Eftsoones his Page drew to the Castle gate, xxi And with his iron flale at it let flie, That all the warders it did sore amate, The which erewhile spake so reprochfully, And made them stoupe, that looked earst so hie. Yet still he bet, and bounst vppon the dore, And thundred strokes thereon so hideouslie, That all the peece he shaked from the flore, And filled all the house with feare and great vprore. With noise whereof the Lady forth appeared xxii Vppon the Castle wall, and when she saw The daungerous state, in which she stood, she feared The sad effect of her neare ouerthrow; And gan entreat that iron man below, To cease his outrage, and him faire besought, Sith neither force of stones which they did throw, Nor powr of charms, which she against him wrought, Might otherwise preuaile, or make him cease for ought. But when as yet she saw him to proceede, xxiii Vnmou’d with praiers, or with piteous thought, She ment him to corrupt with goodly meede; And causde great sackes with endlesse riches fraught, Vnto the battilment to be vpbrought, And powred forth ouer the Castle wall, That she might win some time, though dearly bought Whilest he to gathering of the gold did fall. But he was nothing mou’d, nor tempted therewithall. But still continu’d his assault the more, xxiv And layd on load with his huge yron flaile, That at the length he has yrent the dore, And made way for his maister to assaile. Who being entred, nought did then auaile For wight, against his powre them selues to reare: Each one did flie; their hearts began to faile, And hid them selues in corners here and there; And eke their dame halfe dead did hide her self for feare. Long they her sought, yet no where could they finde her, xxv That sure they ween’d she was escapt away: But _Talus_, that could like a limehound winde her, And all things secrete wisely could bewray, At length found out, whereas she hidden lay Vnder an heape of gold. Thence he her drew By the faire lockes, and fowly did array, Withouten pitty of her goodly hew, That _Artegall_ him selfe her seemelesse plight did rew. Yet for no pitty would he change the course xxvi Of Iustice, which in _Talus_ hand did lye; Who rudely hayld her forth without remorse, Still holding vp her suppliant hands on hye, And kneeling at his feete submissiuely. But he her suppliant hands, those hands of gold, And eke her feete, those feete of siluer trye, Which sought vnrighteousnesse, and iustice sold, Chopt off, and nayld on high, that all might them behold.