With that there came vnto her chamber dore xxix Two Knights, all armed[306] ready for to fight, And after them full many other more, A raskall rout, with weapons rudely dight. Whom soone as _Talus_ spide by glims of night, He started vp, there where on ground he lay, And in his hand his thresher ready keight. They seeing that, let driue at him streight way, And round about him preace in riotous aray. But soone as he began to lay about xxx With his rude yron flaile, they gan to flie, Both armed Knights, and eke vnarmed rout: Yet _Talus_ after them apace did plie, Where euer in the darke he could them spie; That here and there like scattred sheepe they lay. Then backe returning, where his Dame did lie, He to her told the story of that fray, And all that treason there intended did bewray. Wherewith though wondrous wroth, and inly burning, xxxi To be auenged for so fowle a deede, Yet being forst to abide the daies returning, She there remain’d, but with right wary heede, Least any more such practise should proceede. Now mote ye know (that which to _Britomart_ Vnknowen was) whence all this did proceede, And for what cause so great mischieuous smart Was ment to her, that neuer euill ment in hart. The goodman of this house was _Dolon_ hight, xxxii A man of subtill wit and wicked minde, That whilome in his youth had bene a Knight, And armes had borne, but little good could finde, And much lesse honour by that warlike kinde Of life: for he was nothing valorous, But with slie shiftes and wiles did vnderminde All noble Knights, which were aduenturous, And many brought to shame by treason treacherous. He had three sonnes, all three like fathers sonnes, xxxiii Like treacherous, like full of fraud and guile, Of all that on this earthly compasse wonnes: The eldest of the which was slaine erewhile By _Artegall_, through his owne guilty wile; His name was _Guizor_, whose vntimely fate For to auenge, full many treasons vile His father _Dolon_ had deuiz’d of late With these his wicked sons, and shewd his cankred hate. For sure he weend, that this his present guest xxxiv Was _Artegall_, by many tokens plaine; But chiefly by that yron page he ghest, Which still was wont with _Artegall_ remaine; And therefore ment him surely to haue slaine. But by Gods grace, and her good heedinesse, She was preserued from their[307] traytrous traine. Thus she all night wore out in watchfulnesse, Ne suffred slothfull sleepe her eyelids to oppresse.