His speare he feutred, and at him it bore; But with no better fortune, then the rest afore.

Full many others at him likewise ran :

410

But all of them likewise difmounted were. Ne certes wonder; for no powre of man Could bide the force of that enchaunted speare, The which this famous Britomart did beare; With which she wondrous deeds of arms atchieued, And ouerthrew, what euer came her neare, That all those stranger knights full fore agrieued, And that late weaker band of chalengers relieued. Like as in fommers day when raging heat

420

Doth burne the earth, and boyled riuers drie,
That all brute beafts forft to refraine fro meat,
Doe hunt for fhade, where fhrowded they may lie,
And miffing it, faine from themfelues to flie;

All trauellers tormented are with paine :

A watry cloud doth ouercast the skie,

And poureth forth a sudden shoure of raine, That all the wretched world recomforteth againe.

So did the warlike Britomart restore

The prize, to knights of Maydenhead that day, 430
Which else was like to haue bene loft, and bore
The prayse of prowesse from them all away. /
Then fhrilling trompets loudly gan to bray,
And bad them leaue their labours and long toyle,
To ioyous feast and other gentle play;

Where beauties prize fhold win that pretious spoyle: Where I with found of trompe will also resta whyle.

1. 412,. for,-accepted: 1. 431,' Which... loft' in ( ): 1. 435, ; for,— accepted.

I

T hath bene through all ages euer feene,

That with the praise of armes and cheualrie,
The prize of beautie still hath ioyned beene;
And that for reafons fpeciall priuitie:
For either doth on other much relie.
For he me feemes most fit the faire to serue,
That can her best defend from villenie ;
And' fhe most fit his feruice doth deferue,
That fairest is and from her faith will neuer swerue.

So fitly now here commeth next in place,
After the proofe of proweffe ended well,
The controuerfe of beauties foueraine grace;
In which to her that doth the most excell,
Shall fall the girdle of faire Florimell:
That many wish to win for glorie vaine,
And not for vertuous vse, which fome doe tell
That glorious belt did in it felfe containe,

ΙΟ

20

Which Ladies ought to loue, and feeke for to obtaine.

That girdle gaue the vertue of chast loue,
And wiuehood true, to all that did it beare;
But whofoeuer contrarie doth proue,
Might not the fame about her middle weare.
But it would loose, or else a funder teare.
Whilome it was (as Faeries wont report)
Dame Venus girdle, by her fteemed deare,
What time she vfd to liue in wiuely fort;
But layd afide, when so she vfd her looser sport.

Her husband Vulcan whylome for her fake,
When first he loued her with heart entire,
This pretious ornament they fay did make,
And wrought in Lemno with vnquenched fire:
And afterwards did for her loues first hire,
Giue it to her, for euer to remaine,
Therewith to bind lafciuious defire,

And loose affections ftreightly to restraine;
Which vertue it for euer after did retaine.

The fame one day, when she her felfe disposd
To visite her beloued Paramoure,

The God of warre, fhe from her middle loofd,
And left behind her in her secret bowre,
On Acidalian mount, where many an howre
She with the pleasant Graces wont to play.
There Florimell in her firft ages flowre
Was foftered by those Graces, (as they say)

30

40

And brought with her fro thence that goodly belt

away.

1. 36, 'Lemnos' 1611: 1. 46, misprinted Aridalian' in 1609.

That goodly belt was Ceftus hight by name,
And as her life by her efteemed deare.
No wonder then, if that to winne the fame
So many Ladies fought, as fhall appeare ;/
For pearelesse she was thought, that did it beare.
And now by this their feast all being ended,
The judges which thereto felected were,
Into the Martian field adowne defcended,

To deeme this doutfull cafe, for which they all
côtended.

5 I

But firft was question made, which of thofe Knights 60
That lately turneyd, had the wager wonne :
There was it iudged by thofe worthie wights,
That Satyrane the first day best had donne :
For he laft ended, hauing first begonne.
The fecond was to Triamond behight,

For that he fau'd the victour from fordonne:
For Cambell victour was in all mens fight,

Till by mishap he in his foemens hand did light.

The third dayes prize vnto that ftraunger Knight, 69 Whom all men term'd Knight of the Hebene fpeare, To Britomart was giuen by good right;

For that with puissant stroke she downe did beare The Saluage Knight, that victour was whileare, And all the reft, which had the best afore, And to the last vnconquer'd did appeare; For laft is deemed best. To her therefore The fayreft Ladie was adiudgd for Paramore.

1. 55, 'peereleffe': 1. 58, Martian'-qy. 'martial'? as Dr. Morris queries.

But thereat greatly grudged Arthegall,

And much repynd, that both of victors meede,
And eke of honour she did him foreftall.

80

Yet mote he not withstand, what was decreede;

But inly thought of that defpightfull deede
Fit time t'awaite auenged for to bee.
This being ended thus, and all agreed,
Then next enfew'd the Paragon to fee

Of beauties praise, and yeeld the fayrest her due fee.
Then / first Cambello brought vnto their view
His faire Cambina, couered with a veale;

Which being once withdrawne, moft perfect hew
And paffing beautie did eftfoones reueale,

That able was weake harts away to steale.
Next did Sir Triamond vnto their fight

The face of his deare Canacee vnheale;

90

Whose beauties beame eftfoones did fhine fo bright, That daz'd the eyes of all, as with exceeding light.

And after her did Paridell produce

His false Dueffa, that fhe might be feene;

Who with her forged beautie did feduce

The hearts of some, that fairest her did weene;

As diuerfe wits affected diuers beene.

Then did Sir Ferramont vnto them shew

His Lucida, that was full faire and sheene,

And after these an hundred Ladies moe

Appear'd in place, the which each other did outgoe.

All which who fo dare thinke for to enchace,

Him needeth fure a golden pen I weene,

100

1. 79, 'repyn'd': 1. 83,, for. : 1. 97, ; for,—accepted: 1. 105, 'who-fo.'