Whilst thus they mingled were in furious armes, xxvii The faire _Medina_ with her tresses torne, And naked brest, in pitty of their harmes, Emongst them ran, and falling them beforne, Besought them by the womb, which them had borne, And by the loues, which were to them most deare, And by the knighthood, which they sure had sworne, Their deadly cruell discord to forbeare, And to her iust conditions of faire peace to heare. But her two other sisters standing by, xxviii Her lowd gainsaid, and both their[508] champions[509] bad Pursew the end of their strong enmity, As euer of their loues they would be glad. Yet she with pitthy words and counsell sad, Still stroue their stubborne rages to reuoke, That at the last suppressing fury mad, They gan abstaine from dint of direfull stroke, And hearken to the sober speaches, which she spoke. Ah puissaunt Lords, what cursed euill Spright, xxix Or fell _Erinnys_, in your noble harts[510] Her hellish brond hath kindled with despight, And stird you vp to worke your wilfull smarts? Is this the ioy of armes? be these the parts Of glorious knighthood, after bloud to thrust[511], And not regard dew right and iust desarts? Vaine is the vaunt, and victory vniust, That more to mighty hands, then rightfull cause doth trust. And were there[512] rightfull cause of difference xxx Yet were not better, faire it to accord, Then with bloud guiltinesse[513] to heape offence, And mortall vengeaunce ioyne to crime abhord? O fly from wrath, fly, O my liefest Lord: Sad be the sights, and bitter fruits of warre, And thousand furies wait on wrathfull sword; Ne ought the prayse of prowesse more doth marre, Then fowle reuenging rage, and base contentious iarre. But louely concord, and most sacred peace xxxi Doth nourish vertue, and fast friendship breeds; Weake she makes[514] strong, and strong thing does increace, Till it the pitch of highest prayse exceeds: Braue be her warres, and honorable deeds, By which she triumphes ouer ire and pride, And winnes an Oliue girlond for her meeds: Be therefore, O my deare Lords, pacifide, And this misseeming discord meekely lay aside. Her gracious wordes their rancour did appall, xxxii And suncke so deepe into their boyling brests, That downe they let their cruell weapons fall, And lowly did abase their loftie crests To her faire presence, and discrete behests. Then she began a treatie to procure, And stablish termes betwixt both their requests, That as a law for euer should endure; Which to obserue in word of knights they did assure.