He then remembred well, that had bene sayd, xlv How th’Earth his mother was, and first him bore; She eke so often, as his life decayd, Did life with vsury to him restore, And raysd him vp much stronger then before, So soone as he vnto her wombe did fall; Therefore to ground he would him cast no more, Ne him commit to graue terrestriall, But beare him farre from hope of succour vsuall. Tho vp he caught him twixt his puissant hands, xlvi And hauing scruzd out of his carrion corse The lothfull life, now loosd from sinfull bands, Vpon his shoulders carried him perforse Aboue three furlongs, taking his full course, Vntill he came vnto a standing lake; Him thereinto he threw without remorse, Ne stird, till hope of life did him forsake; So end of that Carles dayes, and his owne paines did make. Which when those wicked Hags from farre did spy, xlvii Like two mad dogs they ran about the lands, And th’one of them with dreadfull yelling cry, Throwing away her broken chaines and bands, And hauing quencht her burning fier brands, Hedlong her selfe did cast into that lake; But _Impotence_ with her owne wilfull hands, One of _Malegers_ cursed darts did take, So riu’d her trembling hart, and wicked end did make. Thus now alone he conquerour remaines; xlviii Tho comming to his Squire, that kept his steed, Thought to haue mounted, but his feeble vaines Him faild thereto, and serued not his need, Through losse of bloud, which from his wounds did bleed, That he began to faint, and life decay: But his good Squire him helping vp with speed, With stedfast hand vpon his horse did stay, And led him to the Castle by the beaten way. Where many Groomes and Squiers readie were, xlix To take him from his steed full tenderly, And eke the fairest _Alma_ met him there With balme and wine and costly spicery, To comfort him in his infirmity; Eftsoones she causd him vp to be conuayd, And of his armes despoyled easily, In sumptuous bed she made him to be layd, And all the while his wounds were dressing, by him stayd. FOOTNOTES: [804] ii 9 and delight _1596_ [805] iv 4 he _om. 1596_ [806] viii 3 beakes _1609_ [807] ix 9 they against that Bulwarke lent _1590_ [808] x 2 assignment _1590_ [809] xi 4 mismayd _conj. Jortin_ [810] xii 4 fac’t _1609_ [811] 7 Surfait _1609_ [812] xiii 2 was] is _1590_ [813] 5 They cruelly _1609_ [814] assayed _1590_ [815] xvi 1 that place _1609_ [816] xxiii 8 disport _1596_, _1609_ [817] xxvii 5 Who] But _1590_ [818] xxx 7 _Britom_ _1590_: _corr. F. E._: _Briton_ _1596_, _1609_ [819] 9 reuiue _1590 &c._: _corr. F. E._ [820] xxxii 5 vnrest] infest _1590_ [821] xli 6 _Mordure_ _1590_, _1596_