So well I to faire Ladies seruice did, lv
And found such fauour in their louing hartes,
That ere the yeare his course had compassid,
Three hundred pledges for my good desartes,
And thrise three hundred thanks for my good partes
I with me brought, and did to her present:
Which when she saw, more bent to eke my smartes,
Then to reward my trusty true intent,
She gan for me deuise a grieuous punishment.
To weet, that I my trauell should resume, lvi
And with like labour walke the world around,
Ne euer to her presence should presume,
Till I so many other Dames had found,
The which, for all the suit I could propound,
Would me refuse their pledges to afford,
But did abide for euer chast and sound.
Ah gentle Squire (quoth he) tell at one word,
How many foundst thou such to put in thy record?
In deed Sir knight (said he) one word may tell lvii
All, that I euer found so wisely stayd;
For onely three they were disposd so well,
And yet three yeares I now abroad haue strayd,
To find them out. Mote I (then laughing sayd
The knight) inquire of thee, what were those three,
The which thy proffred curtesie denayd?
Or ill they seemed sure auizd to bee,
Or brutishly brought vp, that neu’r did fashions see.
The first which then refused me (said hee) lviii
Certes was but a common Courtisane,
Yet flat refusd to haue a do with mee,
Because I could not giue her many a Iane.
(Thereat full hartely laughed Satyrane)
The second was an holy Nunne to chose,
Which would not let me be her Chappellane,
Because she knew, she said, I would disclose
Her counsell, if she should her trust in me repose.

The third a Damzell was of low degree, lix
Whom I in countrey cottage found by chaunce;
Full little weened I, that chastitee
Had lodging in so meane a maintenaunce,
Yet was she faire, and in her countenance
Dwelt simple truth in seemely fashion.
Long thus I woo’d her with dew obseruance,
In hope vnto my pleasure to haue won;
But was as farre at last, as when I first begon.
Safe her, I neuer any woman found, lx
That chastity did for it selfe embrace,
But were for other causes firme and sound;
Either for want of handsome time and place,
Or else for feare of shame and fowle disgrace.
Thus am I hopelesse euer to attaine
My Ladies loue, in such a desperate case,
But all my dayes am like to wast in vaine,
Seeking to match the chaste with th’vnchaste Ladies traine.
Perdy, (said Satyrane) thou Squire of Dames, lxi
Great labour fondly hast thou hent in hand,
To get small thankes, and therewith many blames,
That may emongst[1040] Alcides labours stand.
Thence backe[1041] returning to the former land,
Where late he left the Beast, he ouercame,
He found him not; for he had broke his band,
And was return’d againe vnto his Dame,
To tell what tydings of faire Florimell became.

FOOTNOTES:

[1013] Arg. 4 Gynunt, 1590

[1014] i 8 she did] he did 1590

[1015] v 1 th’tops 1609

[1016] vii 8 amaze. 1596

[1017] ix 3 two] to conj. Hughes

[1018] xvii 4 maistresse 1590

[1019] xviii 5 be by] by 1590: be 1596, 1609

[1020] that] by 1590

[1021] xix 6 her] that 1609

[1022] xxii 4 Monstrous, 1590

[1023] xxiii 4 he] she 1590

[1024] xxix 2 bellish 1596

[1025] xxxiv 2 enclose] containe MS. corr. in Malone 615. But cf. III vi 40 l. 6 &c.

[1026] xxxvi 2 slender 1609

[1027] xlii 6 he was] she was 1590: corr. to hee F. E.

[1028] stuned 1590: corr. F. E.

[1029] xliii 7 saw 1590, 1596

[1030] remorse, 1590, 1596

[1031] 8 neare] were 1590: corr. to nere F. E.

[1032] xlv 1 the om. 1596, 1609

[1033] wake] awake 1609

[1034] 5 him from 1609

[1035] xlvi 8 that] the 1590

[1036] xlviii 4 And many hath to foule] Till him Chylde Thopas to 1590

[1037] xlix 5 staine] straine 1596, 1609

[1038] l 2 thurst 1596, 1609

[1039] lii 4 is] it 1590

[1040] lxi 4 emongst] among 1609

[1041] 5 backe] bace 1590