Of all which, when as she could nought deny, xiv But cleard that stripling of th’imputed blame, Sayd[423] then Sir _Calidore_; Neither[424] will I Him charge with guilt, but rather doe quite clame: For what he spake, for you he spake it, Dame: And what he did, he did him selfe to saue: Against both which that knight wrought knightlesse shame. For knights and all men this by nature haue, Towards all womenkind them kindly to behaue. But sith that he is gone irreuocable, xv Please it you Ladie, to vs to aread, What cause could make him so dishonourable, To driue you so on foot vnfit to tread, And lackey by him, gainst all womanhead? Certes Sir knight (sayd she) full loth I were To rayse a lyuing blame against the dead: But since[425] it me concernes, my selfe to clere, I will the truth discouer, as it chaunst whylere. This day, as he and I together roade xvi Vpon our way, to which we weren bent, We chaunst to come foreby a couert glade Within a wood, whereas a Ladie gent Sate with a knight in ioyous iolliment[426] Of their franke loues, free from all gealous spyes: Faire was the Ladie sure, that mote content An hart, not carried with too curious eyes, And vnto him did shew all louely courtesyes. Whom when my knight did see so louely faire, xvii He inly gan her louer to enuy, And wish, that he part of his spoyle might share. Whereto when as my presence he did spy To be a let, he bad me by and by For to alight: but when as I was loth, My loues owne part to leaue so suddenly, He with strong hand down from his steed me throw’th, And with presumpteous powre against that knight streight go’th. Vnarm’d all was the knight, as then more meete xviii For Ladies seruice, and for loues delight, Then fearing any foeman there to meete: Whereof he taking oddes, streight bids him dight Himselfe to yeeld his loue, or else to fight. Whereat the other starting vp dismayd, Yet boldly answer’d, as he rightly might; To leaue his loue he should be ill apayd, In which he had good right gaynst all, that it gainesayd. Yet since he was not presently in plight xix Her to defend, or his to iustifie, He him requested, as he was a knight, To lend him day his better right to trie, Or stay till he his armes, which were thereby, Might lightly fetch. But he was fierce and whot[427], Ne time would giue, nor any termes aby, But at him flew, and with his speare him smot; From which to thinke to saue himselfe, it booted not.