But if through stout disdaine of manly mind, xxxii Any her proud obseruaunce will withstand, Vppon that gibbet, which is there behind, She causeth them be hang’d vp out of hand; In which condition I right now did stand. For being ouercome by her in fight, And put to that base seruice of her band, I rather chose to die in liues despight, Then lead that shamefull life, vnworthy of a Knight. How hight that Amazon (sayd _Artegall_)?[281] xxxiii And where, and how far hence does she abide? Her name (quoth he) they _Radigund_ doe call, A Princesse of great powre, and greater pride, And Queene of Amazons, in armes well tride, And sundry battels, which she hath atchieued With great successe, that her hath glorifide, And made her famous, more then is belieued; Ne would I it haue ween’d, had I not late it prieued. Now sure (said he) and by the faith that I xxxiv To Maydenhead and noble knighthood owe, I will not rest, till I her might doe trie, And venge the shame, that she to Knights doth show. Therefore Sir _Terpin_ from you lightly throw This squalid weede, the patterne of dispaire, And wend with me, that ye may see and know, How Fortune will your ruin’d name repaire, And knights of Maidenhead, whose praise she would empaire. With that, like one that hopelesse was repryu’d[282] xxxv From deathes dore, at which he lately lay, Those yron fetters, wherewith he was gyu’d, The badges of reproch, he threw away, And nimbly did him dight to guide the way Vnto the dwelling of that Amazone. Which was from thence not past a mile or tway: A goodly citty and a mighty one, The which of her owne name she called _Radegone_. Where they arriuing, by the watchmen[283] were xxxvi Descried streight, who all the citty warned, How that three warlike persons did appeare, Of which the one him seem’d a Knight all armed, And th’other two well likely to haue harmed. Eftsoones the people all to harnesse ran, And like a sort of Bees in clusters swarmed: Ere long their Queene her selfe, halfe[284] like a man Came forth into the rout, and them t’array began. And now the Knights being arriued neare[285], xxxvii Did beat vppon the gates to enter in, And at the Porter, skorning them so few[286], Threw many threats, if they the towne did win, To teare his flesh in peeces for his sin. Which when as _Radigund_ there comming heard, Her heart for rage did grate, and teeth did grin: She bad that streight the gates should be vnbard, And to them way to make, with weapons well prepard.