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290 THE V BOOKE OF THE Cant III
So did he mitigate Sir Artegall,
But Talus by the backe the boaster hent,
And drawing him out of the open hall,
Vpon him did inflict this punishment
First he his beard did shaue, and fowly shent
Then from him reft his shield, and it renuerst,
And blotted out his armes with falshood blent,
And himselfe baffuld, and his armes vnherbt,
And broke his sword m twaine, and all his
armour sperst
The whiles his guilefull groome was fled away
But vame it was to thinke from him to flie
Who ouertakmg him did disaray,
And all his face deform'd with mfamie,
And out of court him scourged openly
So ought all faytours, that true knighthood
shame,
And armes dishonour with base villanie,
From all braueknightsbebamsht with defame
For oft their lewdnes blotteth good deserts
with blame
39
Now when these counterfeits were thus vncased
Out of the foreside of their forgene,
And in the sight of all men cleane disgraced,
All gan to lest and gibe full merihe
At the remembrance of their knauene
Ladies can laugh at Ladies, Knightsat Knights,
To thmke with how great vaunt of brauene
He them abused, through his subtill slights,
And what a glorious shew he made in all their
sights
40
There leaue we them in pleasure and repast,
Spendingtheinoyousdayesandgladfullnights,;
And taking vsune of time forepast,
With all deare dehces and rare delights,
Fit for such Ladies and such louely knights
And turne we here to this faire furrowes end
Our wearie yokes, to gather fresher spnghts,
That when as time to Artegall shall tend,
We on his first aduenture may him forward send
Cant IIII
Artegall dealeth right betwixt
two brethren that doe strme,
Saues Terpwejrom the gallow tree,
and doth from death repnue
I
Who so vpon him selfe will take the skill
True Iustice vnto people to diuide,
Had neede haue mightie hands, for to fulfill
That, which he doth with righteous doome
I decide,
And for to maister wrong and puissant pride
For vame it is to deeme of thmgs aright,
And makes wrong doers iustice to deride,
Vnlesse it be perform'd with dreadlesse might
For powre is the right hand of Iustice truelyhight
2
Therefore whylome to knights of great emprise
The charge of Iustice giuen was in trust,
That they might execute her mdgements wise,
And with their might beat downe licentious lust,
Which proudly did impugne her sentence lust
Whereof no brauer president tins day
Remaines on earth, preseru'd from yron rust
Of rude obhuion, and long times decay,
Then this of Artegall, which here we haue to say
3
Who hauing lately left that louely payre,
Enhncked fast in wedlockes loyall bond,
Bold Marmell with Florimell the fayre,
With whom great feastand goodly gleehefond,
Departed from the Castle of the strond,
To follow his aduentures first intent,
Which long agoe he taken had in hond
Ne wight with him for his assistance went,
But that great yron groome, his gard and
gouernment
4
With whom as he did passe by the sea shore,
He chaunst to come, whereas two comely
Squires,
Both brethren, whom one wombetogetherbore,
But stirred vp with different desires,
Together stroue, and kmdled wrathfull fires
And them beside two seemely damzels stood,
By all meanes seeking to asswage their ires,
Now with faire words, but wordsdid httlegood,
Now with sharpe threats, but threats the more
mcreast their mood