That when the people, which had there about li Long wayted, saw his sudden desolation, They gan to gather in tumultuous rout, And mutining, to stirre vp ciuill faction, For certaine losse of so great expectation. For well they hoped to haue got great good,[268] And wondrous riches by his innouation. Therefore resoluing to reuenge his blood, They rose in armes, and all in battell order stood. Which lawlesse multitude him comming too lii In warlike wise, when _Artegall_ did vew, He much was troubled, ne wist what to doo. For loth he was his noble hands t’embrew In the base blood of such a rascall crew; And otherwise, if that he should retire, He fear’d least they with shame would him pursew. Therefore he _Talus_ to them sent, t’inquire The cause of their array, and truce for to desire. But soone as they him nigh approching spide, liii They gan with all their weapons him assay, And rudely stroke[269] at him on euery side: Yet nought they could him hurt, ne ought dismay. But when at them he with his flaile gan lay, He like a swarme of flyes them ouerthrew; Ne any of them durst come in his way, But here and there before his presence flew, And hid themselues in holes and bushes from his vew. As when a Faulcon hath with nimble flight liv Flowne at a flush of Ducks, foreby the brooke, The trembling foule dismayd with dreadfull sight Of death, the which them almost ouertooke, Doe hide themselues from her astonying looke, Amongst the flags and couert round about. When _Talus_ saw they all the field forsooke And none appear’d of all that raskall rout, To _Artegall_ he turn’d, and went with him throughout. FOOTNOTES: [252] Arg. 3 _Momera_ _1596_, _1609_: _corr. Hughes_ [253] ii 7 As] And _1596_ [254] iv 1 hee] she _1596_ [255] vi 2 way; _1596_ [256] vii 9 ouersight _1596_ [257] xi 4 Who] Tho _conj. Church_: When _Morris_ [258] 8 loe _1596_, lo _1609_ [259] xiv 9 would _1609_ [260] xviii 9 dight _1596_ [261] xxvii 1 slender _1609 passim_ [262] xxxii 4 earth] eare _1596_ [263] xxxvii 7 be _1596_ [264] xxxviii 1 those _1609_ [265] xlvi 9 way] lay _1609_ [266] xlvii 4 be _1596_ [267] l 5 makes _1596_ [268] li 6 good; _1596_ [269] liii 3 strooke _1609_ _Cant. III._ [Illustration: _The spousals of faire Florimell, where turney many knights: There Braggadochio is vncas’d in all the Ladies sights._ ]