For this was _Dony_, _Florimels_ owne Dwarfe, iii Whom hauing lost (as ye haue heard whyleare) And finding in the way the scattred scarfe, The fortune of her life long time did feare. But of her health when _Artegall_ did heare, And safe returne, he was full inly glad, And askt him where, and when her bridale cheare Should be solemniz’d: for if time he had, He would be there, and honor to her spousall ad. Within three daies (quoth hee[254]) as I do here, iv It will be at the Castle of the strond; What time if naught me let, I will be there To doe her seruice, so as I am bond. But in my way a little here beyond A cursed cruell Sarazin doth wonne, That keepes a Bridges passage by strong hond, And many errant Knights hath there fordonne; That makes all men for feare that passage for to shonne. What mister wight (quoth he) and how far hence v Is he, that doth to trauellers such harmes? He is (said he) a man of great defence; Expert in battell and in deedes of armes; And more emboldned by the wicked charmes, With which his daughter doth him still support; Hauing great Lordships got and goodly farmes, Through strong oppression of his powre extort; By which he stil them holds, and keepes with strong effort. And dayly he his wrongs encreaseth more, vi For neuer wight he lets to passe that way,[255] Ouer his Bridge, albee he rich or poore, But he him makes his passage-penny pay: Else he doth hold him backe or beat away. Thereto he hath a groome of euill guize, Whose scalp is bare, that bondage doth bewray, Which pols and pils the poore in piteous wize; But he him selfe vppon the rich doth tyrannize. His name is hight _Pollente_, rightly so vii For that he is so puissant and strong, That with his powre he all doth ouergo, And makes them subiect to his mighty wrong; And some by sleight he eke doth vnderfong. For on a Bridge he custometh to fight, Which is but narrow, but exceeding long; And in the same are many trap fals pight, Through which the rider downe doth fall through ouersight.[256] And vnderneath the same a riuer flowes, viii That is both swift and dangerous deepe withall; Into the which whom so he ouerthrowes, All destitute of helpe doth headlong fall, But he him selfe, through practise vsuall, Leapes forth into the floud, and there assaies His foe confused through his sodaine fall, That horse and man he equally dismaies, And either both them drownes, or trayterously slaies.