But soon their pleasure pass'd: at noon of day The sun with sultry beams began to play: Not Sirius shoots a fiercer flame from high, When with his poisonous breath he blasts the sky: Then droop'd the fading flowers (their beauty fled) And closed their sickly eyes, and hung the head; And rivell'd up with heat, lay dying in their bed. The ladies gasp'd, and scarcely could respire; The breath they drew, no longer air but fire; 380 The fainty knights were scorch'd, and knew not where To run for shelter, for no shade was near; And after this the gathering clouds amain Pour'd down a storm of rattling hail and rain; And lightning flash'd betwixt: the field, and flowers, Burnt up before, were buried in the showers. The ladies and the knights, no shelter nigh, Bare to the weather and the wintry sky, Were drooping wet, disconsolate, and wan, And through their thin array received the rain; 390 While those in white, protected by the tree, Saw pass in vain the assault, and stood from danger free; But as compassion moved their gentle minds, When ceased the storm, and silent were the winds, Displeased at what, not suffering they had seen, They went to cheer the faction of the green. The queen in white array, before her band, Saluting, took her rival by the hand; So did the knights and dames, with courtly grace, And with behaviour sweet their foes embrace; 400 Then thus the queen with laurel on her brow-- Fair sister, I have suffer'd in your woe; Nor shall be wanting aught within my power For your relief in my refreshing bower. That other answer'd with a lowly look, And soon the gracious invitation took: For ill at ease both she and all her train The scorching sun had borne, and beating rain. Like courtesy was used by all in white, Each dame a dame received, and every knight a knight. 410 The laurel champions with their swords invade The neighbouring forests, where the jousts were made, And serewood from the rotten hedges took, And seeds of latent fire, from flints provoke: A cheerful blaze arose, and by the fire They warm'd their frozen feet, and dried their wet attire. Refresh'd with heat, the ladies sought around For virtuous herbs, which, gather'd from the ground, They squeezed the juice, and cooling ointment made, Which on their sun-burnt cheeks, and their chapt skins they laid: 420 Then sought green salads, which they bade them eat, A sovereign remedy for inward heat.