We brake our fast, and we made us ready To La Bell Pucell on our way to ryde; My stede was brought, I lept up shortly, So did the ladies, they would nothyng abyde. Thus forth we rode at the morowe tyde Out of the castell with all joye and pleasure, Forth on our way at all adventure. CAP. XXXVI. HOW HE MADE OBLACYON TO THE GODES PALLAS, AND SAYLED OVER THE TEMPESTUOUS FLODE. So long we rode over hill and valey, Tyll that we came into a wyldernes, On every syde there wylde beastes laye, Ryght straunge and fierce in sundry likenes; It was a place of dissolute darkenes. The ladies and I were in feare and doubt, Tyll at the last that we were gotten out Of the great woode upon a craggy roche, When cleare Dyana in the Scorpion Agaynst fayre Phebus began to approche, For to be at her whole opposition, We sawe from farre a goodly region, Where stode a palayce hye and precious, Beyonde an haven full tempestuous. Then sayd Perceveraunce; Beholde ye and se, Yonder is the palays gay and glorious Of La Bell Pucelles great humilitie; A place of pleasure most solacious. But then we spied a fende fallicious, Beyond the haven at sure entres Blowyng out fyre by marveilous wydnes. The fyre was great, it made the ylande lyght, He rored loude, it semeth lyke the thonder; But, as me thought, he was of great myght, To knowe his likenes we were farre asonder; But of the fyre we did often wonder; We asked Perceveraunce what that it myght be. Alas! quod she, with fraude and subtiltie Of dame Strangenes and of dame Disdayne When La Bell Pucell did them so abjecte, Because that they myght not revert agayne, With mortall Envie they did then conjecte To make a fende in lykewyse to directe Syr Graunde Amoure, with the fervent fyre Of evill treason to let his desyre. For dame Disdayne, the crafty sorceres, With arte magyke hath wrought full craftely Of the vii. metalles a dragon doubtles, And dame Strangenes, by her nygromancy, Hath closed therin a fende ryght subtilly, That the fyre encenseth by great outrage. But Graunde Amoure shall it well asswage. Benethe this roche there is well fortified An olde temple, to the laude and glory Of wyse dame Pallas it was so edified; We will ryde unto it full lyghtly, And do oblacion unto her truely; She wyll us tell by good experience Howe we may scape the brennynge vyolence. So to the temple of dame Pallas Anone we rode, and did lyght adowne. Of depured cristall her whole ymage was, The temple walles were ryght olde and browne; And then ryght sone before her hyghe renowne Prostrate we fell mekely to the grounde, And sodaynly we were cast in a sounde.