Whereof when newes was to that Tyrant brought, ii How that the Lady _Belge_ now had found A Champion, that had with his Champion fought, And laid his Seneschall low on the ground, And eke him selfe did threaten to confound, He gan to burne in rage, and friese in feare, Doubting sad end of principle vnsound: Yet sith he heard but one, that did appeare, He did him selfe encourage, and take better cheare. Nathelesse him selfe he armed all in hast, iii And forth he far’d with all his many bad, Ne stayed step, till that he came at last Vnto the Castle, which they conquerd had. There with huge terrour, to be more ydrad, He sternely marcht before the Castle gate, And with bold vaunts, and ydle threatning bad Deliuer him his owne, ere yet too late, To which they had no right, nor any wrongfull state. The Prince staid not his aunswere to deuize, iv But opening streight the Sparre, forth to him came, Full nobly mounted in right warlike wize; And asked him, if that he were the same, Who all that wrong vnto that wofull Dame So long had done, and from her natiue land Exiled her, that all the world spake shame. He boldly aunswerd him, he there did stand That would his doings iustifie with his owne hand. With that so furiously at him he flew, v As if he would haue ouerrun him streight, And with his huge great yron axe gan hew So hideously vppon his armour bright, As he to peeces would haue chopt it quight: That the bold Prince was forced foote to giue To his first rage, and yeeld to his despight; The whilest at him so dreadfully he driue, That seem’d a marble rocke asunder could haue riue. Thereto a great aduauntage eke he has vi Through his three double hands thrise multiplyde, Besides the double strength, which in them was: For stil when fit occasion did betyde, He could his weapon shift from side to syde, From hand to hand, and with such nimblesse sly Could wield about, that ere it were espide, The wicked stroke did wound his enemy, Behinde, beside, before, as he it list apply. Which vncouth vse when as the Prince perceiued, vii He gan to watch the wielding of his hand, Least by such slight he were vnwares deceiued; And euer ere he saw the stroke to land, He would it meete, and warily withstand. One time, when he his weapon faynd to shift, As he was wont, and chang’d from hand to hand, He met him with a counterstroke so swift, That quite smit off his arme, as he it vp did lift.