By whose entreatie both they ouercommen, iv Agree to goe with her, and by the way, (As often falles) of sundry things did commen. Mongst which that Damzell did to them bewray A straunge aduenture, which not farre thence lay; To weet a wicked villaine, bold and stout, Which wonned in a rocke not farre away, That robbed all the countrie there about, And brought the pillage home, whence none could get it out. Thereto both his owne wylie wit, (she sayd) v And eke the fastnesse of his dwelling place, Both vnassaylable, gaue him great ayde: For he so crafty was to forge and face, So light of hand, and nymble of his pace, So smooth of tongue, and subtile in his tale, That could deceiue one looking in his face; Therefore by name _Malengin_ they him call, Well knowen by his feates, and famous ouer all. Through these his slights he many doth confound, vi And eke the rocke, in which he wonts to dwell, Is wondrous strong, and hewen farre vnder ground A dreadfull depth, how deepe no man can tell; But some doe say, it goeth downe to hell. And all within, it full of wyndings is, And hidden wayes, that scarse an hound by smell Can follow out those false footsteps of his, Ne none can backe returne, that once are gone amis. Which when those knights had heard, their harts gan earne[332], vii To vnderstand that villeins dwelling place, And greatly it desir’d of her to learne, And by which way they towards it should trace. Were not (sayd she) that it should let your pace Towards my Ladies presence by you ment, I would you guyde directly to the place. Then let not that (said they) stay your intent; For neither will one foot, till we that carle haue hent. So forth they past, till they approched ny viii Vnto the rocke, where was the villains won, Which when the Damzell neare at hand did spy, She warn’d the knights thereof: who thereupon Gan to aduize, what best were to be done. So both agreed, to send that mayd afore, Where she might sit nigh to the den alone, Wayling, and raysing pittifull vprore, As if she did some great calamitie deplore. With noyse whereof when as the caytiue carle ix Should issue forth, in hope to find some spoyle, They in awayt would closely him ensnarle, Ere to his den he backward could recoyle, And so would hope him easily to foyle. The Damzell straight went, as she was directed, Vnto the rocke, and there vpon the soyle Hauing her selfe in wretched wize abiected, Gan weepe and wayle, as if great griefe had her affected.