Apace he shot, and yet he fled apace, xxvii Still as the greedy knight nigh to him drew, And oftentimes he would relent his pace, That him his foe more fiercely should pursew: Who[817] when his vncouth manner he did vew, He gan auize to follow him no more, But keepe his standing, and his shaftes eschew, Vntill he quite had spent his perlous store, And then assayle him fresh, ere he could shift for more. But that lame Hag, still as abroad he strew xxviii His wicked arrowes, gathered them againe, And to him brought, fresh battell to renew: Which he espying, cast her to restraine From yielding succour to that cursed Swaine, And her attaching, thought her hands to tye; But soone as him dismounted on the plaine, That other Hag did farre away espy Binding her sister, she to him ran hastily. And catching hold of him, as downe he lent, xxix Him backward ouerthrew, and downe him stayd With their rude hands and griesly graplement, Till that the villein comming to their ayd, Vpon him fell, and lode vpon him layd; Full litle wanted, but he had him slaine, And of the battell balefull end had made, Had not his gentle Squire beheld his paine, And commen to his reskew, ere his bitter bane. So greatest and most glorious thing on ground xxx May often need the helpe of weaker hand; So feeble is mans state, and life vnsound, That in assurance it may neuer stand, Till it dissolued be from earthly band. Proofe be thou Prince, the prowest man aliue, And noblest borne of all in _Britayne_[818] land; Yet thee fierce Fortune did so nearely driue, That had not grace thee blest, thou shouldest not suruiue[819]. The Squire arriuing, fiercely in his armes xxxi Snatcht first the one, and then the other Iade, His chiefest lets and authors of his harmes, And them perforce withheld with threatned blade, Least that his Lord they should behind inuade; The whiles the Prince prickt with reprochfull shame, As one awakt out of long slombring shade, Reuiuing thought of glorie and of fame, Vnited all his powres to purge himselfe from blame. Like as a fire, the which in hollow caue xxxii Hath long bene vnderkept, and downe supprest, With murmurous disdaine doth inly raue, And grudge, in so streight prison to be prest, At last breakes forth with furious vnrest[820], And striues to mount vnto his natiue seat; All that did earst it hinder and molest, It now deuoures with flames and scorching heat, And carries into smoake with rage and horror great.