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292 THE V BOOKE OF THE Cant IIII
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So hauing saya, tne younger did ensew, When he his sentence thus pronounced had,
Full true it is, what so about our land Both Amtdas and Philtwere displeased
My brother here declared hath to you But Braadas and Lucy were right glad,
But not for it this ods twixt vs doth stand, And on thethreasureby thatiudgementseased
But for this threasure throwne vppon his strand, So was their discord by this doome appeased,
Which well I proue, as shall appeare by tnall, And each one had his right Then Artegall
To be this maides, with whom I fastned hand, When as their sharpe contention he had ceased,
Known by good markes, and perfect good Departed on his way, as did befall,
espiall,
To follow his old quest, the which him forth did
Therefore it ought be rendred her without call
demall
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So as he trauelled vppon the way,
When they thus ended had, the Knight began, He chaunst to come, where happily he spide
Certes your strife were easie to accord, A rout of many people farre away ,
Would ye remit it to some righteous man To whom his course he hastily apphde,
Vnto your selfe, said they, we giue our word, To weete the cause of their assemblaunce wide
To bide what ludgement ye shall vs afford To whom when he approched neare in sight,
Then for assuraunce to my doome to stand, (An vncouth sight) he plamdy then descride
Vnder my foote let each lay downe his sword, To be a troupe of women warlike dight,
And then you shall my sentence vnderstand With weapons in their hands, as ready for to
So each of them layd downe his sword out of his fight
hand
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And in the midst of them he saw a Knight,
Then Artegall thus to the younger sayd, Withbothhis hands behindehimpmnoed hard,
Now tell me Amtdas, if that ye may, And round about his necke an halter tight,
Your brothers land the which the sea hath layd As ready for the gallow tree prepard
Vnto your part, and pluckt from his away, His face was couered, and his head was bar'd,
By what good right doe you withhold this day? That who he was, vneath was to descry ,
What other nght(quoth he)should you esteeme, And with full heauy heart with them he far'd,
But that the sea it to my share did lay ? Grieu'd to the soule, and gronmg inwardly,
Your right is good (sayd he) and so I deeme, That he of womens hands so base a death should
That what the sea vnto you sent, your own dy
should seeme
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But they like tyrants, mercilesse the more,
Then turning to the elder thus he sayd , Reioyced at his miserable case,
Now Braadas let this likewise be showne And him reuiled, and rcproched sore
Your brothers threasure, which from him is With bitter taunts, and termes of vile disgrace
strayd,
Now when as Artegall arnu'd in place,
Being the dowry of his wife well knowne, Did askc, what cause brought that man to
By what right doe you claime to be your owne ? decay,
What other nght(quoth he)should you esteeme, They round about him gan to swarme apace,
But that the sea hath it vnto me throwne ? Meaning on him their cruell hands to lay,
Your right is good (sayd he) and so I deeme, And to haue wrought vnwares some villanous
That what the sea vnto you sent, your own assay
should seeme
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But he was soone aware of their ill mmde,
For equall right in equall things doth stand, And drawing backe deceiued their intent,
For what the mighty Sea hath once possest, Yet thoughhim selfe did shame on womankinde
And plucked quite from all possessors hand, His mighty hand to shend, he Talus sent
Whether by rage of waues, that neuer rest, To wrecke on them their follies hardyment
Or else by wracke,that wretches hath distrest, Who with few sowces of his yron flale,
He may dispose by his imperiall might, Dispersed all their troupe incontinent,
As thing at randon left, to whom he list And sent them home to tell a piteous tale,
So Amidas, the land was yours first hight, Of their vame prowesse, turned to their proper
And so the threasure yours is Braadas by right bale