CHAPTER ONE
HUDSON
There really wasn’t anything like the sound of spanking in the middle of the night.
It was Hive’s Saturday night Spanko extravaganza and Hudson gave himself a minute off from bustling around to breathe and survey his domain.
When he and his buddies had started talking about this place in college, before it even had a name, it’d felt like a dream that would never come true. And now here they were. A clean and safe fetish club where people could come to have fun and take classes and just be themselves. It was so fucking awesome.
He peeked in the room they’d set up for the littles and there were about a dozen little boys and girls sitting rapt while Ian read them a story. Goddamn adorable. Sable, with her snow leopard stuffie Tundra clutched to her chest and a paci tucked in her mouth, noticed him watching and waved. He waved back but then gestured for her to pay attention and stepped away so he wouldn’t distract anyone else.
Spanko night was one of Hudson's faves. Not just because he loved the sounds and the feel of spanking people—although he fucking did—but it was always a lively and friendly crowd. And it was crowded.
There were a lot of their regular members here along with some guests. They’d bring in some money from tonight and maybe even some new members.
In the meantime, he’d walk around and enjoy the atmosphere since he was on dungeon monitor duty for the next couple of hours and wouldn’t be playing while he was a DM. He could, however, enjoy the show of bared bottoms and the sounds of palms and canes and paddles and all other manner of things coming in contact with those backsides, as well as the reactions of the people getting spanked. The gasps, the squeals, the moans—so great.
Ryker, in his standard black jeans and tight black tee with his military-issue boots, was caning a woman who was bound over one of their spanking benches. Her ass was already flaming red and Hudson could see the welts rising while she cried and wailed. Yep, Ryker was a sadistic bastard. But he had a loyal following of bottoms and subs who adored him. As much as he allowed them to at any rate, which wasn’t much.
In the next playspace, Hudson passed Gideon who had Plum over his lap getting a thorough and harsh hand-spanking while she squirmed and whined and swore. The priest was threatening his bratty little girl with getting her mouth soaped for not watching her language. Hudson almost choked on a laugh when Plum retorted, “Just you try it, you sanctimonious motherfucker.”
Well, that’d be fun to see later.
Hudson had just about finished his circuit when he noticed a small figure kneeling by the restroom doors. It wasn’t unusual to see people kneeling at their tops’ feet, or with their noses pressed into corners, or far more uncomfortable positions, honestly. It should’ve been easy to walk right by, but…
He recognized the woman. He recognized her because she was a guest and Ryker had given him a heads up about her and the man accompanying her. Had said he’d want to keep a special eye on them. Partly because they were new—DMs always gave newbies a closer look than the people who frequented the club—but also because the woman hadn’t spoken a word, hadn’t even looked Ryker in the eyes. Which was sometimes the case with people who were into high protocol shit, but her hair was also unevenly cut, she had fingerprint bruises on her throat, and she just looked…not right.
Ryker had freely conceded he might be reading in something that wasn’t there, but what was the harm in keeping a closer watch on a new couple? Nothing. To be expected, really.
The woman’s head was bowed but he could see that her gaze wasn’t on the ground. No, her eyes were riveted on the slice of the littles’ room that was visible through the open door.
It was hard to tell with her face in shadow and because he hadn’t spent any time with her, but if asked Hudson would’ve described her
expression as longing.
If he knew the couple and was familiar with their protocols he probably wouldn’t approach her at all. But he didn’t know them, and he wanted her to feel welcome. At least that’s what he told himself. Not that there was some pull he couldn’t quite describe that was drawing him over there.
When he got closer, he studied her more carefully. Hands clasped behind her back, thin in a way that didn’t look slender and powerfully lean or graceful and willowy like some women did but more like she didn’t get enough to eat. Dark choppy hair and smudges under her eyes that made her look almost bruised. The fingerprint bruises on her throat that Ryker had told him about and she seemed tense and miserable.
