So now they be arriued both in sight xxv Of this wyld man, whom they full busie found About the sad _Serena_ things to dight, With those braue armours lying on the ground, That seem’d the spoile of some right well renownd. Which when that Squire beheld, he to them stept, Thinking to take them from that hylding hound: But he it seeing, lightly to him lept, And sternely with strong hand it from his handling kept. Gnashing his grinded teeth with griesly looke, xxvi And sparkling fire out of his furious eyne, Him with his fist vnwares on th’head he strooke, That made him downe vnto the earth encline; Whence soone vpstarting much he gan repine, And laying hand vpon his wrathfull blade, Thought therewithall forthwith him to haue slaine, Who it perceiuing, hand vpon him layd, And greedily him griping, his auengement stayd. With that aloude the faire _Serena_ cryde xxvii Vnto the Knight, them to dispart in twaine: Who to them stepping did them soone diuide, And did from further violence restraine, Albe the wyld-man hardly would refraine. Then gan the Prince, of her for to demand, What and from whence she was, and by what traine She fell into that saluage villaines hand, And whether free with him she now were, or in band. To whom she thus; I am, as now ye see, xxviii The wretchedst Dame, that liue[481] this day on ground, Who both in minde, the which most grieueth me, And body haue receiu’d a mortall wound, That hath me driuen to this drery stound. I was erewhile, the loue of _Calepine_, Who whether he aliue be to be found, Or by some deadly chaunce be done to pine, Since[482] I him lately lost, vneath is to define. In saluage forrest I him lost of late, xxix Where I had surely long ere this bene dead, Or else remained in most wretched state, Had not this wylde man in that wofull stead Kept, and deliuered me from deadly dread. In such a saluage wight, of brutish kynd, Amongst wilde beastes in desert forrests bred, It is most straunge and wonderfull to fynd So milde humanity, and perfect gentle mynd. Let me therefore this fauour for him finde, xxx That ye will not your wrath vpon him wreake, Sith he cannot expresse his simple minde, Ne yours conceiue, ne but by tokens speake: Small praise to proue your powre on wight so weake. With such faire words she did their heate asswage, And the strong course of their displeasure breake, That they to pitty turnd their former rage, And each sought to supply the office of her page.