For thy great wonder were it, if such shame x Should euer enter in his bounteous thought, Or euer do, that mote deseruen blame: The noble courage neuer weeneth ought, That may vnworthy of it selfe be thought. Therefore, faire Damzell, be ye well aware, Least that too farre ye haue your sorrow sought: You and your countrey both I wish welfare, And honour both; for each of other worthy are. The royall Mayd woxe inly wondrous glad, xi To heare her Loue so highly magnifide, And ioyd that euer she affixed had, Her hart on knight so goodly glorifide, How euer finely she it faind to hide: The louing mother, that nine monethes did beare, In the deare closet of her painefull side, Her tender babe, it seeing safe appeare, Doth not so much reioyce, as she reioyced theare. But to occasion him to further talke, xii To feed her humour with his pleasing stile, Her list in strifull[887] termes with him to balke, And thus replide, How euer, Sir, ye file Your curteous tongue, his prayses to compile, It ill beseemes a knight of gentle sort, Such as ye haue him boasted, to beguile A simple mayd, and worke so haynous tort, In shame of knighthood, as I largely can report. Let be therefore my vengeaunce to disswade, xiii And read, where I that faytour false may find. Ah, but if reason faire might you perswade, To slake your wrath, and mollifie your mind, (Said he) perhaps ye should it better find: For hardy thing it is, to weene by might, That man to hard conditions to bind, Or euer hope to match in equall fight, Whose prowesse paragon saw neuer liuing wight. Ne soothlich is it easie for to read, xiv Where now on earth, or how he may be found; For he ne wonneth in one certaine stead, But restlesse walketh all the world around, Ay doing things, that to his fame redound, Defending Ladies cause, and Orphans right, Where so he heares, that any doth confound Them comfortlesse, through tyranny or might; So is his soueraine honour raisde to heauens hight. His feeling words her feeble sence much pleased, xv And softly sunck into her molten hart; Hart that is inly hurt, is greatly eased With hope of thing, that may allegge his smart; For pleasing words are like to Magick art, That doth the charmed Snake in slomber lay: Such secret ease felt gentle _Britomart_, Yet list the same efforce with faind gainesay; So dischord oft in Musick makes the sweeter lay.