Who as they now approched nigh at hand, xxxi Deeming them doughtie as they did appeare, They sent that Squire afore, to vnderstand, What mote they be: who viewing them more neare Returned readie newes, that those same weare Two of the prowest Knights in Faery lond; And those two Ladies their two louers deare, Couragious _Cambell_, and stout _Triamond_, With _Canacee_ and _Cambine_ linckt in louely bond. Whylome as antique stories tellen vs, xxxii Those two were foes the fellonest on ground, And battell made the dreddest[38] daungerous, That euer shrilling trumpet did resound; Though now their acts be no where to be found, As that renowmed Poet them compyled, With warlike numbers and Heroicke sound, Dan _Chaucer_, well of English vndefyled, On Fames eternall beadroll worthie to be fyled. But wicked Time that all good thoughts doth waste, xxxiii And workes of noblest wits to nought out weare, That famous moniment hath quite defaste, And robd the world of threasure endlesse deare, The which mote haue enriched all vs heare. O cursed Eld the cankerworme of writs, How may these rimes, so rude as doth appeare, Hope to endure, sith workes of heauenly wits Are quite deuourd, and brought to nought by little bits? Then pardon, O most sacred happie spirit, xxxiv That I thy labours lost may thus reuiue, And steale from thee the meede of thy due merit, That none durst euer whilest thou wast aliue, And being dead in vaine yet many striue: Ne dare I like, but through infusion sweete Of thine owne spirit, which doth in me surviue, I follow here the footing of thy feete, That with thy meaning so I may the rather meete. _Cambelloes_ sister was fayre _Canacee_, xxxv That was the learnedst Ladie in her dayes, Well seene in euerie science that mote bee, And euery secret worke of natures wayes, In wittie riddles, and in wise soothsayes, In power of herbes, and tunes of beasts and burds; And, that augmented all her other prayse, She modest was in all her deedes and words, And wondrous chast of life, yet lou’d of Knights and Lords. Full many Lords, and many Knights her loued, xxxvi Yet she to none of them her liking lent, Ne euer was with fond affection moued, But rul’d her thoughts with goodly gouernement, For dread of blame and honours blemishment; And eke vnto her lookes a law she made, That none of them once out of order went, But like to warie Centonels well stayd, Still watcht on euery side, of secret foes affrayd.