There they alighting, by that Damzell were xxii Directed in, and shewed all the sight: Whose porch, that most magnificke did appeare, Stood open wyde to all men day and night; Yet warded well by one of mickle might, That sate thereby, with gyantlike resemblance, To keepe out guyle, and malice, and despight, That vnder shew oftimes[335] of fayned semblance, Are wont in Princes courts to worke great scath and hindrance. His name was _Awe_; by whom they passing in xxiii Went vp the hall, that was a large wyde roome, All full of people making troublous din, And wondrous noyse, as if that there were some, Which vnto them was dealing righteous doome. By whom they passing, through the thickest preasse, The marshall of the hall to them did come; His name hight _Order_, who commaunding peace, Them guyded through the throng, that did their clamors ceasse. They ceast their clamors vpon them to gaze; xxiv Whom seeing all in armour bright as day, Straunge there to see, it did them much amaze, And with vnwonted terror halfe affray. For neuer saw they there the like array, Ne euer was the name of warre there spoken, But ioyous peace and quietnesse alway, Dealing iust iudgements, that mote not be broken For any brybes, or threates of any to be wroken. There as they entred at the Scriene, they saw xxv Some one, whose tongue was for his trespasse vyle Nayld to a post, adiudged so by law: For that therewith he falsely did reuyle, And foule blaspheme that Queene for forged guyle, Both with bold speaches, which he blazed had, And with lewd poems, which he did compyle; For the bold title of a Poet bad He on himselfe had ta’en, and rayling rymes had sprad. Thus there he stood, whylest high ouer his head, xxvi There written was the purport of his sin, In cyphers strange, that few could rightly read, BON FONT[336]: but _bon_ that once had written bin, Was raced out, and _Mal_ was now put in. So now _Malfont_ was plainely to be red; Eyther for th’euill, which he did therein, Or that he likened was to a welhed Of euill words, and wicked sclaunders[337] by him shed. They passing by, were guyded by degree xxvii Vnto the presence of that gratious Queene: Who sate on high, that she might all men see, And might of all men royally be seene, Vpon a throne of gold full bright and sheene, Adorned all with gemmes of endlesse price, As either might for wealth haue gotten bene, Or could be fram’d by workmans rare deuice; And all embost with Lyons and with Flourdelice.