With the neare touch whereof in tender hart xlvi The Briton Prince was sore empassionate, And woxe inclined much vnto her part, Through the sad terror of so dreadfull fate, And wretched ruine of so high estate, That for great ruth his courage gan relent. Which when as _Zele_ perceiued to abate, He gan his earnest feruour to augment, And many fearefull obiects to them to present. He gan t’efforce the euidence anew, xlvii And new accusements to produce in place: He brought forth that old hag of hellish hew, The cursed _Ate_, brought her face to face, Who priuie was, and partie in the case: She, glad of spoyle and ruinous decay, Did her appeach, and to her more disgrace, The plot of all her practise did display, And all her traynes, and all her treasons forth did lay. Then brought he forth, with griesly grim aspect, xlviii Abhorred _Murder_, who with bloudie knyfe Yet dropping fresh in hand did her detect, And there with guiltie bloodshed charged ryfe: Then brought he forth _Sedition_, breeding stryfe In troublous wits, and mutinous vprore: Then brought he forth _Incontinence_ of lyfe, Euen foule _Adulterie_ her face before, And lewd _Impietie_, that her accused sore. All which when as the Prince had heard and seene, xlix His former fancies ruth he gan repent, And from her partie eftsoones was drawen cleene. But _Artegall_ with constant firme intent, For zeale of Iustice was against her bent. So was she guiltie deemed of them all. Then _Zele_ began to vrge her punishment, And to their Queene for iudgement loudly call, Vnto _Mercilla_ myld for Iustice gainst the thrall. But she, whose Princely breast was touched nere l With piteous ruth of her so wretched plight, Though plaine she saw by all, that she did heare, That she of death was guiltie found by right, Yet would not let iust vengeance on her light; But rather let in stead thereof to fall Few perling drops from her faire lampes of light; The which she couering with her purple pall Would haue the passion hid, and vp arose withall. FOOTNOTES: [332] vii 1 yearne _1609_ [333] x 8 strange _1609 passim_ [334] xviii 4 hard] hart _1596_ [335] xxii 8 oft-times _1609_ [336] xxvi 4 FONS _1596_, _1609_ [337] 9 slanders _1609 passim_ [338] xxxi 4 hight, _1596_ [339] 5 _Litæ_ _1596_ [340] xxxiii 8 rebellions _1596_ [341] xliv 1 oppose _1609_ [342] xlv 7 Nobilitie _1596_ [343] 9 Griefe _1596_ _Cant. X._ [Illustration: _Prince Arthur takes the enterprize for Belge[344] for to fight. Gerioneos Seneschall he slayes in Belges right._ ]