Thereat Sir _Blandamour_ with countenance[35] sterne, xxv All full of wrath, thus fiercely him bespake; A read thou Squire, that I the man may learne, That dare fro me thinke _Florimell_ to take. Not one (quoth he) but many doe partake Herein, as thus. It lately so befell, That Satyran a girdle did vptake, Well knowne to appertaine to _Florimell_, Which for her sake he wore, as him beseemed well. But when as she her selfe was lost and gone, xxvi Full many knights, that loued her like deare, Thereat did greatly grudge, that he alone That lost faire Ladies ornament should weare, And gan therefore close spight to him to beare: Which he to shun, and stop vile enuies sting, Hath lately caus’d to be proclaim’d each where A solemne feast, with publike turneying, To which all knights with them their Ladies are to bring. And of them all she that is fayrest found, xxvii Shall haue that golden girdle for reward, And of those Knights who is most stout on ground, Shall to that fairest Ladie be prefard. Since[36] therefore she her selfe is now your ward, To you that ornament of hers pertaines, Against all those, that chalenge it to gard, And saue her honour with your ventrous paines; That shall you win more glory, then ye here find gaines. When they the reason of his words had hard, xxviii They gan abate the rancour of their rage, And with their honours and their loues regard, The furious flames of malice to asswage. Tho each to other did his faith engage, Like faithfull friends thenceforth to ioyne in one With all their force, and battell strong to wage Gainst all those knights, as their professed fone, That chaleng’d ought in _Florimell_, saue they alone. So well accorded forth they rode together xxix In friendly sort, that lasted but a while; And of all old dislikes they made faire weather, Yet all was forg’d and spred with golden foyle, That vnder it hidde hate and hollow guyle. Ne certes can that friendship long endure, How euer gay and goodly be the style, That doth ill cause or euill end enure: For vertue is the band, that bindeth harts most sure. Thus as they marched all in close disguise[37] xxx Of fayned loue, they chaunst to ouertake Two knights, that lincked rode in louely wise, As if they secret counsels did partake; And each not farre behinde him had his make, To weete, two Ladies of most goodly hew, That twixt themselues did gentle purpose make, Vnmindfull both of that discordfull crew, The which with speedie pace did after them pursew.