A while they fled, but soone returnd againe xv With greater fury, then before was found; And euermore their cruell Capitaine[731] Sought with his raskall routs t’enclose them round, And ouerrun to tread them to the ground. But soone the knights with their bright-burning blades Broke their rude troupes, and orders did confound, Hewing and slashing at their idle shades; For though they bodies seeme, yet substance from them fades. As when a swarme of Gnats at euentide xvi Out of the fennes of Allan do arise, Their murmuring small trompets sounden wide, Whiles in the aire their clustring army flies, That as a cloud doth seeme to dim the skies; Ne man nor beast may rest, or take repast, For their sharpe wounds, and noyous iniuries, Till the fierce Northerne wind with[732] blustring blast Doth blow them quite away, and in the _Ocean_ cast. Thus when they had that troublous rout disperst, xvii Vnto the castle gate they come againe, And entraunce crau’d, which was denied erst. Now when report of that their perilous[733] paine, And combrous conflict[734], which they did sustaine, Came to the Ladies eare, which there did dwell, She forth issewed with a goodly traine Of Squires and Ladies equipaged well, And entertained them right fairely, as befell. _Alma_ she called was, a virgin bright; xviii That had not yet felt _Cupides_ wanton rage, Yet was she woo’d of many a gentle knight, And many a Lord of noble parentage, That sought with her to lincke in marriage: For she was faire, as faire mote euer bee, And in the flowre now of her freshest age; Yet full of grace and goodly modestee, That euen heauen reioyced her sweete face to see. In robe of lilly white she was arayd, xix That from her shoulder to her heele downe raught, The traine whereof loose far behind her strayd, Braunched with gold and pearle, most richly wrought, And borne of two faire Damsels, which were taught That seruice well. Her yellow golden heare Was trimly wouen, and in tresses wrought, Ne other tyre she on her head did weare, But crowned[735] with a garland of sweete Rosiere. Goodly she entertaind those noble knights, xx And brought them vp into her castle hall; Where gentle court and gracious delight She to them made, with mildnesse virginall, Shewing her selfe both wise and liberall: There[736] when they rested had a season dew, They her besought of fauour speciall, Of that faire Castle to affoord them vew; She graunted, and them leading forth, the same did shew.