102
The first Booke of
Cant. VII.
Till that their cruell cursed enemy,An huge great Dragon horrible in sight,Bred in the loathly lakes of Tartary,With murdrous rauine, and deuouring mightTheir kingdome spoild, and countrey wasted quight:Themselues, for feare into his iawes to fall,He forst to castle strong to take their flight,Where fast embard in mighty brasen wall,He has them now fowr years besiegd to make thē thrall.
Full many knights aduenturous and stoutHaue enterprizd that Monster to subdew;From euery coast that heauen walks about,Haue thither come the noble Martial crew,That famous harde atchieuements still pursew,Yet neuer any could that girlond win,But all still shronke, and still he greater grew:All they for want of faith, or guilt of sin,The pitteous pray of his fiers cruelty haue bin.
At last yled with far reported praise,Which flying fame throughout the world had spred,Of doughty knights, whom Fary land did raise,That noble order hight of maidenhed,Forthwith to court of Gloriane I sped,Of Gloriane great Queene of glory bright,Whose kingdomes seat Cleopolis is red,There to obtaine some such redoubted knight,That Parents deare from tyrants powre deliuer might.
Yt was my chaunce (my chaunce was faire and good)There for to find a fresh vnproued knight,Whose manly hand imbrewd in guilty bloodHad neuer beene, ne euer by his might
Had
