I much admyring that so goodly frame, xxxi Vnto the porch approcht, which open stood; But therein sate an amiable Dame, That seem’d to be of very sober mood, And in her semblant shewed great womanhood: Strange was her tyre; for on her head a crowne She wore much like vnto a Danisk hood, Poudred with pearle and stone, and all her gowne Enwouen was with gold, that raught full low a downe[186]. On either side of her, two young men stood, xxxii Both strongly arm’d, as fearing one another; Yet were they brethren both of halfe the blood, Begotten by two fathers of one mother, Though of contrarie natures each to other: The one of them hight _Loue_, the other _Hate_, _Hate_ was the elder, _Loue_ the younger brother; Yet was the younger stronger in his state Then th’elder, and him maystred still in all debate. Nathlesse that Dame so well them tempred both, xxxiii That she them forced hand to ioyne in hand, Albe that _Hatred_ was thereto full loth, And turn’d his face away, as he did stand, Vnwilling to behold that louely band. Yet she was of such grace and vertuous might, That her commaundment he could not withstand, But bit his lip for felonous despight, And gnasht his yron tuskes at that displeasing sight. _Concord_ she cleeped was in common reed, xxxiv Mother of blessed _Peace_, and _Friendship_ trew; They both her twins, both borne of heauenly seed, And she her selfe likewise diuinely grew; The which right well her workes diuine did shew: For strength, and wealth, and happinesse she lends, And strife, and warre, and anger does subdew: Of litle much, of foes she maketh frends, And to afflicted minds sweet rest and quiet sends. By her the heauen is in his course contained, xxxv And all the world in state vnmoued stands, As their Almightie maker first ordained, And bound them with inuiolable bands; Else would the waters ouerflow the lands, And fire deuoure the ayre, and hell[187] them quight, But that she holds them with her blessed hands. She is the nourse of pleasure and delight, And vnto _Venus_ grace the gate doth open right. By her I entring halfe dismayed was, xxxvi But she in gentle wise me entertayned, And twixt her selfe and _Loue_[188] did let me pas; But _Hatred_ would my entrance haue restrayned, And with his club me threatned to haue brayned, Had not the Ladie with her powrefull speach Him from his wicked will vneath refrayned; And th’other eke his malice did empeach, Till I was throughly past the perill of his reach.