The false _Duessa_ leauing noyous Night, xlv Returnd to stately pallace of dame Pride; Where when she came, she found the Faery knight Departed thence, albe his woundes[201] wide Not throughly heald, vnreadie were to ride. Good cause he had to hasten thence away; For on a day his wary Dwarfe had spide, Where in a dongeon[202] deepe huge numbers[203] lay Of caytiue wretched thrals, that wayled night and day. A ruefull sight, as could be seene with eie; xlvi Of whom he learned had in secret wise The hidden cause of their captiuitie, How mortgaging their liues to _Couetise_, Through wastfull Pride, and wanton Riotise, They were by law of that proud Tyrannesse Prouokt with _Wrath_, and _Enuies_ false surmise, Condemned to that Dongeon mercilesse, Where they should liue in woe, and die in wretchednesse. There was that great proud king of _Babylon_, xlvii That would compell all nations to adore, And him as onely God to call vpon, Till through celestiall doome throwne out of dore, Into an Oxe he was transform’d of yore: There also was king _Crœsus_, that enhaunst His heart too high through his great riches store; And proud _Antiochus_, the which aduaunst His cursed hand gainst God, and on his altars[204] daunst. And them long time before, great _Nimrod_ was, xlviii That first the world with sword and fire warrayd; And after him old _Ninus_ farre did pas In princely pompe, of all the world obayd; There also was that mightie Monarch layd Low vnder all, yet aboue all in pride, That name of natiue syre did fowle vpbrayd, And would as _Ammons_ sonne be magnifide, Till scornd of God and man a shamefull death he dide. All these together in one heape were throwne, xlix Like carkases of beasts in butchers stall. And in another corner wide were strowne The antique ruines of the _Romaines_ fall: Great _Romulus_ the Grandsyre of them all, Proud _Tarquin_, and too lordly _Lentulus_, Stout _Scipio_, and stubborne _Hanniball_, Ambitious _Sylla_, and sterne _Marius_, High _Cæsar_, great _Pompey_, and fierce _Antonius_. Amongst these mighty men were wemen mixt, l Proud wemen, vaine, forgetfull of their yoke: The bold _Semiramis_, whose sides transfixt With sonnes owne blade, her fowle reproches spoke; Faire _Sthenobœa_, that her selfe did choke With wilfull cord[205], for wanting of her will; High minded _Cleopatra_, that with stroke Of Aspes sting her selfe did stoutly kill: And thousands moe the like, that did that dongeon fill.