‘—Saving there came a little hawke
Which men call a merlion[62];
He stroke him downe untill the ground,
That deade he did fall downe.
XXII
‘Gif I were a man, as I am none,
A battell I wo’ld prove;
I wo’ld fight with that false traitor;
At him I cast my glove!
XXIII
‘Seeing I am able noe battell to make,
You must grant me, my liege, a knight,
To fight with that traitor, Sir Aldingar,
To maintaine me in my right.’
XXIV
‘I’le give thee forty dayes,’ said our King,
‘To seeke thee a man therein;
If thou find not a man in forty dayes,
In a hott fyer thou shalt brenn.’
XXV
Our Queene sent forth a messenger;
He rode fast into the south;
He rode the countryes through and through
Soe far unto Portsmouth.