So whylome learnd that mighty Iewish swaine, ii Each of whose lockes did match a man in might, To lay his spoiles before his lemans traine: So also did that great Oetean Knight For his loues sake his Lions skin vndight: And so did warlike _Antony_ neglect The worlds whole rule for _Cleopatras_ sight. Such wondrous powre hath wemens faire aspect, To captiue men, and make them all the world reiect. Yet could it not sterne _Artegall_ retaine, iii Nor hold from suite of his auowed quest, Which he had vndertane to _Gloriane_; But left his loue, albe her strong request, Faire _Britomart_ in languor and vnrest, And rode him selfe vppon his first intent: Ne day nor night did euer idly rest; Ne wight but onely _Talus_ with him went, The true guide of his way and vertuous gouernment. So trauelling, he chaunst far oft to heed iv A Damzell, flying on a palfrey fast Before two Knights, that after her did speed With all their powre, and her full fiercely chast In hope to haue her ouerhent at last: Yet fled she fast, and both them farre outwent, Carried with wings of feare, like fowle aghast, With locks all loose, and rayment all to rent; And euer as she rode, her eye was backeward bent. Soone after these he saw another Knight, v That after those two former rode apace, With speare in rest, and prickt with all his might: So ran they all, as they had bene at bace, They being chased, that did others chase. At length he saw the hindmost ouertake One of those two, and force him turne his face; How euer loth he were his way to slake, Yet mote he algates now abide, and answere make. But th’other still pursu’d the fearefull Mayd; vi Who still from him as fast away did flie, Ne once for ought her speedy passage stayd, Till that at length she did before her spie Sir _Artegall_, to whom she streight did hie With gladfull hast, in hope of him to get Succour against her greedy enimy: Who seeing her approch gan forward set, To saue her from her feare, and him from force to let. But he like hound full greedy of his pray, vii Being impatient of impediment, Continu’d still his course, and by the way Thought with his speare him quight haue ouerwent. So both together ylike felly bent, Like fiercely met. But _Artegall_ was stronger, And better skild in Tilt and Turnament, And bore him quite out of his saddle, longer Then two speares length; So mischiefe ouermatcht the wronger.