XVIII.

So furiously each other did assayle,

As if their soules they would attonce have rent
Out of their brests, that streames of bloud did rayle
Adowne, as if their springs of life were spent,
That all the ground with purple bloud was sprent,
And all their armours staynd with bloudie gore;
Yet scarcely once to breath would they relent,
So mortall was their malice, and so sore

Become of fayned friendship which they vow'd afore.
XIX.

And that which is for ladies most befitting,
To stint all strife, and foster friendly peace,
Was from those dames so farre and so unfitting,
As that instead of praying them surcease,
They did much more their cruelty encrease,
Bidding them fight for honour of their love,
And rather die then ladies cause release; [move,
With which vaine termes so much they did them
That both resolv'd the last extremities to prove.

XX.

There they (I weene) would fight untill this day,
Had not a squire, even he the Squire of Dames,
By great adventure travelled that way;
Who seeing both bent to so bloudy games,
And both of old well knowing by their names,
Drew nigh, to weete the cause of their debate,
And first laide on those ladies thousand blames,
That did not seeke t'appease their deadly hate,
But gazed on their harmes, not pittying their estate:

XXI.

And then those knights he humbly did beseech
To stay their hands, till he awhile had spoken;
Who lookt a little up at that his speech,
Yet would not let their battell so be broken,
Both greedie fiers on other to be wroken :
Yet he to them so earnestly did call,

And them coniur'd by some well-knowen token,
That they at last their wrothfull hands let fall,
Content to heare him speake, and glad to rest withall.
XXII.

First he desir'd their cause of strife to see:
They said it was for love of Florimell.

"Ah gentle Knights!" quoth he, "how may that bee
"And she so farre astray, as none can tell?
"Fond Squire !" full angry then said Paridell,
"Seest not the ladie there before thy face?"
He looked backe, and her advizing well,
Weend, as he said, by that her outward grace
That fayrest Florimell was present there in place.
XXIII.

Glad man was he to see that ioyous sight, For none alive but ioy'd in Florimell, And lowly to her lowting thus behight; "Fayrest of faire! that fairenesse doest excell, "This happie day I have to greete you well, "In which you safe I see, whom thousand late "Misdoubted lost through mischiefe that befell: "Long may you live in health and happie state!" She litle answer'd him, but lightly did aggrate.

XXIV.

gan anew

Then, turning to those knights, he

"And you, Sir Blandamour and Paridell, "That for this ladie present in your vew "Have rays'd this cruell warre and outrage fell, "Certes me seemes bene not advised well, "But rather ought in friendship for her sake "To ioyne your force their forces to repell, "That seeke perforce her from you both to take, "And of your gotten spoyle their owne triumph to XXV. [make." Thereat Sir Blandamour, with countenance sterne, All full of wrath, thus fiercely him bespake; "Aread, thou Squire ! that I the man may learne, "That dare fro me thinke Florimell to take." "Not one," quoth he, " but many doe partake "Herein, as thus: it lately so befell,

"That Satyrane a girdle did uptake

"Well knowne to appertaine to Florimell, [well. "Which for her sake he wore, as him beseemed XXVI.

"But whenas she herselfe was lost and gone, "Full many knights, that loved her like deare, “Thereat did greatly grudge, that he alone "That lost faire ladies ornament should weare, "And gan therefore close spight to him to beare; "Which he to shun, and stop vile Envies sting. "Hath lately caus'd to be proclaim'd each where "A solemne feast with publike turneying, [bring: "To which all knights with them their ladies are to

XXVII,

"And of them all she that is fayrest found "Shall have that golden girdle for reward;

"And of those knights who is most stout on ground, "Shall to that fairest ladie be prefard :

"Since, therefore, she herselfe is now your ward, "To you that ornament of her's pertaines "Against all those that chalenge it to gard,

"And save her honour with your ventrous paines, "That shall you win more glory then ye here find

XXVIII.

[gaines." When they the reason of his words had hard, They gan abate the rancour of their rage, And with their honours and their loves regard The furious flames of malice to asswage: Tho each to other did his faith engage,

Like faithfull friends thenceforh to ioyne in one
With all their force, and battell strong to wage
Gainst all those knights, as their professed fone,
That chaleng'd out in Florimell, save they alone.
XXIX.

So well accorded, forth they rode together
In friendly sort, that lasted but awhile,

And of all old dislikes they made faire weather;
Yet all was forg'd, and spred with golden foyle,
That under it hidde hate and hollow guyle.
Ne certes can that friendship long endure,
However gay and goodly be the style,
That doth ill cause or evill end enure,

For vertue is the band that bindeth harts most sure.

XXX.

Thus as they marched all in close disguise
Of fayned love, they chaunst to overtake
Two knights, that lincked rode in lovely wise,
As if they secret counsels did partake:
And each not farre behinde him had his make,
To weete two ladies of most goodly hew,
That twixt themselves did gentle purpose make,
Unmindfull both of that discordfull crew,

The which with speedie pace did after them pursew.
XXXI.

Who as they now approched nigh at hand,
Deeming them doughty as they did appeare,
They sent that squire afore, to understand
What mote they be; who viewing them more neare,
Returned readie newes, that those same weare
Two of the prowest knights in Faery Lond;
And those two ladies their two lovers deare,
Couragious Cambell, and stout Triamond,
With Canacee and Cambine linckt in lovely bond.
XXXII.

Whylome, as antique stories tellen us,
Those two were foes the fellonest from ground,
And battell made the dreddest daungerous
That ever shrilling trumpet did resound,
Tho now their acts be no where to be found,
As that renowmed poet them compyled
With warlike numbers and heroicke sound,
Dan Chaucer, well of English undefyled,
On Fame's eternall bead-roll worthie to be fyled.