His

horse purloyned was by fubtill traine:
For which he chalenged the thiefe to fight..

But he for nought could him thereto constraine.
For as the death he hated fuch despight,

And rather had to lofe, then trie in armes his right.

Which Artegall well hearing, though no more

By law of armes there neede ones right to trie,
As was the wont of warlike knights of yore,
Then that his foe fhould him the field denie,
Yet further right by tokens to defcrie,
He afkt, what priuie tokens he did beare.

If that (faid Guyon) may you fatisfie,

Within his mouth a blacke spot doth appeare, Shapt like a horses shoe, who lift to feeke it there.

Whereof to make due tryall, one did take

The horse in hand, within his mouth to looke:
But with his heeles fo forely he him strake,
That all his ribs he quite in peeces broke,

That neuer word from that day forth he spoke.
Another that would feeme to haue more wit,

280

290

Him by the bright embrodered hedstall tooke: 300 But by the shoulder him fo fore he bit,

That he him maymed quite, and all his shoulder split.

Ne he his mouth would open vnto wight,

Vntill that Guyon felfe vnto him spake,
And called Brigadore (fo was he hight)
Whofe voice fo foone as he did vndertake,
Eftfoones he ftood as ftill as any stake,
And fuffred all his fecret marke to see :
And when as he him nam'd, for ioy he brake

His bands, and follow'd him with gladfull glee, 310 And friskt, and flong aloft, and louted low on knee. /

Thereby Sir Artegall did plaine areed,

That vnto him the horse belong'd, and fayd;
Lo there Sir Guyon, take to you the steed,
As he with golden faddle is arayd;
And let that lofell, plainely now displayd,
Hence fare on foot, till he an horse haue gayned.
But the proud boaster gan his doome vpbrayd,
And him reuil'd, and rated, and difdayned,
That iudgement so vniust against him had ordayned.

Much was the knight incenft with his lewd word,
To haue reuenged that his villeny;

321

And thrife did lay his hand vpon his sword,

To haue him flaine, or dearely doen aby.

But Guyon did his choler pacify,

Saying, Sir knight, it would difhonour bee

To you, that are our iudge of equity,

To wreake your wrath on fuch a carle as hee:

It's punishment enough, that all his fhame doe see.

So did he mitigate Sir Artegall;

But Talus by the backe the boafter hent,
And drawing him out of the open hall,

Vpon him did inflict this punishment.

330

First he his beard did fhaue, and fowly fhent: Then from him reft his fhield, and it renuerft, And blotted out his armes with falfhood blent, And himselfe baffuld, and his armes vnherft, And broke his fword in twaine, and all his armour sperst. 1. 328, accepted : 1. 330, ; for,-accepted: 1. 335, 'r'enuerft.'

The whiles his guilefull groome was fled away:

But vaine it was to thinke from him to flie.

340

Who ouertaking him did difaray,

And all his face deform'd with infamie,

And out of court him scourged openly.

So ought all faytours, that true knighthood shame,

And armes dishonour with base villanie,

From all braue knights be banisht with defame : For oft their lewdnes blotteth good deferts with blame.

Now when these counterfeits were thus vncafed

Out of the forefide of their forgerie,

And in the fight of all men cleane difgraced,
All gan to ieft and gibe full merilie

350

At the remembrance of their knauerie.

Ladies can laugh at Ladies, Knights at Knights,
To thinke with how great vaunt of brauerie

He them abused, through his fubtill flights,

And what a glorious fhew he made in all their fights.

There leaue we them in pleasure and repast,
Spending their ioyous dayes and gladfull nights,
And taking vfurie of time forepast,

With all deare delices and rare delights,
Fit for fuch Ladies and fuch louely knights:

360

And turne we here to this faire furrowes end
Our wearie yokes, to gather fresher sprights,
That when as time to Artegall fhall tend,
We on his first aduenture may him forward send. /

1. 357 in '96 not brought out as usual : 1. 362, ' we here'—accepted for were here' of '96.

Cant. IIII.

Artegall dealeth right betwixt
two brethren that doe ftriue,
Saues Terpine from the gallow tree,

and doth from death repriue.

Ho fo

VV HO

vpon him felfe will take the skill True Iuftice vnto people to diuide,

Had neede haue mightie hands, for to fulfill

That, which he doth with righteous doome decide, And for to maifter wrong and puiffant pride, For vaine it is to deeme of things aright, And makes wrong doers iuftice to deride, Vnleffe it be perform'd with dreadleffe might. For powre is the right hand of Iuftice truely hight. Therefore whylome to knights of great emprise The charge of Iuftice giuen was in trust, That they might execute her iudgements wife, And with their might beat downe licentious luft, Which proudly did impugne her sentence iuft. Whereof no brauer prefident this day Remaines on earth, preferu'd from yron ruft

1. 8, 'haue-1611 needlessly improves' into 'of.'

ΙΟ

20

Of rude obliuion, and long times decay,

Then this of Artegall, which here we haue to say.

Who hauing lately left that louely payre,

Enlincked faft in wedlockes loyall bond,
Bold Marinell with Florimell the fayre,

With whom great feast and goodly glee he fond,
Departed from the Castle of the ftrond,

To follow his aduentures first intent,

Which long agoe he taken had in hond:

Ne wight with him for his assistance went,

30

But that great yron groome, his gard and gouernment.

With whom as he did paffe by the fea fhore,

He chaunft to come, whereas two comely Squires, Both brethren, whom one wombe together bore,

But stirred vp with different defires,

Together ftroue, and kindled wrathfull fires :
And them beside two feemely damzels ftood,

By all meanes seeking to asswage their ires,

Now with faire words; but words did little good, 40 Now with fharpe threats; but threats the more increaft their mood.

And there before them stood a Coffer ftrong,
Fast bound on euery fide with iron bands,
But feeming to haue fuffred mickle wrong,
Either by being wreckt vppon the fands,
Or being carried farre from forraine lands.
Seem'd that for it thefe Squires at ods did fall,
And bent against them felues their cruell hands.

1. 28, Strond.