Which when they all beheld they chaft[93] and rag’d, xxvii And woxe nigh mad for very harts despight, That from reuenge their willes they scarse asswag’d: Some thought from him her to haue reft by might; Some proffer made with him for her to fight. But he nought car’d for all that they could say: For he their words as wind esteemed light. Yet not fit place he thought it there to stay, But secretly from thence that night her bore away. They which remaynd, so soone as they perceiu’d, xxviii That she was gone, departed thence with speed, And follow’d them, in mind her to haue reau’d From wight vnworthie of so noble meed. In which poursuit[94] how each one did succeede, Shall else be told in order, as it fell. But now of _Britomart_ it here doth neede, The hard aduentures and strange haps to tell; Since with the rest she went not after _Florimell_. For soone as she them saw to discord set, xxix Her list no longer in that place abide; But taking with her louely _Amoret_, Vpon her first aduenture forth did ride, To seeke her lou’d, making blind loue her guide. Vnluckie Mayd to seeke her enemie, Vnluckie Mayd to seeke him farre and wide, Whom, when he was vnto her selfe most nie, She through his late disguizement could him not descrie. So much the more her griefe, the more her toyle: xxx Yet neither toyle nor griefe she once did spare, In seeking him, that should her paine assoyle; Whereto great comfort in her sad misfare Was _Amoret_, companion of her care: Who likewise sought her louer long miswent, The gentle _Scudamour_, whose hart whileare That stryfull[95] hag with gealous discontent Had fild, that he to fell reueng was fully bent. Bent to reuenge on blamelesse _Britomart_ xxxi The crime, which cursed _Ate_ kindled earst, The which like thornes did pricke his[96] gealous hart, And through his soule like poysned arrow perst, That by no reason it might be reuerst, For ought that _Glauce_ could or doe or say. For aye the more that she the same reherst, The more it gauld, and grieu’d him night and day, That nought but dire reuenge his anger mote defray. So as they trauelled, the drouping night xxxii Couered with cloudie storme and bitter showre, That dreadfull seem’d to euery liuing wight, Vpon them fell, before her timely howre; That forced them to seeke some couert bowre, Where they might hide their heads in quiet rest, And shrowd their persons from that stormie stowre. Not farre away, not meete for any guest They spide a little cottage, like some poore mans nest.