Maybe she didn’t love playing in public or who the hell knew. But as someone in charge here, he wanted to be sure it was him being paranoid or anything else that was out of his control. Not some dipshit he could lecture or something.
“Excuse me,” he said, trying to make himself appear as nonthreatening as possible. Hudson knew he was a big fucking dude and that could be scary to women, period, but he also knew once they talked to him for a minute they’d realize he was a teddybear. A teddybear who liked to spank people, sure, but a teddybear nonetheless.
The woman’s head whipped around as though he’d physically shocked her and he got a glimpse of wide, sunken eyes. Amber? Hazel? Hard to tell in the low light.
“I’m sorry,” she said, and leaned away from him as though she was trying to get out of his way without actually moving, her gaze darting back to the linoleum floor where she was kneeling.
“No need to apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong, you’re not in my way. I just wanted to introduce myself. My name’s Hudson, I’m one of the club owners.”
“You shouldn’t be talking to me.”
Hudson liked to think he was a good top. Part of being a good top meant being attentive, being able to decipher your partners’ body language and tone of voice. Granted he’d known this woman
for all of two minutes and maybe she was an exception to the lessons he’d learned, but the way she nearly whispered the words— low and urgent—made her seem legitimately afraid. Not of him, he thought, because although she’d leaned away from him, she hadn’t cowered.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to violate any protocols you have established. I could wait with you until your top comes back and speak with him. Or, I saw you looking at the littles’ room. You could go enjoy story time and I can wait here and let him know where you are.”
The woman shook her head violently.
“No, you can’t. Please don’t. I’m going to be in so much—you should go. Please.”
It struck him again how tense she seemed. And not rude, but abrupt. Most subs, even if they weren’t supposed to speak to people without permission would be allowed to answer direct questions and would’ve responded with something polite and along the lines of “I’m not permitted to speak with other people without my dominant present, but he’ll be back soon and you can speak with him.” Or they’d have a tag clipped to their collar that said they couldn’t speak. Something.
Yeah, this didn’t seem like standard training and protocol. She seemed scared. And that made Hudson want to meet this top of hers even more. Watch how they interacted. If she seemed afraid of him.
Hudson didn’t want to leave but he didn’t want to make trouble for her, either. He’d keep an eye on them and intervene if things still seemed out of whack. For now, though, he’d go. He dug a card out of his pocket and tucked it between her fingers behind her back, careful not to touch her—she’d probably jump out of her skin.
“I’ll go but if you need anything, I’m easy to find. Probably about half a foot taller than the next tallest person here. If you need anything, like, ever, that’s my card. I—”
He sighed, frustration flushing out of his lungs. Something wasn’t right and he couldn’t stand not being able to do anything about it.
But he also wasn’t in the habit of violating consent and this woman had been pretty clear he didn’t have hers.
“I really mean it,” he reiterated. “Anything, anytime.”
And then, heart feeling like a crumpled soda can, Hudson walked away.
CHAPTER TWO
COSIMA
There was a second of clarity as her head snapped to the side, pain blooming on her cheek.
I’mgoing to die. I’mgoing to die because he’s going to killme.
Cosima had thought Master was going to kill her before, but never with the certainty she was experiencing now. She thought she tasted blood in her mouth—the coppery-salt tang wasn’t unfamiliar— but she didn’t dare lift a hand to check.
“You ungrateful, conniving little whore.”
Her eyes watered as Master hit her again, her head snapping in the other direction. If he didn’t kill her, he was going to give her a concussion. She might have one already, it was hard to tell.
“I take you out as a special treat and what do you do?”
A punch to her temple sent Cosima swaying and stumbling which only made Master angrier. She could tell by the way he kicked her to send her sprawling to the floor. Usually when he was beating her she was to stand and take it—be grateful for it. But this? This was meant to injure, meant to devastate, and her head swam while blackness encroached on her vision. She didn’t want to know what would happen if she threw up.
