Like as in sommers day when raging heat xlvii Doth burne the earth, and boyled riuers drie, That all brute beasts forst to refraine fro meat, Doe hunt for shade, where shrowded they may lie, And missing it, faine from themselues to flie; All trauellers tormented are with paine: A watry cloud doth ouercast the skie, And poureth forth a sudden shoure of raine, That all the wretched world recomforteth againe. So did the warlike _Britomart_ restore xlviii The prize, to knights of Maydenhead that day, Which else was like to haue bene lost, and bore The prayse of prowesse from them all away. Then shrilling trompets loudly gan to bray, And bad them leaue their labours and long toyle, To ioyous feast and other gentle play, Where beauties prize shold win that pretious spoyle: Where I with sound of trompe will also rest a whyle. FOOTNOTES: [66] lii 1 feasts _1609_ [67] 9 elswere _1596_ [68] i 4 depends. _1596_ [69] ii 3 als] els _1596_ [70] 4 _Scudamour_] _Blandamour_ _1679 rightly_. [71] viii 2 _Ferrat_ _1596_ [72] ix 5 sight. _1596_ [73] x 5 worst _1596_ [74] xvii 4 satyr-headed _conj. Church_ [75] xix 7 an] a _1609_ [76] xxi 5 _Palimord_ _1609_ [77] xxiii 5 glode. _1596_ [78] xxiv 1 beamlike] brauelike _1596_ [79] 4 guide. _1596_ [80] xxvii 3 behalue. _1596_ [81] 8 misdid; _1596 &c._ [82] xxxv 5 waxed _1609_ [83] xlv 2 t’euenge _1596_ _Cant. V._ [Illustration: _The Ladies for the girdle striue of famous Florimell: Scudamour comming to Cares house, doth sleepe from him expell._ ] It hath bene through all ages euer seene, i That with the praise of armes and cheualrie, The prize of beautie still hath ioyned beene; And that for reasons speciall priuitie: For either doth on other much relie. For he me seemes most fit the faire to serue, That can her best defend from villenie; And she most fit his seruice doth deserue, That fairest is and from her faith will neuer swerue. So fitly now here commeth next in place, ii After the proofe of prowesse ended well, The controuerse of beauties soueraine grace; In which to her that doth the most excell, Shall fall the girdle of faire _Florimell_: That many wish to win for glorie vaine, And not for vertuous vse, which some doe tell That glorious belt did in it selfe containe, Which Ladies ought to loue, and seeke for to obtaine.