Like scattred sheepe to seeke for safetie,

After he gotten had with busie paine

Some of their weapons which thereby did lie,

With which he layd about, and made them fast to

XXXIX.

Whom when the prince so felly saw to rage,
Approaching to him neare, his hand he stayd,
And sought, by making signes, him to asswage:
Who them perceiving, streight to him obayd,
As to his lord, and downe his weapons layd,
As if he long had to his beasts bene trayned.
Thence he him brought away, and up convayd
Into the chamber, where that dame remayned
With her unworthy knight, who ill him entertayned

XL.

Whom when the salvage saw from daunger free,
Sitting beside his ladie there at ease,
He well remembred that the same was hee,
Which lately sought his lord for to displease :
Tho all in rage he on him streight did seaze,
As if he would in peeces him have rent;
And, were not that the prince did him appeaze,
He had not left one limbe of him unrent:
But streight he held his hand at his commaundëment.

XLI.

Thus having all things well in peace ordayned,
The prince himselfe there all that night did rest;
Where him Blandina fayrely entertayned
With all the courteous glee and goodly feast
The which for him she could imagine best:
For well she knew the wayes to win good will
Of every wight, that were not too infest ;
And how to please the minds of good and ill,
Through tempering of her words and lookes by won-
drous skill.

XLII.

Yet were her words and lookes but false and fayned,
To some hid end to make more easie way,
Or to allure such fondlings whom she trayned
Into her trap unto their owne decay:
Thereto, when needed, she could weepe and pray,
And when her listed she could fawne and flatter;
Now smyling smoothly like to sommers day,
Now glooming sadly, so to choke her matter;
Yet were her words but wynd, and all her teares but

water.

XLIII,

Whether such grace were given her by kynd,
As women wont their guilefull wits to guyde;
Or learnd the art to please, I doe not fynd:
This well I wote, that she so well applyde
Her pleasing tongue, that soon she pacifyde [peace:
The wrathfull prince, aud wrought her husbands
Who nathëlesse, not therewith satisfyde,

His rancorous despight did not releasse,

Ne secretly from thought of fell revenge surceasse:

XLIV.

For all that night, the whyles the prince did rest
In carelesse couch not weeting what was ment,
He watcht in close awayt with weapons prest,
Willing to worke his villenous intent

On him, that had so shamefully him shent :
Yet durst he not for very cowardize

Effect the same, whylest all the night was spent.
The morrow next the prince did early rize,
And passed forth to follow his first enterprize