As was his wont in forest and in plaine:
He was all armd in rugged steele unfilde,
As in the fmoky forge it was compilde,
And in his fcutchin bore a Satyre's hedd:
He comming prefent, where the monster vilde
Upon that milke-white palfreyes carcas fedd,
Unto his refkew ran, and greedily him spedd.
There well perceivd he that it was the horse
Whereon faire Florimell was wont to ride,
That of that feend was rent without remorse;
Much feared he left ought did ill betide
And with it bownd the beast, that lowd did rore
For great difpight of that unwonted band,
Yet dared not his victor to withstand,
But trembled like a lambe fled from the pray;
And all the way him followd on the strand,
As he had long bene learned to obay,
Yet never learned he fuch fervice till that day.
Thus as he led the beast along the way,
He fpide far off a mightie giaunteffe
Faft flying on a courfer dapled gray
From a bold knight, that with great hardineffe
To that faire maide, the flowre of wemen's pride, Her hard perfewd, and fought for to fuppreffe ;
For her he dearely loved, and in all
His famous conquefts highly magnifid· :
Befides her golden girdle, which did fall
From her in flight, he fownd, that did him fore apall.
Full of fad feare and doubtfull agony,
Fiercely he flew upon that wicked feend,
And with huge ftrokes and cruell battery
Him fort to leave his pray, for to attend
Himfelfe from deadly daunger to defend :
Full many wounds in his corrupted fleth
He did engrave, and muchell blood did spend,
Yet might not doe him die: but aie more fresh
And fierce he fill appeard, the more he did him
thresh.
He wift not how him to dispoile of life,
Ne how to win the wished victory,
She bore before her lap a dolefull fquyre,
Lying athwart her horfe in great diftreffe,
Faft bounden hand and foote with cordes of wire,
Whom she did meane to make the thrall of her
Which whenas Satyrane beheld, in hafle
He lefte his captive beaft at liberty,
And croft the nearest way, by which he cast
Her to encounter ere the paffed by;
But fhe the way fhund nathemore forthy,
But forward gallopt faft; which when he spyde,
His mighty fpeare he couched warily,
And at her ran; the having him defcryde,
Herfelfe to fight addreft, and threw her lode afide.
Like as a gofhauke, that in foote doth beare A trembling culver, having spide on hight An eagle, that with plumy wings doth fheare
Sith him he faw ftill ftronger grow through ftrife, The subtile ayre, ftouping with all his might,
And himselfe weaker through infirmity:
Greatly he grew enrag'd, and furiously
Huring his fword away, he lightly lept
Upon the beaft, that with great cruelty
Rored and raged to be under-kept;
Yet he perforce him held, and ftrokes upon him hept.
So well I to faire ladies fervice did,
And found fuch favour in their loving hartes,
That ere the yeare his course had compaffid,
Three hundred pledges for my good defartes,
"The first which then refufed me," said hee,
"Certes was but a common courtisane,
"Yet flat refusd to have adoe with mee,
"Because I could not give her many a jane."
(Thereat full hartely laughed Satyrane)
"The fecond was an holy nunne to chose
"Which would not let me be her chappellane,
"Because the knew, she said, I would difclofe
"Her counfell, if the fhould her truft in me re
pofe.
"The third a damzell was of low degree,
"Whom I in countrey cottage fownd by chaunce
"Full litle weened I that Chastitee
"Had lodgin in fo meane a maintenance :
"Yet was the fayre, and in her countenaunce
"Dwelt fimple truth in feemely fashion:
And thrife three hundred thanks for my good" Long thus I woo'd her with due obfervaunce,
I with me brought, and did to her prefent;
Which when the faw, more bent to eke my
" smartes
Then to reward my trusty true intent,
gan for me devife a grievous punishment;
"In hope unto my pleasure to have won,
"But was as far at last as when I first begon
"Safe her, I never any woman found
"That chastity did for itselfe embrace,
"But were for other caufes firme and found,
"Either for want of handsome time and place,
"Or elfe for feare of shame and fowle disgrace.
Thus I am hopelesse ever to attaine
"My ladies love in fuch a desperate cace,
"But all my dayes am like to waste in vaine,
"Seeking to match the chalte with th' unchafte
"ladies traine."
To weet, that I my treveill should refume,
And with like labour walke the world arownd,"
Ne ever to her prefence thould prefume,
Till I fo many other dames had fownd
The which, for all the fuit I could propownd,
Would me refufe their pledges to afford,
But did abide for ever chaffe and fownd."
Ah! gentle Squyre," quoth he, " tell, at one
word,
How many fownd'ft thou fuch to put in thy " record?"
"Perdy," faid Satyrane, “thou Squyre of Dames
"Great labour fondly haft thou hent in hand,
"To get small thankes, and therewith many
blames,
"That may emongst Alcides' labours stand." Indeed, Sir knight," faid he, "one word may Thence backs returning to the former land,
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