One mother, when as[407] her foolehardie chyld xi Did come too[408] neare, and with his talants play, Halfe dead through feare, her litle babe reuyld, And to her gossips[409] gan in counsell say; How can I tell, but that his talants[410] may Yet scratch my sonne, or rend his tender hand? So diuersly themselues in vaine they fray; Whiles some more bold, to measure him nigh stand, To proue how many acres he did spread of land. Thus flocked all the folke him round about, xii The whiles that hoarie king, with all his traine, Being arriued, where that champion stout After his foes defeasance did remaine, Him goodly greetes, and faire does entertaine, With princely gifts of yuorie and gold, And thousand thankes him yeelds for all his paine. Then when his daughter deare he does behold, Her dearely doth imbrace, and kisseth manifold. And after to his Pallace he them brings, xiii With shaumes, and trompets, and with Clarions sweet; And all the way the ioyous people sings, And with their garments strowes the paued street: Whence mounting vp, they find purueyance meet Of all, that royall Princes court became, And all the floore was vnderneath their feet Bespred with costly scarlot of great name, On which they lowly sit, and fitting purpose frame. What needs me tell their feast and goodly guize, xiv In which was nothing riotous nor vaine? What needs of daintie dishes to deuize, Of comely seruices, or courtly trayne[411]? My narrow leaues cannot in them containe The large discourse of royall Princes state. Yet was their manner then but bare and plaine: For th’antique world excesse and pride did hate; Such proud luxurious pompe is swollen vp but late. Then when with meates and drinkes of euery kinde xv Their feruent appetites they quenched had, That auncient Lord gan fit occasion finde, Of straunge aduentures, and of perils sad, Which in his trauell him befallen had, For to demaund of his renowmed guest: Who then with vtt’rance graue, and count’nance sad, From point to point, as is before exprest, Discourst his voyage long, according his request. Great pleasure[412] mixt with pittifull regard, xvi That godly King and Queene did passionate, Whiles they his pittifull aduentures heard, That oft they did lament his lucklesse state, And often blame the too importune fate, That heapd on him so many wrathfull wreakes: For neuer gentle knight, as he of late, So tossed was in fortunes cruell freakes; And all the while salt teares bedeawd the hearers cheaks.