“I bet you were flirting with him, you filthy promiscuous cunt. Why he would want a stupid, scrawny, used-up piece of shit I don’t know. Maybe you fooled him same way you fooled me. Is that it?”
Judah grabbed a fistful of her hair and wrenched her head away from the floor, held her upright on her knees and she blinked at him.
She wasn’t supposed to think of him as Judah. Not ever. He’d “trained” her out of calling him Judah and nearly succeeded in beating his name out of her head. But it came to her at the most incongruous and inconvenient of times. Mostly when he was explosively angry and he didn’t seem in control the way a master ought to be.
The raging man in front of her, face a rictus of fury and violence, didn’t look anything like the sweet man who had flirted with her, flattered her, charmed her, and—she had completely believed—loved her.
She’d been sixteen and he’d said he was twenty-six when they met in a chatroom online. She’d thought he was the answer to all her problems. Empathetic and generous Judah was going to be her savior and teach her everything she wanted to know about kink. He was going to give her everything she’d ever wanted, and he wasn’t going to tell her to come back when she was legal. Because no one ever knew they were kinky before they were eighteen, of course. Pfft. Could no one understand when you were sixteen, two years seemed like a lifetime away?
But Judah had. And in a way he’d kept his word. He’d shown her everything she wanted to know and far, far more than that.
He snarled as he shook her head with the fistful of hair he’d grabbed so hard she thought he might pull it out. Probably could have if that were his goal. But no, he’d dragged her up from the floor so he could punch her again. This time, when his fist made contact with the side of her neck, she blacked out.
It was cold, she hurt all over, and it was dark. Not that the pallet where she usually slept was exactly comfortable, but it didn’t feel like…this. Turning her head made her nauseated and her brain was throbbing in her skull.
Master had hit her before—a lot. Actually, she couldn’t remember a day when he hadn’thit her. Most of the time it was fine. Hell, she often enjoyed it. But this? No. No one would enjoy this.
There was a sick sense of gratitude and relief though, because she was alive and that hadn’t been promised. Not after what he had said to her, done to her earlier. She hadn’t thought when her head went dark that she would wake up again. But here she was. And Master would probably expect her to be thankful for that too.
Except when Cosima managed to pry her eyes open—both of them feeling sticky and swollen like they hadn’t escaped Master’s assault—she didn’t recognize where she was.
She’d been punished by having to sleep out in the yard before. For an entire summer she’d slept behind the house, chained to a doghouse he’d built. Rotting wooden slats that let the rain drip in with whatever grass clippings she could gather from the yard to sleep on. But this wasn’t the yard.
No, it didn’t smell right and there were too many trees and too much noise. She could be just down the road for all she knew but except for last night, she hadn’t left Master’s land in probably two years. And under a dozen times total since she’d come to live with him eight years ago.
Going to Hive last night was supposed to be a “treat” for her, but like most of his rewards, it hadn’t felt like one. There were so many people there that she’d felt suffocated. It had been months since she’d seen another person besides Master and years since she’d been around that many people at once. It was terrifying and overwhelming and her heart had been pounding. She’d felt an inch away from passing out the entire time.
Before they’d gone inside, Master had threatened her as he dug his fingers into her throat.
“You don’t talk to anyone. You do everything I say, no questions asked. Don’t you fucking dare embarrass me—at least any more than you already do, you mangy little bitch. If you ruin this for me, I’m going to kill you.”
People had looked at her once they were inside the club and she’d wanted to hide. There weren’t any mirrors she was allowed to look at in the house so she wasn’t sure quite what they were staring at. All she knew was that her sallow skin hung off her bones because she didn’t have hardly any muscle, and Master had cut her hair with kitchen shears a few weeks ago because she’d spilled his glass of water at the table and it had gotten in his dinner. Not a lot, but he’d forced her to eat every bite of the soggy tacos and then beat her senseless when she’d thrown up because she wasn’t used to having that much food in her stomach.
