Whom when the Prince beheld, he gan to rew xx The euill case in which those Ladies lay; But most was moued at the piteous vew Of _Amoret_, so neare vnto decay, That her great daunger did him much dismay. Eftsoones that pretious liquour forth he drew, Which he in store about him kept alway, And with few drops thereof did softly dew Her wounds, that vnto strength restor’d her soone anew. Tho when they both recouered were right well, xxi He gan of them inquire, what euill guide Them thether[144] brought, and how their harmes befell. To whom they told all, that did them betide, And how from thraldome vile they were vntide Of that same wicked Carle, by Virgins hond; Whose bloudie corse they shew’d him there beside, And eke his caue, in which they both were bond: At which he wondred much, when all those signes he fond. And euermore he greatly did desire xxii To know, what Virgin did them thence vnbind; And oft of them did earnestly inquire, Where was her won, and how he mote her find. But when as nought according to his mind He could outlearne, he them from ground did reare: No seruice lothsome to a gentle kind; And on his warlike beast them both did beare, Himselfe by them on foot, to succour them from feare. So when that forrest they had passed well, xxiii A litle cotage farre away they spide, To which they drew, ere night vpon them fell; And entring in, found none therein abide, But one old woman sitting there beside, Vpon the ground in ragged rude attyre, With filthy lockes about her scattered wide, Gnawing her nayles for felnesse and for yre, And there out sucking venime to her parts entyre. A foule and loathly creature sure in sight, xxiv And in conditions to be loath’d no lesse: For she was stuft with rancour and despight Vp to the throat, that oft with bitternesse It forth would breake, and gush in great excesse, Pouring out streames of poyson and of gall Gainst all, that truth or vertue doe professe, Whom she with leasings lewdly did miscall, And wickedly backbite: Her name men _Sclaunder_ call. Her nature is all goodnesse to abuse, xxv And causelesse crimes continually to frame, With which she guiltlesse persons may accuse, And steale away the crowne of their good name; Ne euer Knight so bold, ne euer Dame So chast and loyall liu’d, but she would striue With forged cause them falsely to defame; Ne euer thing so well was doen aliue, But she with blame would blot, and of due praise depriue.