XII.
“But Fortune, by her double bounty, shows
“She guards me more than thou: me to convey
“She sent my brother here, who with me goes,
“My honour safe in his protecting stay;
“And this encounter with thee now bestows,
“Which I above all other blessings weigh,
“And in good time; for hadst thou longer stayed,
“My lord, I should have died of hope delayed.”
XIII.
The wicked woman, full of subtlety
(Worse than a fox in crafty hardihood)
Pursues, and so well shapes her history,
She wholly throws the blame on Gryphon good;
Makes him believe that other not to be
Her kin alone, but of her flesh and blood,
Got by one father;—and so puts upon
The knight, that he less credits Luke and John.
XIV.
Nor he the fraud of her, more false than fair,
Only forbore with just reproach to pay;
Nor only did the threatened stranger spare,
Who was the lover of that lady gay;
But deemed to excuse himself sufficient were,
Turning some portion of the blame away;
And as the real brother she profest,
Unceasingly the lady’s knight carest;
