Yet thus much friendship she to him did show, lvii That his scarse diet somewhat was amended, And his worke lessened, that his loue mote grow: Yet to her Dame him still she discommended, That she with him mote be the more offended. Thus he long while in thraldome there remayned, Of both beloued well, but litle frended; Vntill his owne true loue his freedome gayned, Which in an other Canto will be best contayned. FOOTNOTES: [292] xx 8 an apron _1609_ [293] xxxviii 8 though vnlike, _1596_ [294] xl 5 borne. _1596_ [295] xli 2 she _1609_ [296] xliv 4 should _1609_ [297] lv 7 maladie; _1596_ _Cant. VI._ [Illustration: _Talus brings newes to Britomart, of Artegals mishap, She goes to seeke him, Dolon meetes, who seekes her to entrap._ ] Some men, I wote, will deeme in _Artegall_ i Great weaknesse, and report of him much ill, For yeelding so himselfe a wretched thrall, To th’insolent commaund of womens will; That all his former praise doth fowly spill. But he the man, that say or doe so dare, Be well aduiz’d, that he stand stedfast still: For neuer yet was wight so well aware, But he at first or last was trapt in womens snare. Yet in the streightnesse of that captiue state, ii This gentle knight himselfe so well behaued, That notwithstanding all the subtill bait, With which those Amazons his loue still craued, To his owne loue his loialtie he saued: Whose character in th’Adamantine mould Of his true hart so firmely was engraued, That no new loues impression euer could Bereaue it thence: such blot his honour blemish should. Yet his owne loue, the noble _Britomart_, iii Scarse so conceiued in her iealous thought, What time sad tydings of his balefull smart In womans bondage, _Talus_ to her brought; Brought in vntimely houre, ere it was sought. For after that the vtmost date, assynde For his returne, she waited had for nought, She gan to cast in her misdoubtfull mynde A thousand feares, that loue-sicke fancies faine to fynde. Sometime she feared, least some hard mishap iv Had him misfalne in his aduenturous[298] quest; Sometime least his false foe did him entrap In traytrous traine, or had vnwares opprest: But most she did her troubled mynd molest, And secretly afflict with iealous feare, Least some new loue had him from[299] her possest; Yet loth she was, since she no ill did heare, To thinke of him so ill: yet could she not forbeare.