8

Well she it markt, and pittied the more,
Yet could not remedie her wretched case,
But closing it againe like as before,
Bedeaw'd with teares there left it in the place:
Yet left not quite, but drew a litle space
Behind the bushes, where she her did hyde,
To weet what mortall hand, or heauens grace
Would for the wretched infants helpe prouyde,
For which it loudly cald, and pittifully cryde.
9

At length a Shepheard, which there by did keepe

His fleecie flocke vpon the playnes around, Led with the infants cry, that loud did weepe, Came to the place, where when he wrapped found

Th'abandond spoyle, he softly it vnbound; And seeing there, that did him pittie sore, He tooke it vp, and in his mantle wound; So home vnto his honest wife it bore, Who as her owne it nurst, and named euermore.

33

Tho when the Beast saw, he mote nought auaile,
By force, he gan his hundred tongues apply,
And sharpely at him to reuile and raile,
With bitter termes of shamefull infamy;
Oft interlacing many a forged lie,
Whose like he neuer once did speake, nor heare,
Nor euer thought thing so vnworthily:
Yet did he nought for all that him forbeare,
But strained him so streightly, that he chokt
him neare.
34

At last when as he found his force to shrincke,
And rage to quaile, he tooke a muzzell strong
Of surest yron, made with many a lincke;
Therewith he mured vp his mouth along,
And therein shut vp his blasphemous tong,
For neuer more defaming gentle Knight,
Or vnto louely Lady doing wrong:
And thereunto a great long chaine he tight,
With which he drew him forth, euen in his own
despight.

35

Like as whylome that strong Tirynthian swaine,
Brought forth with him the dreadfulldog of hell,
Against his will fast bound in yron chaine,
And roring horribly, did him compell
To see the hatefull sunne, that he might tell
To griesly Pluto, what on earth was donne,
And to the other damned ghosts, which dwell
For aye in darkenesse, which day light doth
shonne.

So led this Knight his captyue with like con

quest wonne. 36

Yet greatly did the Beast repine at those
Straunge bands, whose like till then he neuer
Ne euer any durst till then impose, [bore,
And chauffed inly, seeing now no more
Him liberty was left aloud to rore: [stand
Yet durst he not draw backe; nor once with-
The proued powre of noble Calidore,
But trembled vnderneath his mighty hand,
And like a fearefull dog him followed through
the land.

4I

37

Him through all Faery land he follow'd so,
As if he learned had obedience long,
That all the people where so he did go,
Out of their townes did round about him
throng,

To see him leade that Beast in bondage strong, And seeing it, much wondred at the sight; And all such persons, as he earst did wrong, Reioyced much to see his captiue plight, And much admyr'd the Beast, but more admyr'd the Knight. 38

Thus was this Monster by the maystring might
Of doughty Calidore, supprest and tamed,
That neuer more he mote endammadge wight
With his vile tongue, which many had defamed,
And many causelesse caused to be blamed:
So did he eeke long after this remaine,
Vntill that, whether wicked fate so framed,
Or fault of men, he broke his yron chaine,
And got into the world at liberty againe.