1 Nought is more honorable to a knight, Ne better doth beseeme braue cheualry, Then to defend the feeble in their right, And wrong redresse in such as wend awry. Whilome those great Heroes got thereby Their greatest glory, for their rightfull deedes, And place deserued with the Gods on hy. Herein the noblesse of this knight exceedes, Who now to perils great for iustice sake proceedes. 2 To which as he now was vppon the way, He chaunst to meet a Dwarfe in hasty course; Whom he requir’d his forward hast to stay, Till he of tidings mote with him discourse. Loth was the Dwarfe, yet did he stay perforce, And gan of sundry newes his store to tell, And to his memory they had recourse: But chiefely of the fairest Florimell, How she was found againe, and spousde to Marinell, 3 For this was Dony, Florimels owne Dwarfe, Whom hauing lost (as ye haue heard whyleare) And finding in the way the scattred scarfe, The fortune of her life long time did feare. But of her health when Artegall did heare, And safe returne, he was full inly glad, And askt him where, and when her bridale cheare Should be solemniz’d: for if time he had, He would be there, and honor to her spousall ad.
