As when faire _Cynthia_, in darkesome night, xliii Is in a noyous cloud enueloped, Where she may find the substaunce thin and light, Breakes forth her siluer beames, and her bright hed Discouers to the world discomfited; Of the poore traueller, that went astray, With thousand blessings she is heried; Such was the beautie and the shining ray, With which faire _Britomart_ gaue light vnto the day. And eke those six, which lately with her fought, xliv Now were disarmd, and did them selues present Vnto her vew, and company vnsoght; For they all seemed curteous and gent, And all sixe brethren, borne of one parent, Which had them traynd in all ciuilitee, And goodly taught to tilt and turnament; Now were they liegemen to this Lady free, And her knights seruice ought, to hold of her in fee. The first of them by name _Gardante_ hight, xlv A iolly person, and of comely vew; The second was _Parlante_, a bold knight, And next to him _Iocante_ did ensew; _Basciante_ did him selfe most curteous shew; But fierce _Bacchante_ seemd too fell and keene; And yet in armes _Noctante_ greater grew: All were faire knights, and goodly well beseene, But to faire _Britomart_ they all but shadowes beene. For she was full of amiable grace, xlvi And manly terrour mixed therewithall, That as the one stird vp affections bace, So th’other did mens rash desires apall, And hold them backe, that would in errour fall; As he, that hath espide a vermeill Rose, To which sharpe thornes and breres[870] the way forstall, Dare not for dread his hardy hand expose, But wishing it far off, his idle wish doth lose. Whom when the Lady saw so faire a wight,[871] xlvii All ignoraunt of her contrary sex, (For she her weend a fresh and lusty knight) She greatly gan enamoured to wex, And with vaine thoughts her falsed fancy vex: Her fickle hart conceiued hasty fire, Like sparkes of fire, which[872] fall in sclender[873] flex, That shortly brent into extreme desire, And ransackt all her veines with passion entire. Eftsoones she grew to great impatience xlviii And into termes of open outrage brust[874], That plaine discouered her incontinence, Ne reckt she, who her meaning did mistrust; For she was giuen all to fleshly lust, And poured forth in sensuall delight, That all regard of shame she had discust, And meet respect of honour put to flight: So shamelesse beauty soone becomes a loathly[875] sight.[876]