As guilefull Goldsmith that by secret skill, xv With golden foyle doth finely ouer spred Some baser metall, which commend he will Vnto the vulgar for good gold insted, He much more goodly glosse thereon doth shed, To hide his falshood, then if it were trew: So hard, this Idole was to be ared, That _Florimell_ her selfe in all mens vew She seem’d to passe: so forged things do fairest shew. Then was that[88] golden belt by doome of all xvi Graunted to her, as to the fayrest Dame. Which being brought, about her middle small They thought to gird, as best it her became; But by no meanes they could it thereto frame. For euer as they fastned it, it loos’d And fell away, as feeling secret blame. Full oft about her wast she it enclos’d; And it as oft was from about her wast disclos’d. That all men wondred at the vncouth sight, xvii And each one thought, as to their fancies came. But she her selfe did thinke it doen for spight, And touched was with secret wrath and shame Therewith, as thing deuiz’d her to defame. Then many other Ladies likewise tride, About their tender loynes to knit the same; But it would not on none of them abide, But when they thought it fast, eftsoones it was vntide. Which when that scornefull _Squire of Dames_ did vew, xviii He lowdly gan to laugh, and thus to iest; Alas for pittie that so faire a crew, As like can not be seene from East to West, Cannot find one this girdle to inuest. Fie on the man, that did it first inuent, To shame vs all with this, _Vngirt vnblest_. Let neuer Ladie to his loue assent, That hath this day so many so vnmanly shent. Thereat all Knights gan laugh, and Ladies lowre: xix Till that at last the gentle _Amoret_ Likewise assayd, to proue that girdles powre; And hauing it about her middle set, Did find it fit, withouten breach or let. Whereat the rest gan greatly to enuie: But _Florimell_ exceedingly did fret, And snatching from her hand halfe angrily The belt againe, about her bodie gan it tie. Yet nathemore would it her bodie fit; xx Yet nathelesse to her, as her dew right, It yeelded was by them, that iudged it: And she her selfe adiudged to the Knight, That bore the Hebene speare, as wonne in fight. But _Britomart_ would not thereto assent, Ne her owne _Amoret_ forgoe so light For that strange Dame, whose beauties wonderment She lesse esteem’d, then th’others vertuous gouernment.