As when a sturdy ploughman with his hynde xii By strength haue ouerthrowne a stubborne steare, They downe him hold, and fast with cords do bynde, Till they him force the buxome yoke to beare: So did these two this Knight oft tug and teare. Which when the Prince beheld, there standing by, He left his lofty steede to aide him neare, And buckling soone him selfe, gan fiercely fly Vppon that Carle, to saue his friend from ieopardy. The villaine leauing him vnto his mate xiii To be captiu’d, and handled as he list, Himselfe addrest vnto this new debate, And with his club him all about so blist, That he which way to turne him scarcely wist: Sometimes aloft he layd, sometimes alow; Now here, now there, and oft him neare he mist; So doubtfully, that hardly one could know Whether more wary were to giue or ward the blow. But yet the Prince so well enured was xiv With such huge strokes, approued oft in fight, That way to them he gaue forth right to pas. Ne would endure the daunger of their might, But wayt aduantage, when they downe did light. At last the caytiue after long discourse, When all his strokes he saw auoyded quite, Resolued in one t’assemble all his force, And make one end of him without ruth or remorse. His dreadfull hand he heaued vp aloft, xv And with his dreadfull instrument of yre, Thought sure haue pownded[524] him to powder soft, Or deepe emboweld in the earth entyre: But Fortune did not with his will conspire. For ere his stroke attayned his intent, The noble childe preuenting his desire, Vnder his club with wary boldnesse went, And smote him on the knee, that neuer yet was bent. It neuer yet was bent, ne bent it now, xvi Albe the stroke so strong and puissant were, That seem’d a marble pillour it could bow, But all that leg, which did his body beare, It crackt throughout, yet did no bloud appeare; So as it was vnable to support So huge a burden on such broken geare, But fell to ground, like to a lumpe of durt, Whence he assayd to rise, but could not for his hurt. Eftsoones the Prince to him full nimbly stept, xvii And least he should recouer foote againe, His head meant from his shoulders to haue swept. Which when the Lady saw, she cryde amaine; Stay stay, Sir Knight, for loue of God abstaine, From[525] that vnwares ye weetlesse doe intend; Slay not that Carle, though worthy to be slaine: For more on him doth then him selfe depend; My life will by his death haue lamentable end.