I wayde his wordes, and thought he wisht me well, But yet because his stocke should gayne thereby, I reckt them lesse: and yet the truth to tell, I durst not dare my promise made deny. For well I wist if once it came to try, It would both weaken all this noble land, And doubtfull be who should have th’ vpper hand. 18. Thus needes perforce I must his daughter take, And must leaue of to loue where I delight: I was constraynd, contented to forsake The forme that most did captiuate my sight. What lucke had I on such a lot to lyght? What ment you Gods that me such fortune gaue, To cast my minde on her I might not haue? 19. To short my tale: this _Guendoline_ I tooke: I was content agaynst my will: what then? Nor quite for this mine _Elstride_ I forsooke. For why, I wrought by skyll of cunning men A Vault along vnder the ground, a denne Her company wherein I vsed still,[251] There we accomplisht our vnhappy will. 20. There I begat my _Sabrine_ seely childe, That virgine smale mine _Elstride_ bare to mee: Thus I my wife full often times beguylde, Which afterward did beare a sonne to me, Nam’d _Madan_: yet wee neuer could agree. And he that was the cause she was my bryde, The while her father _Corinæus_ dyde. 21. Which when I heard, I had my heart’s desire, I crau’de no more, there was my end of griefe: At lest I thought to quench _Cupidoe’s_ fire, And eke to worke my lusting loues reliefe: I ment no more to steale it like a thiefe, But maried _Elstride_, whom I lou’d as life, And for her sake I put away my wyfe. 22. Likewise I caus’d, was _Elstride_ Queene proclaymd,[252] And tooke her as my lawfull wife by right: But _Guendoline_, that sawe her selfe disdaynd, Strayght fled, and mou’de the _Cornish_ men to fight. To them when she declarde her piteous plight, In hast they drest[253] an army, for to be Reuengers of my new made Queene and me. 23. And I likewise an army did prepare, I thought to quayle theyr courage all by force: But to my cost I found to late beware: There is no strength in armoure: men, ne[254] horse Can vayle, if _loue_ on wronged take remorce. Sith[255] he on whom the deadly dart doth light, Can neuer scape, by ransome, friend, or flight. 24.