And hopeth evere, as he com nyh, That he god of Lubye were, So hath sche wel the lasse fere. 2070 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 71=] Bot for he wolde hire more assure,[895] Yit eft he changeth his figure, And of a wether the liknesse He tok, in signe of his noblesse With large hornes for the nones: Of fin gold and of riche stones A corone on his hed he bar, And soudeinly, er sche was war, As he which alle guile can, His forme he torneth into man, 2080 And cam to bedde, and sche lai stille, Wher as sche soffreth al his wille, As sche which wende noght misdo.[896] Bot natheles it hapneth so, Althogh sche were in part deceived, Yit for al that sche hath conceived The worthieste of alle kiththe, Which evere was tofore or siththe Of conqueste and chivalerie;[897] So that thurgh guile and Sorcerie 2090 Ther was that noble knyht begunne,[898] Which al the world hath after wunne. Thus fell the thing which falle scholde, Nectanabus hath that he wolde; With guile he hath his love sped, With guile he cam into the bed, With guile he goth him out ayein: He was a schrewed chamberlein, So to beguile a worthi queene, And that on him was after seene. 2100 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 72=] Bot natheles the thing is do; This false god was sone go, With his deceipte and hield him clos, Til morwe cam, that he aros. And tho, whan time and leisir was, The queene tolde him al the cas, As sche that guile non supposeth; And of tuo pointz sche him opposeth. On was, if that this god nomore Wol come ayein, and overmore, 2110 Hou sche schal stonden in acord With king Philippe hire oghne lord, Whan he comth hom and seth hire grone. ‘Ma dame,’ he seith, ‘let me alone: As for the god I undertake That whan it liketh you to take His compaignie at eny throwe, If I a day tofore it knowe, He schal be with you on the nyht; And he is wel of such a myht 2120 To kepe you from alle blame. Forthi conforte you, ma dame, Ther schal non other cause be.’ Thus tok he leve and forth goth he, And tho began he forto muse Hou he the queene mihte excuse Toward the king of that is falle; And fond a craft amonges alle, Thurgh which he hath a See foul daunted, With his magique and so enchaunted, 2130 [Sidenote: =P. iii. 73=] That he flyh forth, whan it was nyht, Unto the kinges tente riht, Wher that he lay amidde his host: And whanne he was aslepe most, With that the See foul to him broghte And othre charmes, whiche he wroghte[899] At hom withinne his chambre stille, The king he torneth at his wille,