The battayle dured betwene us right long, Tyll I sawe Phebus declinyng full lowe. I avaunced my swerde that was sure and strong, And with my myght I gave hym suche a blowe On his seventh heade, that he dyd overthrowe. When he was downe he gan to crye and yell, Ful lyke a serpent or a fende of hell. When I sawe this, as fast as myght be Adowne I came, and did then unlace His seventh helmet, ryght ryche for to see, And hym beheaded in a ryght shorte space. And then full soone there came to the place Perceveraunce and my verlet also; Alas! they sayde, we were for you ryght wo. But we were glad when ye had forsaken The lowe vale, and up the craggy fayre For your advauntage the hye waye had taken. Thus as we talked we did se ladies fayre, Seven in number, that were debonayre, Upon white palfreys eche of them dyd ryde, For us ryght gentylly from the castell syde. The first of them was named Stedfastnes; And the seconde Amerous Purveyaunce; The thirde was Joye after great heavines; The fourth of them was dame Continuaunce; And the fift of them called dame Plesaunce; The syxte was called Report Famous; The seventh, Amitie to lovers dolorous. And ryght anone, with all humilitie, They lyght adowne, and then incontinent Eche after other they came unto me; I kyssed them with all my whole entente. Hayle, knyght! they sayde, so clere and excellent, Whiche of this gyaunt, our hydeous enemy, So worthely hath wonne the victory. Ladies, he sayde, I am muche unworthy So to accept your great prayse and fame. They prayed me to kepe them company: I will, quod I, or elles I were to blame. They prayed me to shewe them my name. La Graunde Amoure it is, I sayde, in dede; And then sayde they, No wonder though ye spede. No doubte it is but ye shall obtayne La Bell Pucell so ryght fayre and clere; We were with her exiled by Disdayne, And then besyeged in this castell here, With this great gyaunt, more then a whole yeare; And you this nyght, if it do you please, In this pore castell shall take your ease. I thanked them, and so I rode anone Into the castell of olde foundacion, Walled about with the blacke touche stone. I toke there then my recreacion, Among these ladies with commendacion; And when tyme came that they thought best, To a royall bedde I was brought to rest. After my wery and troublous travayle I toke my ease tyll that it was day; Then up arose without any fayle, And made me ready for to ride my waye. But then anone into the chamber gaye The seven ladies came with Perceveraunce, Saiyng they would geve me attendaunce, And bryng me to La Bell Pucell, Where that she is in her court royall; And lykewyse as Phebus doth hye excell In bryghtnes truely the fayre starres all, So in beauty and vertue speciall She doth excede any earthly creature, That is nowe made by fayre dame Nature.