With that he gan at large to her dilate xvii The whole discourse of his captiuance sad, In sort as ye haue heard the same of late. All which when she with hard enduraunce had Heard[302] to the end, she was right sore bestad, With sodaine stounds of wrath and griefe attone: Ne would abide, till she had aunswere made, But streight her selfe did dight, and armor don; And mounting to her steede, bad _Talus_ guide her on. So forth she rode vppon her ready way, xviii To seeke her Knight, as _Talus_ her did guide: Sadly she rode, and neuer word did say, Nor good nor bad, ne euer lookt aside, But still right downe, and in her thought did hide The felnesse of her heart, right fully bent To fierce auengement of that womans pride, Which had her Lord in her base prison pent, And so great honour with so fowle reproch had blent. So as she thus melancholicke did ride, xix Chawing the cud of griefe and inward paine, She chaunst to meete toward the euen-tide[303] A Knight, that softly paced on the plaine, As if him selfe to solace he were faine. Well shot in yeares he seem’d, and rather bent To peace, then needlesse trouble to constraine. As well by view of that his vestiment, As by his modest semblant, that no euill ment. He comming neare, gan gently her salute, xx With curteous words, in the most comely wize; Who though desirous rather to rest mute, Then termes to entertaine of common guize, Yet rather then she kindnesse would despize, She would her selfe displease, so him requite. Then gan the other further to deuize Of things abrode, as next to hand did light, And many things demaund, to which she answer’d light. For little lust had she to talke of ought, xxi Or ought to heare, that mote delightfull bee; Her minde was whole possessed of one thought, That gaue none other place. Which when as hee By outward signes, (as well he might) did see, He list no lenger to vse lothfull speach, But her besought to take it well in gree, Sith shady dampe had dimd the heauens reach, To lodge with him that night, vnles good cause empeach. The Championesse, now seeing night at dore, xxii Was glad to yeeld vnto his good request: And with him went without gaine-saying more. Not farre away, but little wide by West, His dwelling was, to which he him addrest; Where soone arriuing they receiued were In seemely wise, as them beseemed best: For he their host them goodly well did cheare, And talk’t of pleasant things, the night away to weare.