For thy she would not in discourteise wise, lv Scorne the faire offer of good will profest; For great rebuke it is, loue to despise, Or rudely sdeigne a gentle harts request; But with faire countenaunce, as beseemed best, Her entertaynd; nath’lesse she inly deemd Her loue too light, to wooe a wandring guest: Which she misconstruing, thereby esteemd That from like inward fire that outward smoke had steemd. Therewith a while she her flit fancy fed, lvi Till she mote winne fit time for her desire, But yet her wound still inward freshly bled, And through her bones the false instilled fire Did spred it selfe, and venime close inspire. Tho were the tables taken all away, And euery knight, and euery gentle Squire Gan choose his dame with _Basciomani_[878] gay, With whom he meant to make his sport and courtly play. Some fell to daunce, some fell to hazardry, lvii Some to make loue, some to make meriment, As diuerse wits to diuers things apply; And all the while faire _Malecasta_ bent Her crafty engins to her close intent. By this th’eternall lampes, wherewith high _Ioue_ Doth light the lower world, were halfe yspent, And the moist daughters of huge _Atlas_ stroue Into the _Ocean_ deepe to driue their weary droue. High time it seemed then for euery wight lviii Them to betake vnto their kindly rest; Eftsoones long waxen torches weren light, Vnto their bowres to guiden euery guest: Tho when the Britonesse saw all the rest Auoided quite, she gan her selfe despoile, And safe commit to her soft fethered nest, Where through long watch, and late dayes weary toile, She soundly slept, and carefull thoughts did quite assoile. Now whenas all the world in silence deepe lix Yshrowded was, and euery mortall wight Was drowned in the depth of deadly sleepe, Faire _Malecasta_, whose engrieued spright Could find no rest in such perplexed plight, Lightly arose out of her wearie bed, And vnder the blacke vele of guilty Night, Her with a scarlot mantle couered, That was with gold and Ermines faire enueloped. Then panting soft, and trembling euerie ioynt, lx Her fearfull feete towards the bowre she moued; Where she for secret purpose did appoynt To lodge the warlike mayd vnwisely loued, And to her bed approching, first she prooued, Whether she slept or wakt, with her soft hand She softly felt, if any member mooued, And lent her wary[879] eare to vnderstand, If any puffe of breath, or signe of sence she fond[880].