And sayd, her love to lose she was full loth, But either he should neither of them have, or both. 11 So foorth they went, and both together giusted; 12 The seneschall was cal'd to deeme3 the right Whom she requir'd, that first fayre Amoret Might be to her allow'd, as to a knight That did her win and free from chalenge set: Which straight to her was yeelded without let: Then, since that strange Knights love from him was quitted, She claim'd that to herselfe, as ladies det, He as a knight might iustly be admitted; So none should be out shut, sith all of loves were fitted. 13 With that, her glistring helmet she unlaced; Which doft, her golden lockes, that were upbound 1 Salce, secure. 2 Showne, published. 8 Deeme, judge. 4 Quitted, taken. 6 Of, with. XII. 1.— - Seneschall.] the ceremonies. H. The household stewar?, or master o Still in a knot, unto her heeles downe traced, Like as the shining skie in summers night, That it prodigious seemes in common peoples sight. 14 Such when those knights and ladies all about To them appear'd, with shield and armour fit; 15 But that young Knight, which through her gentle deed Was to that goodly fellowship restor❜d, Ten thousand thankes did yeeld her for her meed, And, doubly overcommen, her ador'd: So did they all their former strife accord; And eke fayre Amoret, now freed from feare, More franke affection did to her afford; And to her bed, which she was wont forbeare, Now freely drew, and found right safe assurance theare: XIII. 6. - With lines of firie light.] This is a description of the Aurora Borealis. H. 16 Where all that night they of their loves did treat,' 17 Lo thus they rode, till at the last they spide Vile treason and fowle falshood hidden were, 18 The one of them the false Duessa hight, That now had chang'd her former wonted hew; For she could d'on so manie shapes in sight, As ever could cameleon colours new; So could she forge all colours, save the trew: The other no whit better was then shee, But that, such as she was, she plaine did shew; Yet otherwise much worse, if worse might bee, And dayly more offensive unto each degree.1 1 Treat, discourse. 2 Griefull, grief-full. 8 I. e. prepared for their journey 4 I. e. to persons of all sorts. 19 Her name was Atè, mother of debate And all dissention which doth dayly grow Amongst fraile men, that many a publike state And many a private oft doth overthrow. Her false Duessa, who full well did know To be most fit to trouble noble knights Which hunt for honor, raised from below Out of the dwellings of the damned sprights, Where she in darknes wastes her cursed daies and nights. 20 Hard by the gates of hell her dwelling is ; 21 And all within, the riven walls were hung Of all which ruines there some relicks did remaine. 1 Delve, dell. 2 Out-win, find the way out of. 22 There was the signe1 of antique Babylon; For memorie of which on high there hong Which shar'd to them the spoiles that he had got alive: 23 And there the relicks of the drunken fray, And of the dreadfull discord, which did drive That each of life sought others to deprive, All mindlesse of the Golden Fleece, which made them strive. 1 Signe, memorial, relic. XXII. 8. — His princes five.] Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, Seleucus, and Antigonus. UPTON. XXIII. 1.— The drunken fray.] The well-known quarrel at the marriage of Pirithous.-3. The bloodie feast, &c.] Hercules, while in pursuit of the Erymanthian boar, was entertained by Pholas, who had a cask of excellent wine. This being opened, the fragrance attracted a great crowd of the Centaurs, and Hercules drove them off with firebrands and arrows.-6. The dreadfull discord, &c.] Some vague allusions to quarrels among the Argonauts seem to be the only foundation for this account. C. |