Therefore whylome to knights of great emprise ii The charge of Iustice giuen was in trust, That they might execute her iudgements wise, And with their might beat downe licentious lust, Which proudly did impugne her sentence iust. Whereof no brauer president[275] this day Remaines on earth, preseru’d from yron rust Of rude obliuion, and long times decay, Then this of _Artegall_, which here we haue to say. Who hauing lately left that louely payre, iii Enlincked fast in wedlockes loyall bond, Bold _Marinell_ with _Florimell_ the fayre, With whom great feast and goodly glee he fond, Departed from the Castle of the strond, To follow his aduentures first intent, Which long agoe he taken had in hond: Ne wight with him for his assistance went, But that great yron groome, his gard and gouernment. With whom as he did passe by the sea shore, iv He chaunst to come, whereas two comely Squires, Both brethren, whom one wombe together bore, But stirred vp with different desires, Together stroue, and kindled wrathfull fires: And them beside two seemely damzels stood, By all meanes seeking to asswage their ires, Now with faire words; but words did little good, Now with sharpe threats; but threats the more increast their mood. And there before them stood a Coffer strong, v Fast bound on euery side with iron bands, But seeming to haue suffred mickle wrong, Either by being wreckt vppon the sands, Or being carried farre from forraine lands. Seem’d that for it these Squires at ods did fall, And bent against them selues their cruell hands. But euermore, those Damzels did forestall Their furious encounter, and their fiercenesse pall. But firmely fixt they were, with dint of sword, vi And battailes doubtfull proofe their rights to try, Ne other end their fury would afford, But what to them Fortune would iustify. So stood they both in readinesse thereby,[276] To ioyne the combate with cruell intent; When _Artegall_ arriuing happily, Did stay a while their greedy bickerment, Till he had questioned the cause of their dissent. To whom the elder did this aunswere frame; vii Then weete ye Sir, that we two brethren be, To whom our sire, _Milesio_ by name, Did equally bequeath his lands in fee, Two Ilands, which ye there before you see Not farre in sea; of which the one appeares But like a little Mount of small degree; Yet was as great and wide ere many yeares, As that same other Isle, that greater bredth now beares.