Which when he had perform’d, then backe againe xiii To _Braggadochio_ did his shield restore: Who all this while behind him did remaine, Keeping there close with him in pretious store That his false Ladie, as ye heard afore. Then did the trompets sound, and Iudges rose, And all these knights, which that day armour bore, Came to the open hall, to listen whose The honour of the prize should be adiudg’d by those. And thether also came in open sight xiv Fayre _Florimell_, into the common hall, To greet his guerdon vnto euery knight, And best to him, to whom the best should fall. Then for that stranger knight they loud did call, To whom that day they should the girlond yield. Who came not forth, but for Sir _Artegall_ Came _Braggadochio_, and did shew his shield, Which bore the Sunne brode blazed in a golden field. The sight whereof did all with gladnesse fill: xv So vnto him they did addeeme the prise Of all that Tryumph. Then the trompets shrill Don _Braggadochios_ name resounded thrise: So courage lent a cloke to cowardise. And then to him came fayrest _Florimell_, And goodly gan to greet his braue emprise, And thousand thankes him yeeld, that had so well Approu’d that day, that she all others did excell. To whom the boaster, that all knights did blot, xvi With proud disdaine did scornefull answere make; That what he did that day, he did it not For her, but for his owne deare Ladies sake, Whom on his perill he did vndertake, Both her and eke all others to excell: And further did vncomely speaches crake. Much did his words the gentle Ladie quell, And turn’d aside for shame to heare, what he did tell. Then forth he brought his snowy _Florimell_, xvii Whom _Trompart_ had in keeping there beside, Couered from peoples gazement with a vele. Whom when discouered they had throughly eide, With great amazement they were stupefide; And said, that surely _Florimell_ it was, Or if it were not _Florimell_ so tride, That _Florimell_ her selfe she then did pas. So feeble skill of perfect things the vulgar has. Which when as _Marinell_ beheld likewise, xviii He was therewith exceedingly dismayd; Ne wist he what to thinke, or to deuise, But like as one, whom feends had made affrayd, He long astonisht stood, ne ought he sayd, Ne ought he did, but with fast fixed eies He gazed still vpon that snowy mayd; Whom euer as he did the more auize, The more to be true _Florimell_ he did surmize.