Who was it then (sayd _Artegall_) that wrought? xvi And why?[248] doe it declare vnto me trew. A knight (said he) if knight he may be thought, That did his hand in Ladies bloud embrew, And for no cause, but as I shall you shew. This day as I in solace sate hereby With a fayre loue, whose losse I now do rew, There came this knight, hauing in companie This lucklesse Ladie, which now here doth headlesse lie. He, whether mine seem’d fayrer in his eye, xvii Or that he wexed weary of his owne, Would change with me; but I did it denye; So did the Ladies both, as may be knowne, But he, whose spirit was with pride vpblowne, Would not so rest contented with his right, But hauing from his courser her downe throwne, Fro me reft mine away by lawlesse might, And on his steed her set, to beare her out of sight. Which when his Ladie saw, she follow’d fast, xviii And on him catching hold, gan loud to crie Not so to leaue her, nor away to cast, But rather of his hand besought to die. With that his sword he drew all wrathfully, And at one stroke cropt off her head with scorne, In that same place, whereas it now doth lie. So he my loue away with him hath borne, And left me here, both his and mine owne loue to morne. Aread (sayd he) which way then did he make? xix And by what markes may he be knowne againe? To hope (quoth he) him soone to ouertake, That hence so long departed, is but vaine: But yet he pricked ouer yonder plaine, And as I marked, bore vpon his shield, By which it’s easie him to know againe, A broken sword within a bloodie field; Expressing well his nature, which the same did wield. No sooner sayd, but streight he after sent xx His yron page, who him pursew’d so light, As that it seem’d aboue the ground he went: For he was swift as swallow in her flight, And strong as Lyon in his Lordly might. It was not long, before he ouertooke Sir _Sanglier_; (so cleeped was that Knight) Whom at the first he ghessed by his looke, And by the other markes, which of his shield he tooke. He bad him stay, and backe with him retire; xxi Who full of scorne to be commaunded so, The Lady to alight did eft require, Whilest he reformed that vnciuill fo: And streight at him with all his force did go. Who mou’d no more therewith, then when a rocke Is lightly stricken with some stones throw; But to him leaping, lent him such a knocke, That on the ground he layd him like a sencelesse blocke.