Then sighing softly sore, and inly deepe, xi She shut vp all her plaint in priuy griefe; For her great courage would not let her weepe, Till that old _Glauce_ gan with sharpe repriefe, Her to restraine, and giue her good reliefe, Through hope of those, which _Merlin_ had her told Should of her name and nation be chiefe, And fetch their being from the sacred mould Of her immortall wombe, to be in heauen enrold. Thus as she her recomforted, she spyde, xii Where farre away one all in armour bright, With hastie gallop towards her did ryde; Her dolour soone she ceast, and on her dight Her Helmet, to her Courser mounting light: Her former sorrow into suddein wrath, Both coosen passions of distroubled spright, Conuerting, forth she beates the dustie path; Loue and despight attonce her courage kindled hath. As when a foggy mist hath ouercast xiii The face of heauen, and the cleare aire engrost, The world in darkenesse dwels, till that at last The watry Southwinde from the seabord cost Vpblowing, doth disperse the vapour lo’st, And poures it selfe forth in a stormy showre; So the faire _Britomart_ hauing disclo’st Her clowdy care into a wrathfull stowre, The mist of griefe dissolu’d, did[940] into vengeance powre.[941] Eftsoones her goodly shield addressing faire, xiv That mortall speare she in her hand did take, And vnto battell did her selfe prepaire. The knight approching, sternely her bespake; Sir knight, that doest thy voyage rashly make By this forbidden way in my despight, Ne doest by others death ensample take, I read thee soone retyre, whiles thou hast might, Least afterwards it be too late to take thy flight. Ythrild with deepe disdaine of his proud threat, xv She shortly thus; Fly they, that need to fly; Words fearen babes. I meane not thee entreat To passe; but maugre thee will passe or dy. Ne lenger stayd for th’other to reply, But with sharpe speare[942] the rest made dearly knowne. Strongly the straunge knight ran, and sturdily Strooke her full on the brest, that made her downe Decline her head, and touch her crouper with her crowne. But she againe him in the shield did smite xvi With so fierce furie and great puissaunce, That through his threesquare scuchin percing quite, And through his mayled hauberque, by mischaunce The wicked steele through his left side did glaunce; Him so transfixed she before her bore Beyond his croupe, the length of all her launce, Till sadly soucing on the sandie shore, He tombled on an heape, and wallowd in his gore.