Her scattred brood, soone as their Parent deare xxv They saw so rudely falling to the ground, Groning full deadly, all with troublous feare, Gathred themselues about her body round, Weening their wonted entrance to haue found At her wide mouth: but being there withstood They flocked all about her bleeding wound[41], And sucked vp their dying mothers blood, Making her death their life, and eke her hurt their good. That detestable sight him much amazde, xxvi To see th’vnkindly Impes of heauen accurst, Deuoure their dam; on whom while so he gazd, Hauing all satisfide their bloudy thurst, Their bellies swolne he saw with fulnesse burst, And bowels gushing forth: well worthy end Of such as drunke her life, the which them nurst; Now needeth him no lenger[42] labour spend, His foes haue slaine themselues, with whom he should contend. His Ladie seeing all, that chaunst, from farre xxvii Approcht in hast[43] to greet his victorie, And said, Faire knight, borne vnder happy starre, Who see your vanquisht foes before you lye: Well worthy be you of that Armorie, Wherein ye haue great glory wonne this day, And proou’d your strength on a strong enimie, Your first aduenture: many such I pray, And henceforth euer wish, that like succeed it may. Then mounted he vpon his Steede againe, xxviii And with the Lady backward sought to wend; That path he kept, which beaten was most plaine, Ne euer would to any by-way bend, But still did follow one vnto the end, The which at last out of the wood them brought. So forward on his way (with God to frend) He passed[44] forth, and new aduenture sought; Long way he trauelled, before he heard of ought. At length they chaunst to meet vpon the way xxix An aged Sire, in long blacke weedes yclad, His feete all bare, his beard all hoarie gray, And by his belt his booke he hanging had; Sober he seemde, and very sagely sad, And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent, Simple in shew, and voyde of malice bad, And all the way he prayed, as he went, And often knockt his brest, as one that did repent. He faire the knight saluted, louting low, xxx Who faire him quited, as that courteous was: And after asked him, if he did know Of straunge aduentures, which abroad did pas. Ah my deare Sonne (quoth he) how should, alas, Silly old man, that liues in hidden cell, Bidding his beades all day for his trespas, Tydings of warre and worldly trouble tell? With holy father sits[45] not with such things to mell.