ly. 15. Tho hastily remounting to his steed He forth iffew'd: like as a boyftrous winde, Then forth it breakes, and with his furious blast Confounds both land and feas, and skyes doth overcast. 16. Their fteel-hed fpeares they strongly coucht, and met That with the terrour of their fierce affret But Paridell fore brused with the blow Could not arife, the counterchaunge to scorse," Till that young Squyre him reared from below; Then drew he his bright fword, and gan about him throw. 17. But Satyrane forth stepping did them stay, And with faire treaty pacifide their yre. Then, when they were accorded from the fray, 8 their fierce affret.] Rencounter, hafty meeting, &c. See alfo F. Q. iv. ii. 15; iv. iii. 6. Affrettare, Ital. To haften, to be in a fret and bafte. UPTON. h Could not arife, the counterchaunge to fcorfe.] Render il contracambio, to be even with him, to give him like for like; faire un contrechange. UPTON. "Scorfe" is exchange: fee vol. ii. p. 258. C. Against that Castles Lord they gan confpire, To heape on him dew vengeaunce for his hire. They beene agreed; and to the gates they goe To burn the fame with unquenchable fire, And that uncurteous Carle, their commune foe, To doe fowle death to die, or wrap in grievous woe. 18. Malbecco, feeing them refolvd in deed. To flame the gates, and hearing them to call And flacke attendaunce unto ftraungers call. The knights were willing all things to excufe, Though nought belev'd, and entraunce late did not refuse. 19. They beene ybrought into a comely bowre, And fervd of all things that mote needfull bee; 20. And eke that straunger knight emongst the rest Was for like need enforst to disaray : Tho, whenas vailed was her lofty crest, |