Book XII, Chapter 71

WHen Stafford sounded had, as said, the Ladies Loue-seaz'd heart,
He to a Banquet her inuites, and did for then depart.
Now to his Lodging (which had earst been Mandeuils also)
Comes Elenor, accompned with a crew of Ladies more,
Of which was one that Stafford lou'd, of her beloued: She
Instructed was by him of all should there effected be.
The Banquet ended, Dorcas (so was Staffords Ladies name)
Thus speaketh vnto Elenor, as if it weare in game.
In yonder Chamber (poynting to a locked Doore thereby)
Hath Mandeuil his Closet and no common Armory.
Full many things theare-in, quoth she, both rare and rich saw I:
Howbeit Stafford, euen to me, did long that sight denye.
Weare he and all the rest abroade, wheare lies the Keye I wot:
Then sayne you sicke, and sleepie, so the rest may hence be got.

Soone Ladies listen Nouelties, and serue themselues with Shifts,
Not sooner Dorcas had deuis'd, but Elenor it drifts.
So finely fayn'd she ill-at-ease that none beleeu'd her well,
Saue Stafford and his Ladie, so preposing as befell:
And all saue onely Dorcas, whom she praies with her to stay,
Did sadly leaue her to her Rest, and that she rest did pray.
Meane while the Ladies and their Oste into the Garden walke,
Where Stafford did inuent them Sports, and hild them pleasant talke.

The Ladies twaine, thus left alone, the doore they open, wheare
To them in compleat Armor seem'd the greene-Knight to appeare.
The Burgonet, the Beuer, Buffe, the Coller, Curates, and
The Poldrons, Grandgard, Vambraces, Gauntlets for either hand,
The Taishes, Cushies, and the Graues, Staffe, Pensell, Baises, all
The greene-Knight earst had tylted with that hild her Loue his Thra[…],
She sawe, on Crosses and els-what, by Staffora so set out,
That to haue seene her very Knight made Elenor no doubt.
At first she feares, but lastly findes the Armor was vn-man'd:
When skaerd, and cheerd, with Dorcas she did enter, theare at hand,
The Closet wheare the Prizes of the for said Iusts did stand.
These, and that Armor, Dorcas saide, are Mandeuils, the same
Your Knight, that won himselfe, for Force, to you for Faire such fame[…]
But, Sweete, let this be spoke in Shrift, so was it spoke to me:
Long haue you thirsted it, know I, which now you heare and see.
Though Stafford was by Mandeuil coniured to conceale it,
And I by Stafford, what is it but that I may reueale it?
What shame, a Gods name, can redowne to him, by being knowne
The Knight that honord both himselfe and you, as more might none.
Beleeue me, reason none his fame should thus obscured lye:
But whatsoeare the Scruple be, now out it is, for why?
To you lies bare my heart, and shall. With that (by pre-conclusion
Twixt him and Dorcas) Stafford made a mannerly Intrusion.
Why how now Ladies, sicke, and heale, and taine so soone in […]a[…]me?
You should, quoth he, to Pownd, weare this a churlish Ruslicks fa[…]me.
In vaine, I see, hath Mandeuil forbidden me or sight,
Or speech hereof to Elenor: And Dorcas serues me right:
Bab'd be our Shrifts to women, of simplicitie, or spight.
Well, Lady, (for by now I gesse you know this Armors Knight,
And you, concerning other things, haue reade what he did wright)
If firme you hold for him (as you haue said, and should doe still)
For you, and him, and both, therein imploye me at your will.
Who mightier than the Soldan? Yeat, as Mandeuil me wrights,
A Lady of the blood, right faire, he him for Wife be hights:
But, weare she Empresse of the World, his Resolution is,
She either shall be Elenor, or neuer any his.

Full well she knew those Sights, and at those Speeches did reioyce:
The greene-Knight had been Mandeuil, had been in her the Choyce.
That Wish, the Man, his Worth, their Loue, concurriug in this wise,
Had he been also present, what more Blisse could she deuise?
Thence went they out into that Roome where had the Banquet bin,
And theare was she about to speake, when came the Ladies in:
Full well appayde to see her cheer'd, and frained then her quaem,
(For nothing lesse than forged Panges, or what had past they aem.)
Then went they all to whence they came, and Elenor did plie
For Mandeuil: What was it now for him she would not trie?
Oft Stafford, She, and Dorcas did consult, and then conclude
This Course, not to be changed: which eare said, be first pursude
Of English, that in Affrick, and in Asia, bring to pas,
That England now is famous, wheare but late vnnam'd it was.