At which his vaine excuse they all gan smile, xi As scorning his vnmanly cowardize: And _Florimell_ him fowly gan reuile, That for her sake refus’d to enterprize The battell, offred in so knightly wize. And _Ate_ eke prouokt him priuily, With loue of her, and shame of such mesprize. But naught he car’d for friend or enemy, For in base mind nor friendship dwels nor enmity. But _Cambell_ thus did shut vp all in iest, xii Braue Knights and Ladies, certes ye doe wrong To stirre vp strife, when most vs needeth rest, That we may vs reserue both fresh and strong, Against the Turneiment which is not long. When who so list to fight, may fight his fill, Till then your challenges ye may prolong; And then it shall be tried, if ye will, Whether shall haue the Hag, or hold the Lady still. They all agreed, so turning all to game, xiii And pleasaunt bord, they past forth on their way, And all that while, where so they rode or came, That masked Mock-knight was their sport and play. Till that at length vpon th’appointed day, Vnto the place of turneyment they came; Where they before them found in fresh aray Manie a braue knight, and manie a daintie dame Assembled, for to get the honour of that game. There this faire crewe arriuing, did diuide xiv Them selues asunder: _Blandamour_ with those Of his, on th’one; the rest on th’other side. But boastfull _Braggadocchio_ rather chose, For glorie vaine their fellowship to lose, That men on him the more might gaze alone. The rest them selues in troupes did else dispose, Like as it seemed best to euery one; The knights in couples marcht, with ladies linckt attone. Then first of all forth came Sir _Satyrane_, xv Bearing that precious relicke in an arke Of gold, that bad eyes might it not prophane: Which drawing softly forth out of the darke, He open shewd, that all men it mote marke. A gorgeous girdle, curiously embost With pearle and precious stone, worth many a marke; Yet did the workmanship farre passe the cost: It was the same, which lately _Florimel_ had lost. That same aloft he hong in open vew, xvi To be the prize of beautie and of might; The which eftsoones discouered, to it drew The eyes of all, allur’d with close delight, And hearts quite robbed with so glorious sight, That all men threw out vowes and wishes vaine. Thrise happie Ladie, and thrise happie knight, Them seemd that could so goodly riches gaine, So worthie of the perill, worthy of the paine.