Her fearefull speaches nought he did regard, xxxi But ryding streight vnder the Castle wall, Called aloud vnto the watchfull ward, Which there did wayte, willing them forth to call Into the field their Tyrants Seneschall. To whom when tydings thereof came, he streight Cals for his armes, and arming him withall, Eftsoones forth pricked proudly in his might, And gan with courage fierce addresse him to the fight. They both encounter in the middle plaine, xxxii And their sharpe speares doe both together smite Amid their shields, with so huge might and maine, That seem’d their soules they wold[359] haue ryuen quight Out of their breasts, with furious despight. Yet could the Seneschals no entrance find Into the Princes shield, where it empight; So pure the mettall was, and well refynd, But shiuered all about, and scattered in the wynd. Not so the Princes, but with restlesse force, xxxiii Into his shield it readie passage found, Both through his haberieon, and eke his corse: Which tombling downe vpon the senselesse ground, Gaue leaue vnto his ghost from thraldome bound, To wander in the griesly shades of night. There did the Prince him leaue in deadly swound, And thence vnto the castle marched right, To see if entrance there as yet obtaine he might. But as he nigher drew, three knights he spyde, xxxiv All arm’d to point, issuing forth a pace, Which towards him with all their powre did ryde, And meeting him right in the middle race, Did all their speares attonce on him enchace. As three great Culuerings for battrie bent, And leueld all against one certaine place, Doe all attonce their thunders rage forth rent, That makes the wals to stagger with astonishment. So all attonce they on the Prince did thonder; xxxv Who from his saddle swarued nought asyde, Ne to their force gaue way, that was great wonder, But like a bulwarke, firmely did abyde, Rebutting him, which in the midst did ryde, With so huge rigour, that his mortall speare Past through his shield, and pierst through either syde, That downe he fell vppon his mother deare, And powred forth his wretched life in deadly dreare. Whom when his other fellowes saw, they fled xxxvi As fast as feete could carry them away; And after them the Prince as swiftly sped, To be aueng’d of their vnknightly play. There whilest they entring, th’one did th’other stay, The hindmost in the gate he ouerhent, And as he pressed in, him there did slay: His carkasse tumbling on the threshold, sent His groning soule vnto her place of punishment.