Then since the saluage Island I did leaue,[402] ix Sayd _Artegall_, I such a Beast did see, The which did seeme a thousand tongues to haue, That all in spight and malice did agree, With which he bayd and loudly barkt at mee, As if that he attonce would me deuoure. But I that knew my selfe from perill free, Did nought regard his malice nor his powre, But he the more his wicked poyson forth did poure. That surely is that Beast (saide _Calidore_) x Which I pursue, of whom I am right glad To heare these tidings, which of none afore Through all my weary trauell I haue had: Yet now some hope your words vnto me add. Now God you speed (quoth then Sir _Artegall_) And keepe your body from the daunger drad: For ye haue much adoe to deale withall.[403] So both tooke goodly leaue, and parted seuerall. Sir _Calidore_ thence trauelled not long, xi When as by chaunce a comely Squire he found, That thorough some more mighty enemies wrong, Both hand and foote vnto a tree was bound: Who seeing him from farre, with piteous sound Of his shrill cries him called to his aide. To whom approching, in that painefull stound When he him saw, for no demaunds he staide, But first him losde, and afterwards thus to him saide. Vnhappy Squire, what hard mishap thee brought xii Into this bay of perill and disgrace? What cruell hand thy wretched thraldome wrought, And thee captyued in this shamefull place? To whom he answerd thus; My haplesse case Is not occasiond through my misdesert, But through misfortune, which did me abase Vnto this shame, and my young hope subuert, Ere that I in her guilefull traines was well expert. Not farre from hence, vppon yond rocky hill, xiii Hard by a streight there stands a castle strong, Which doth obserue a custome lewd and ill, And it hath long mayntaind with mighty wrong: For may no Knight nor Lady passe along That way, (and yet they needs must passe that way,) By reason of the streight, and rocks among, But they that Ladies lockes doe shaue away, And that knights berd for toll, which they for passage pay.[404] A shamefull vse as euer I did heare, xiv Sayd _Calidore_, and to be ouerthrowne. But by what meanes did they at first it reare, And for what cause, tell if thou haue it knowne. Sayd then that Squire: The Lady which doth owne This Castle, is by name _Briana_ hight. Then which a prouder Lady liueth none: She long time hath deare lou’d a doughty Knight, And sought to win his loue by all the meanes she might.