Such whenas _Archimago_ them did view, viii He weened well to worke some vncouth wile, Eftsoones vntwisting his deceiptfull clew, He gan to weaue a web of wicked guile, And with faire[446] countenance and flattring stile, To them approching, thus the knight bespake: Faire sonne of _Mars_, that seeke with warlike spoile,[447] And great atchieu’ments great your selfe to make, Vouchsafe to stay your steed for humble misers sake. He stayd his steed for humble misers sake, ix And bad tell on the tenor of his plaint; Who feigning then in euery limbe to quake, Through inward feare, and seeming pale and faint With piteous mone his percing speach gan paint; Deare Lady how shall I declare thy cace, Whom late I left in langourous[448] constraint? Would God thy selfe now present were in place, To tell this ruefull tale; thy sight could win thee grace. Or rather would, O would it so had chaunst, x That you, most noble Sir, had present beene, When that lewd ribauld with vile lust aduaunst Layd first his filthy hands on virgin cleene, To spoile her daintie corse[449] so faire and sheene, As on the earth, great mother of vs all, With liuing eye more faire was neuer seene, Of chastitie and honour virginall: Witnesse ye heauens, whom she in vaine to helpe did call. How may it be, (said then the knight halfe wroth,) xi That knight should knighthood euer so haue shent? None but that saw (quoth he) would weene for troth, How shamefully that Maid he did torment. Her looser golden lockes he rudely rent, And drew her on the ground, and his sharpe sword[450] Against her snowy brest he fiercely bent, And threatned death with many a bloudie word; Toung hates to tell the rest, that eye to see abhord. Therewith amoued from his sober mood, xii And liues he yet (said he) that wrought this act, And doen the heauens afford him vitall food? He liues, (quoth he) and boasteth of the fact, Ne yet hath any knight his courage crackt. Where may that treachour then (said he) be found, Or by what meanes may I his footing tract? That shall I shew (said he) as sure, as hound The stricken Deare doth chalenge by the bleeding wound. He staid not lenger talke, but with fierce ire xiii And zealous hast away is quickly gone To seeke that knight, where him that craftie Squire Supposd to be. They do arriue anone, Where sate a gentle Lady all alone, With garments rent, and haire discheueled, Wringing her hands, and making piteous mone; Her swollen eyes were much disfigured, And her faire face with teares was fowly blubbered.