The famous Briton Prince and Faerie knight, i After long wayes and perilous paines endured, Hauing their wearie limbes to perfect plight Restord, and sory wounds right well recured, Of the faire _Alma_ greatly were procured, To make there lenger soiourne and abode; But when thereto they might not be allured, From seeking praise, and deeds of armes abrode, They courteous conge tooke, and forth together yode. But the captiu’d _Acrasia_ he sent, ii Because of trauell long, a nigher way, With a strong gard, all reskew to preuent, And her to Faerie court safe to conuay, That her for witnesse of his hard assay, Vnto his _Faerie_ Queene he might present: But he him selfe betooke another way, To make more triall of his hardiment, And seeke aduentures, as he with Prince _Arthur_ went. Long so they trauelled through wastefull wayes, iii Where daungers dwelt, and perils most did wonne, To hunt for glorie and renowmed praise; Full many Countries they did ouerronne, From the vprising to the setting Sunne, And many hard aduentures did atchieue; Of all the which they honour euer wonne, Seeking the weake oppressed to relieue, And to recouer right for such, as wrong did grieue. At last as through an open plaine they yode, iv They spide a knight, that towards pricked faire, And him beside an aged Squire there rode, That seem’d to couch vnder his shield three-square, As if that age bad him that burden spare, And yield it those, that stouter could it wield: He them espying, gan himselfe prepare, And on his arme addresse his goodly shield That bore a Lion passant in a golden field. Which seeing good Sir _Guyon_, deare besought v The Prince of grace, to let him runne that turne. He graunted: then the Faery quickly raught His poinant speare, and sharpely gan to spurne His fomy steed, whose fierie feete did burne The verdant grasse, as he thereon did tread; Ne did the other backe his foot returne, But fiercely forward came withouten dread, And bent his dreadfull speare against the others head. They bene ymet, and both their points arriued, vi But _Guyon_ droue so furious and fell, That seem’d both shield and plate it would haue riued; Nathelesse it bore his foe not from his sell, But made him stagger, as he were not well: But _Guyon_ selfe, ere well he was aware, Nigh a speares length behind his crouper fell, Yet in his fall so well him selfe he bare, That mischieuous mischance his life and limbes did spare.