But of them all, which did his mine seeke xiii Three mightie enemies[479] did him most despight, Three mightie ones, and cruell minded eeke, That him not onely sought by open might To ouerthrow, but to supplant by slight. The first of them by name was cald _Despetto_, Exceeding all the rest in powre and hight; The second not so strong but wise, _Decetto_; The third nor strong nor wise, but spightfullest _Defetto_. Oftimes their sundry powres they did employ, xiv And seuerall deceipts, but all in vaine: For neither they by force could him destroy, Ne yet entrap in treasons subtill traine. Therefore conspiring all together plaine, They did their counsels now in one compound; Where singled forces faile, conioynd may gaine. The _Blatant Beast_ the fittest meanes they found, To worke his vtter shame, and throughly him confound. Vpon a day as they the time did waite, xv When he did raunge the wood for saluage game, They sent that _Blatant Beast_ to be a baite, To draw him from his deare beloued dame, Vnwares into the daunger of defame. For well they wist, that Squire to be so bold, That no one beast in forrest wylde or tame, Met him in chase, but he it challenge would, And plucke the pray oftimes out of their greedy hould. The hardy boy, as they deuised had, xvi Seeing the vgly Monster passing by, Vpon him set, of perill nought adrad, Ne skilfull of the vncouth ieopardy; And charged him so fierce and furiously, That his great force vnable to endure, He forced was to turne from him and fly: Yet ere he fled, he with his tooth impure Him heedlesse bit, the whiles he was thereof secure. Securely he did after him pursew, xvii Thinking by speed to ouertake his flight; Who through thicke woods and brakes and briers him drew, To weary him the more, and waste his spight, So that he now has almost spent his spright. Till that at length vnto a woody glade He came, whose couert stopt his further sight, There his three foes shrowded in guilefull shade, Out of their ambush broke, and gan him to inuade. Sharpely they all attonce did him assaile, xviii Burning with inward rancour and despight, And heaped strokes did round about him haile With so huge force, that seemed nothing might Beare off their blowes, from percing thorough quite. Yet he them all so warily did ward, That none of them in his soft flesh did bite, And all the while his backe for best safegard, He lent against a tree, that backeward onset bard.