A Harder lesson, to learne Continence i In ioyous pleasure, then in grieuous paine: For sweetnesse doth allure the weaker sence So strongly, that vneathes it can refraine From that, which feeble nature couets faine; But griefe and wrath, that be her enemies, And foes of life, she better can restraine[613]; Yet vertue vauntes in both their[614] victories, And _Guyon_ in them all shewes goodly maisteries. Whom bold _Cymochles_ trauelling to find, ii With cruell purpose bent to wreake on him The wrath, which _Atin_ kindled in his mind, Came to a riuer, by whose vtmost brim Wayting to passe, he saw whereas did swim A long the shore, as swift as glaunce of eye, A litle Gondelay, bedecked trim With boughes and arbours wouen cunningly, That like a litle forrest seemed outwardly. And therein sate a Ladie fresh and faire, iii Making sweet solace to her selfe alone; Sometimes she sung, as loud as larke in aire, Sometimes she laught, that nigh her breth was gone,[615] Yet was there not with her else any one, That might to her[616] moue cause of meriment: Matter of merth enough, though there were none,[617] She could deuise, and thousand waies inuent, To feede her foolish humour, and vaine iolliment. Which when farre off _Cymochles_ heard, and saw, iv He loudly cald to such, as were a bord, The little barke vnto the shore to draw, And him to ferrie ouer that deepe ford: The merry marriner vnto his word Soone hearkned, and her painted bote streightway Turnd to the shore, where that same warlike Lord She in receiu’d; but _Atin_ by no way She would admit, albe the knight her much did pray. Eftsoones her shallow ship away did slide, v More swift, then swallow sheres the liquid skie, Withouten oare or Pilot it to guide, Or winged canuas with the wind to flie, Only she turn’d a pin, and by and by It cut away vpon the yielding waue, Ne cared she her course for to apply: For it was taught the way, which she would haue, And both from rocks and flats it selfe could wisely saue. And all the way, the wanton Damzell found vi New merth, her passenger to entertaine: For she in pleasant purpose did abound, And greatly ioyed merry tales to faine, Of which a store-house did with her remaine, Yet seemed, nothing well they her became; For all her words she drownd with laughter vaine, And wanted grace in vtt’ring of the same, That turned all her pleasance to a scoffing game.