And, as he past afore withouten dread, Bit him behind, that long the marke was to be read.

XL

Then th' other comming neare gan him revile,

And fouly rayle with all she could invent;
Saying that he had, with unmanly guile
And foule abusion, both his honour blent,
And that bright sword, the sword of Justice
Had stayned with reprochfull crueltie [lent,
In guiltlesse blood of many an innocent:
As for Grandtorto, him with treacherie
And traynes having surpriz'd, he fouly did
to die.

XLI

Thereto the Blatant Beast, by them set on,
At him began aloud to barke and bay
With bitter rage and fell contention, [way
That all the woods and rockes nigh to that
Began to quake and tremble with dismay;
And all the aire rebellowed againe,

But Talus, hearing her so lewdly raile, And speake so ill of him that well deserved, Would her have chastiz'd with his yron flai'e, If her Sir Artegall had not preserved, And him forbidden, who his heast observed: So much the more at him still did she scold, And stones did cast; yet he for nought would

swerve

did straine.

else be told.

Revele to me the sacred noursery

IV

Amongst them all growes not a fayrer flowre

Then is the bloosme of comely courtesie;
Which though it on a lowly stalke doe bowre,
Yet brancheth forth in brave nobilitie,
And spreds it selfe through all civilitie :
Of which though present age doe plenteous

seeme,

Yet, being matcht with plaine Antiquitie,
Ye will them all but fayned showes esteeme,
Which carry colours faire that feeble eies mis-
deeme.

V

But, in the triall of true curtesie,

Its now so farre from that which then it was, That it indeed is nought but forgerie, Fashion'd to please the eies of them that pas, Which see not perfect things but in a glas: Yet is that glasse so gay, that it can blynd The wisest sight to thinke gold that is bras; But vertues seat is deepe within the mynd, And not in outward shows, but inward thoughts defynd.

VI

But where shall I in all Antiquity So faire a patterne finde, where may be seene The goodly praise of Princely curtesie,

In whose pure minde, as in a mirrour sheene, It showes, and with her brightnesse doth inflame

The eyes of all which thereon fixed beene,
But meriteth indeede an higher name:
Yet so from low to high uplifted is your fame.

VII

Then pardon me, most dreaded Soveraine, That from your selfe I doe this vertue bring,

Nathlesse thereto he was full stout and tall, And well approv'd in batteilous affray,

When Calidore thus first: 'Haile, noblest Knight

Of all this day on ground that breathen living spright!

V

'Now tell, if please you, of the good successe Which ye have had in your late enterprize.' To whom Sir Artegall gan to expresse His whole exploite and valorous emprize, In order as it did to him arize.

Now, happy man,' (sayd then Sir Calidore) 'Which have, so goodly as ye can devize, Atchiev'd so hard a quest, as few before; That shall you most renowmed make for ever

more.

VI

To tread an endlesse trace, withouten guyde
'But where ye ended have, now I begin
Or good direction how to enter in,
Or how to issue forth in waies untryde,
In perils strange, in labours long and wide;

display.

Yet shall it not by none be testifyde.' 'What is that quest,' (quoth then Sir Artegall) That you into such perils presently doth call?'

VII

'The Blattant Beast' (quoth he) 'I doe pursew, Till I him overtake, or else subdew: And through the world incessantly doe chase, Yet know I not or how, or in what place To find him out, yet still I forward trace.' What is that Blattant Beast?' (then he replide.)

'It is a Monster bred of hellishe race,' (Then answered he) which often hath annoyd Good Knights and Ladies true, and many else destroyd.

VIII

'Of Cerberus whilome he was begot And fell Chimæra, in her darkesome den, Through fowle commixture of his filthy blot; Where he was fostred long in Stygian fen,