O Sacred hunger of ambitious mindes, i And impotent desire of men to raine, Whom neither dread of God, that deuils bindes, Nor lawes of men, that common weales containe, Nor bands of nature, that wilde beastes restraine, Can keepe from outrage, and from doing wrong, Where they may hope a kingdome to obtaine. No faith so firme, no trust can be so strong, No loue so lasting then, that may enduren[387] long. Witnesse may _Burbon_ be, whom all the bands, ii Which may a Knight assure, had surely bound, Vntill the loue of Lordship and of lands Made him become most faithlesse and vnsound: And witnesse be _Gerioneo_ found, Who for like cause faire _Belge_ did oppresse, And right and wrong most cruelly confound: And so be now _Grantorto_, who no lesse Then all the rest burst out to all outragiousnesse. Gainst whom Sir _Artegall_, long hauing since iii Taken in hand th’exploit, being theretoo Appointed by that mightie Faerie Prince, Great _Gloriane_, that Tyrant to fordoo, Through other great aduentures hethertoo Had it forslackt. But now time drawing ny, To him assynd, her high beheast to doo, To the sea shore he gan his way apply, To weete if shipping readie he mote there descry. Tho when they came to the sea coast, they found iv A ship all readie (as good fortune fell) To put to sea, with whom they did compound, To passe them ouer, where them list to tell: The winde and weather serued them so well, That in one day they with the coast did fall; Whereas they readie found them to repell, Great hostes of men in order martiall, Which them forbad to land, and footing did forstall. But nathemore would they from land refraine, v But when as nigh vnto the shore they drew, That foot of man might sound the bottome plaine, _Talus_ into the sea did forth issew, Though darts from shore and stones they at him threw; And wading through the waues with stedfast sway, Maugre the might of all those troupes in vew, Did win the shore, whence he them chast away, And made to fly, like doues, whom the Eagle[388] doth affray. The whyles Sir _Artegall_, with that old knight vi Did forth descend, there being none them neare, And forward marched to a towne in sight. By this came tydings to the Tyrants eare, By those, which earst did fly away for feare Of their arriuall: wherewith troubled sore, He all his forces streight to him did reare, And forth issuing with his scouts afore, Meant them to haue incountred, ere they left the shore.