Wherefore attended with her maids, Through fogs, and mists, and damps she wades, To Proserpine the Queen of Shades, To treat that it would please her The cause into her hands to take, For ancient love and friendship's sake, And soon thereof an end to make, Which of much care would ease her. A while there let we Mab alone, And come we to King Oberon, Who, armed to meet his foe, is gone, For proud Pigwiggen crying: Who sought the Fairy King as fast And had so well his journeys cast, That he arrived at the last, His puissant foe espying. Stout Tomalin came with the King, Tom Thumb doth on Pigwiggen bring, That perfect were in everything To single fights belonging: And therefore they themselves engage To see them exercise their rage With fair and comely equipage, Not one the other wronging. So like in arms these champions were, As they had been a very pair, So that a man would almost swear That either had been either; Their furious steeds began to neigh, That they were heard a mighty way; Their staves upon their rests they lay; Yet, ere they flew together, Their seconds minister an oath, Which was indifferent to them both, That on their knightly faith and troth No magic them supplied; And sought them that they had no charms Wherewith to work each other's harms, But came with simple open arms To have their causes tried. Together furiously they ran, That to the ground came horse and man, The blood out of their helmets span, So sharp were their encounters; And though they to the earth were thrown, Yet quickly they regained their own, Such nimbleness was never shown, They were two gallant mounters. When in a second course again, They forward came with might and main, Yet which had better of the twain, The seconds could not judge yet; Their shields were into pieces cleft, Their helmets from their heads were reft, And to defend them nothing left, These champions would not budge yet. Away from them their staves they threw, Their cruel swords they quickly drew, And freshly they the fight renew, They every stroke redoubled; Which made Proserpina take heed, And make to them the greater speed, For fear lest they too much should bleed, Which wondrously her troubled. When to th' infernal Styx she goes, She takes the fogs from thence that rose, And in a bag doth them enclose, When well she had them blended. She hies her then to Lethe spring, A bottle and thereof doth bring, Wherewith she meant to work the thing Which only she intended. Now Proserpine with Mab is gone Unto the place where Oberon And proud Pigwiggen, one to one, Both to be slain were likely: And there themselves they closely hide, Because they would not be espied; For Proserpine meant to decide The matter very quickly.