XXIV

The knight then lightly leaping to the pray,
  With mortall steele him smot againe so sore,
  That headlesse his unweldy bodie lay, 210
  All wallowd in his owne fowle bloudy gore,
  Which flowed from his wounds in wondrous store. 
  But soone as breath out of his breast did pas,
  That huge great body, which the Gyaunt bore,
  Was vanisht quite, and of that monstrous mas 215
Was nothing left, but like an emptie bladder was.

XXV

Whose grievous fall, when false Duessa spide,
  Her golden cup she cast unto the ground,
  And crowned mitre rudely threw aside;
  Such percing griefe her stubborne hart did wound, 220
  That she could not endure that dolefull stound,
  But leaving all behind her, fled away;
  The light-foot Squire her quickly turnd around,
  And by hard meanes enforcing her to stay,
So brought unto his Lord, as his deserved pray. 225

XXVI

The royall Virgin which beheld from farre,
  In pensive plight, and sad perplexitie,
  The whole atchievement of this doubtfull warre,
  Came running fast to greet his victorie,
  With sober gladnesse, and myld modestie, 230
  And with sweet joyous cheare him thus bespake: 
  Faire braunch of noblesse, flowre of chevalrie,
  That with your worth the world amazed make,
How shall I quite the paines ye suffer for my sake?

XXVII

And you fresh budd of vertue springing fast, 235
  Whom these sad eyes saw nigh unto deaths dore,
  What hath poore Virgin for such perill past
  Wherewith you to reward?  Accept therefore
  My simple selfe, and service evermore;
  And he that high does sit, and all things see 240
  With equall eyes, their merites to restore,
  Behold what ye this day have done for mee,
And what I cannot quite, requite with usuree.

XXVIII

But sith the heavens, and your faire handeling
  Have made you master of the field this day, 245
  Your fortune maister[*] eke with governing,
  And well begun end all so well, I pray. 
  Ne let that wicked woman scape away;
  For she it is, that did my Lord bethrall,
  My dearest Lord, and deepe in dongeon lay, 250
  Where he his better dayes hath wasted all. 
O heare, how piteous he to you for ayd does call.

XXIX

Forthwith he gave in charge unto his Squire,
  That scarlot whore to keepen carefully;
  Whiles he himselfe with greedie great desire 255
  Into the Castle entred forcibly,
  Where living creature none he did espye;
  Then gan he lowdly through the house to call: 
  But no man car’d to answere to his crye. 
  There raignd a solemne silence over all, 260
Nor voice was heard, nor wight was seene in bowre or hall.