There[162] gan they change their sides, and new parts take; xxvi For _Paridell_ did take to _Druons_ side, For old despight, which now forth newly brake Gainst _Blandamour_, whom alwaies he enuide: And _Blandamour_ to _Claribell_ relide. So all afresh gan former fight renew. As when two Barkes, this caried with the tide, That with the wind, contrary courses sew, If wind and tide doe change, their courses change anew. Thenceforth they much more furiously gan fare, xxvii As if but then the battell had begonne, Ne helmets bright, ne hawberks strong did spare, That through the clifts the vermeil bloud out sponne, And all adowne their riuen sides did ronne. Such mortall malice, wonder was to see In friends profest, and so great outrage donne: But sooth is said, and tride in each degree, Faint friends when they fall out, most cruell fomen bee. Thus they long while continued in fight, xxviii Till _Scudamour_, and that same Briton maide, By fortune in that place did chance to light: Whom soone as they with wrathfull eie bewraide, They gan remember of the fowle vpbraide, The which that Britonesse had to them donne, In that late Turney for the snowy maide; Where she had them both shamefully fordonne, And eke the famous prize of beauty from them wonne. Eftsoones all burning with a fresh desire xxix Of fell reuenge, in their malicious mood They from them selues gan turne their furious ire, And cruell blades yet steeming with whot bloud, Against those two let driue, as they were wood: Who wondring much at that so sodaine fit, Yet nought dismayd, them stoutly well withstood; Ne yeelded foote, ne once abacke did flit, But being doubly smitten likewise doubly smit. The warlike Dame was on her part assaid, xxx Of _Claribell_ and _Blandamour_ attone; And _Paridell_ and _Druon_ fiercely laid At _Scudamour_, both his professed fone. Foure charged two, and two surcharged one; Yet did those two them selues so brauely beare, That the other[163] litle gained by the lone, But with their owne repayed[164] duely weare, And vsury withall: such gaine was gotten deare. Full oftentimes did _Britomart_ assay xxxi To speake to them, and some emparlance moue; But they for nought their cruell hands would stay, Ne lend an eare to ought, that might behoue, As when an eager mastiffe once doth proue The tast of bloud of some engored beast, No words may rate, nor rigour him remoue From greedy hold of that his blouddy feast: So litle did they hearken to her sweet beheast.