Whom by his name saluting, thus he gan; xxxviii Haile good Sir _Sergis_, truest Knight aliue, Well tride in all thy Ladies troubles than, When her that Tyrant did of Crowne depriue; What new ocasion doth thee hither driue, Whiles she alone is left, and thou here found? Or is she thrall, or doth she not suruiue? To whom he thus; She liueth sure and sound; But by that Tyrant is in wretched thraldome bound. For she presuming on th’appointed tyde, xxxix In which ye promist, as ye were a Knight, To meete her at the saluage Ilands syde, And then and there for triall of her right With her vnrighteous[370] enemy to fight, Did thither come, where she afrayd of nought, By guilefull treason and by subtill slight Surprized was, and to _Grantorto_ brought, Who her imprisond hath, and her life often sought. And now he hath to her prefixt a day, xl By which if that no champion doe appeare, Which will her cause in battailous array Against him iustifie, and proue her cleare Of all those crimes, that he gainst her doth reare[371], She death shall by[372]. Those tidings sad Did much abash Sir _Artegall_ to heare, And grieued sore, that through his fault she had Fallen into that Tyrants hand and vsage bad. Then thus replide; Now sure and by my life, xli Too much am I to blame[373] for that faire Maide, That haue her drawne to all this troublous strife, Through promise to afford her timely aide, Which by default I haue not yet defraide. But witnesse vnto me, ye heauens, that know[374] How cleare I am from blame of this vpbraide: For ye into like thraldome me did throw, And kept from complishing the faith, which I did owe. But now aread, Sir _Sergis_, how long space, xlii Hath he her lent, a Champion to prouide[375]? Ten daies (quoth he) he graunted hath of grace, For that he weeneth well, before that tide None can haue tidings to assist her side. For all the shores, which to the sea accoste, He day and night doth ward both far and wide, That none can there arriue without an hoste: So her he deemes already but a damned ghoste. Now turne againe (Sir _Artegall_ then sayd) xliii For if I liue till those ten daies haue end, Assure your selfe, Sir Knight, she shall haue ayd, Though I this dearest life for her doe spend: So backeward he attone with him did wend. Tho as they rode together on their way, A rout of people they before them kend, Flocking together in confusde array, As if that there were some tumultuous affray.