But faire _Cambina_ with perswasions myld, v Did mitigate the fiercenesse of their mode, That for the present they were reconcyld, And gan to treate of deeds of armes abrode, And strange aduentures, all the way they rode: Amongst the which they told, as then befell, Of that great turney, which was blazed brode, For that rich girdle of faire _Florimell_, The prize of her, which did in beautie most excell. To which folke-mote they all with one consent, vi Sith each of them his Ladie had him by, Whose beautie each of them thought excellent, Agreed to trauell, and their fortunes try. So as they passed forth, they did espy One in bright armes, with ready speare in rest, That toward them his course seem’d to apply, Gainst whom Sir _Paridell_ himselfe addrest, Him weening, ere he nigh approcht to haue represt. Which th’other seeing, gan his course relent, vii And vaunted speare eftsoones to disaduaunce, As if he naught but peace and pleasure ment, Now falne into their fellowship by chance, Whereat they shewed curteous countenaunce. So as he rode with them accompanide, His rouing eie did on the Lady glaunce, Which _Blandamour_ had riding by his side: Whom sure he weend, that he some wher tofore had eide. It was to weete that snowy _Florimell_, viii Which _Ferrau_[71] late from _Braggadochio_ wonne, Whom he now seeing, her remembred well, How hauing reft her from the witches sonne, He soone her lost: wherefore he now begunne To challenge her anew, as his owne prize, Whom formerly he had in battell wonne, And proffer made by force her to reprize, Which scornefull offer, _Blandamour_ gan soone despize. And said, Sir Knight, sith ye this Lady clame, ix Whom he that hath, were loth to lose so light, (For so to lose a Lady, were great shame) Yee shall her winne, as I haue done in fight: And lo shee shall be placed here in sight,[72] Together with this Hag beside her set, That who so winnes her, may her haue by right: But he shall haue the Hag that is ybet, And with her alwaies ride, till he another get. That offer pleased all the company, x So _Florimell_ with _Ate_ forth was brought, At which they all gan laugh full merrily: But _Braggadochio_ said, he neuer thought For such an Hag, that seemed worse[73] then nought, His person to emperill so in fight. But if to match that Lady they had sought Another like, that were like faire and bright, His life he then would spend to iustifie his right.