Then doe your selfe, for dread of shame, forgoe xxvii This euill manner, which ye here maintaine, And doe in stead thereof mild curt’sie showe To all, that passe. That shall you glory gaine More then his loue, which thus ye seeke t’obtaine. Wherewith all full of wrath, she thus replyde; Vile recreant, know that I doe much disdaine Thy courteous lore, that doest my loue deride, Who scornes thy ydle scoffe, and bids thee be defyde. To take defiaunce at a Ladies word xxviii (Quoth he) I hold it no indignity; But were he here, that would it with his sword Abett, perhaps he mote it deare aby. Cowherd (quoth she) were not, that thou wouldst fly, Ere he[409] doe come, he should be soone in place. If I doe so, (sayd he) then liberty I leaue to you, for aye me to disgrace With all those shames, that erst ye spake me to deface. With that a Dwarfe she cald to her in hast, xxix And taking from her hand a ring of gould, A priuy token, which betweene them past, Bad him to flie with all the speed he could, To _Crudor_, and desire him that he would Vouchsafe to reskue her against a Knight, Who through strong powre had now her self in hould, Hauing late slaine her Seneschall in fight, And all her people murdred with outragious might. The Dwarfe his way did hast, and went all night; xxx But _Calidore_ did with her there abyde The comming of that so much threatned Knight, Where that discourteous Dame with scornfull pryde, And fowle entreaty him indignifyde, That yron heart it hardly could sustaine: Yet he, that could his wrath full wisely guyde, Did well endure her womanish disdaine, And did him selfe from fraile impatience refraine. The morrow next, before the lampe of light[410] xxxi Aboue the earth vpreard his flaming head, The Dwarfe, which bore that message to her knight, Brought aunswere backe, that ere he tasted bread, He would her succour, and aliue or dead Her foe deliuer vp into her hand: Therefore he wild her doe away all dread; And that of him she mote assured stand, He sent to her his basenet, as a faithfull band. Thereof full blyth the Lady streight became, xxxii And gan t’augment her bitternesse much more: Yet no whit more appalled for the same, Ne ought dismayed was Sir _Calidore_, But rather did more chearefull seeme therefore. And hauing soone his armes about him dight, Did issue forth, to meete his foe afore; Where long he stayed not, when as a Knight He spide come pricking on with al his powre and might.