To _Proteus_ selfe to sew she thought it vaine, xxix Who was the root and worker of her woe: Nor vnto any meaner to complaine, But vnto great king _Neptune_ selfe did goe, And on her knee before him falling lowe, Made humble suit vnto his Maiestie, To graunt to her, her sonnes life, which his foe A cruell Tyrant had presumpteouslie[236] By wicked doome condemn’d, a wretched death to die. To whom God _Neptune_ softly smyling, thus; xxx Daughter me seemes of double wrong ye plaine, Gainst one that hath both wronged you, and vs: For death t’adward[237] I ween’d did appertaine To none, but to the seas sole Soueraine. Read therefore who it is, which this hath wrought, And for what cause; the truth discouer plaine. For neuer wight so euill did or thought, But would some rightfull cause pretend, though rightly nought. To whom she answerd, Then it is by name xxxi _Proteus_, that hath ordayn’d my sonne to die; For that a waift, the which by fortune came Vpon your seas, he claym’d as propertie: And yet nor his, nor his in equitie, But yours the waift by high prerogatiue. Therefore I humbly craue your Maiestie, It to repleuie, and my sonne repriue: So shall you by one gift saue all vs three aliue. He graunted it: and streight his warrant made, xxxii Vnder the Sea-gods seale autenticall, Commaunding _Proteus_ straight t’enlarge the mayd, Which wandring on his seas imperiall, He lately tooke, and sithence kept as thrall. Which she receiuing with meete thankefulnesse, Departed straight to _Proteus_ therewithall: Who reading it with inward loathfulnesse, Was grieued to restore the pledge, he did possesse. Yet durst he not the warrant to withstand, xxxiii But vnto her deliuered _Florimell_. Whom she receiuing by the lilly hand, Admyr’d her beautie much, as she mote well: For she all liuing creatures did excell; And was right ioyous, that she gotten had So faire a wife for her sonne _Marinell_. So home with her she streight the virgin lad, And shewed her to him, then being sore bestad. Who soone as he beheld that angels face, xxxiv Adorn’d with all diuine perfection, His cheared heart eftsoones away gan chace Sad death, reuiued with her sweet inspection, And feeble spirit inly felt refection; As withered weed through cruell winters tine, That feeles the warmth of sunny beames reflection, Liftes vp his head, that did before decline And gins to spread his leafe before the faire sunshine.