There had been flinty assessment in some people’s eyes, and curiosity in some other guests' gazes—too much for Master’s taste. He’d pinched her hard on the welts he’d left on her backside the night before and hissed in her ear to stop flirting and attracting attention or he’d nail her to the cross in the basement when they got home and leave her there for the night. It wasn’t an idle threat; he’d done it before.
The situation she found herself in now was worse. He’d taken her somewhere and left her there. Abandoned her. And now? Panic gripped her like Master’s hand at her throat.
It had been a while since she’d worried about the fact that he’d taken everything from her. She had no license, no ID, no money, no phone, no friends, no family, no education beyond her sophomore year in high school, no nothing.
After a couple of years she’d stopped worrying because he would either keep her forever or he’d kill her. Bury her in the backyard and find a new slave to torment. It wasn’t all torment though. Sometimes he could be kind. And honestly, that was harder to take than the abuse. Because it would hurt so much worse the next time he punched her in the face or kicked her in the stomach.
Cosima sat up, vomited, and swiped at the sour bile left on the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand while she tried to stop her surroundings from spinning. As best she could see, there was a forest to one side of her and a hill covered with brush to the other. There was noise and lights coming from the hill side so she tried to stand to go look. She stumbled and fell though, and from her sprawled position she wondered what she would do even if there was a road there.
What was she even wearing? It’s not as though she had clothes. Well, she did, but they were all leather and latex and lace and other fetish-y things, nothing appropriate for out in the world. She would imagine anyway, unless things had changed so drastically. Could’ve for all she knew. She wasn’t allowed to watch television or be on the internet or even look at catalogues so she had no idea what things were like outside of what Master had told her. Who knew if he’d told
the truth? Probably not. It was another way to control her, to be her entire world.
Cosima looked down at herself and a pastel blue floral print poked at something buried deep in her memories. When she managed to dig it out, she sniffed and her eyes watered. If she wasn’t imagining things—which Master accused her of all the time— this was the dress she’d worn when she ran away from home to live with him. She’d only known him a few blissful, whirlwind weeks of meeting in secret but she’d been so certain… Look where that had gotten her. And her feet were bare.
Where would she even go? Her hand went to her throat to fondle the dog tag Master had put on her collar. “Master’s Property” it said, and he’d told her it had his address on the other side though he hadn’t let her see it. But the tag wasn’t there, nor was the metal band it had been fastened to.
He’d taken her collar.
Master never took her collar off—ever. He’d put a lock on it and made her watch as he threw the keys into a lake by the cabin he took her to occasionally. That more than anything had made her feel resigned to her fate—that life with Master was the only life she had left.
This wasn’t a punishment. Maybe he’d meant for her to die here in a ditch by the side of the road. Why should she go back to that hell anyway? Except Master was the only thing she knew, the only thing she had, and no one else would want her. Why would anyone help her? If she could even make it up the hill between here and the road which seemed as insurmountable as Mount Everest from this vantage point.
She wouldn’t be able to get a job or a place to live. She couldn’t even get something to eat because she didn’t have a cent. The only phone number and address she remembered from before were her parents’ and it’d been eight years. Would they still live there? Have that phone number? If they did, why would they want to see her? She couldn’t imagine they would. She’d left without a word and never come back. She didn’t even know if they’d looked for her when she’d disappeared.
There was nothing in this world for her. She was a nobody who had nothing, trash that had been dumped by the side of the road to die, and why shouldn’t she just do that?
Except her will was strong. Even Master had said so. Berated her for it, beat her for it, because he’d believedit.
Cosima wasn’t going to die. Not here, not now. Of course that didn’t solve the problem of what she was going to do, but she’d figure that out once she got to the top of the hill. Or die trying.
CHAPTER THREE
IAN
Light streamed in through the shades in Ian’s room and he was tempted to roll onto his stomach and drag the pillow over his head. It was seven o’clock in the fucking morning and there was no goddamn reason for him to be awake at this godforsaken hour when he’d been up until three.
But his body almost never let him sleep late. Seven o’clock, every morning like clockwork, it was all Get outtabed,you lazy fuck. Get yourruninbeforeyouturnintoapotato.
What was so terrible about potatoes anyway? People fucking loved potatoes. Fries, chips, hash browns. And yet.
He’d go down to the club after he showered, make sure everything was cleaned up from last night. Although spankos didn’t tend to be their messiest clientele—except for when it was fingerpaint or craft night for the littles and some Nobel prize winner had picked a project with glitter. Fuckers. He’d be finding sparkles in his floggers for months. To be fair, though, it was mostly him who couldn’t resist the lure of a good glitter craft. Whatever, there had been no glitter last night, thank fuck.
So he’d give a once-over with their hardcore cleaning solution and make notes for Huds about anything that needed to be repaired or replaced though he hadn’t heard about anything getting busted last night. Ry would go down to his office later and deal with balancing the books from last night’s event, run the cash to the bank to deposit.
And now Ian’s mind was composing the list of things he needed to do before Jethro, Gunnar, Eric, and Gideon arrived for the poker game tonight. Including some plain old dicking around because man they’d been busy lately. Which was great, but sometimes you just wanted to binge some Netflix with a couple beers or thrash your enormous roommate at foosball.
First things first, going for a goddamn run because unlike Ryker, he didn’t like running in the dark. Ian loved the guy but sometimes he had to wonder if Ry wasn’t actually a vampire. Dude hardly ever went out during daylight hours.
Okay,alright.Let’sgo,Galbraith.
Ian swung his legs out from his covers and stood, cracking his back with a couple stretches, and snagged a pair of shorts from his drawer. It wasn’t exactly balmy outside, but he’d get warm after a mile or so.
Truth of it was, now that he’d given himself a few minutes, he felt energized. He usually did after he got to play. And he’d had a lot of fun with a lot of women last night. Plus he’d gotten to read stories to the littles which was always such a fucking ego trip. They looked at him like he was an Oscar-winning actor instead of someone who’d been given the role of second lobster in the elementary school nativity play and just liked to do some funny voices.
Out in the kitchen, he slammed some water, filled up his camelbak and bolted a banana. With one last longing look at the couch, he headed out. Now or never.
Ian jogged down the steps from the loft to street level, plotting his route. If he wanted to do ten miles, he could head up Pine Street, circle around Bishop Park, and then—
What the fuck?
There was a heap of human at the entryway to Hive. A small one. That’s the only way Ian could describe it. Because it—she, judging by the floral print of the sorry excuse for clothes she had on —was huddled up against the wall.
Yeah, they sometimes had homeless people crash in the doorway to the club, but they were always far, far better equipped than this girl. They usually had a cart, blankets, sometimes even a dog. The unwritten rule was that the guys offered to call a shelter for them, handed them twenty bucks, maybe made them a sandwich and offered to let them shower in the club if they weren’t in a hurry to get somewhere.
This girl though… No blankets, no cart, not even a cardboard mat to sit on. She was wearing a dress for fuck’s sake, and no goddamn
shoes. What the hell? Had she been robbed? Christ, was she dead? Well, he could at least figure that part out before he tried to rouse his partners.
He approached the heap slowly in case she rolled over and saw him. Didn’t want to scare the bejesus out of the poor thing by looming over her. He was no Hudson, but he was grazing six feet and she looked tiny. When he was a couple yards away, he said, “Excuse me?”
No response.
As he looked closer, he noticed bruises all over her. Not the fun kind people showed off at the club—those were beautiful blooms of dark purple and blue verging on black on buttocks and thighs and other fleshy places, lovingly and meticulously applied marks that would fade into greenish-yellow skin that said it was time for another playdate.
These contusions were all the fuck over, in places people weren’t meant to be bruised for entertainment. And her feet were a fucking mess—soles covered in a mixture of blood and dirt and—shit, was that a piece of glass sticking out of her arch?
Ian’s stomach roiled and his infamous temper ignited but he swallowed that. He took a few more steps, his mind racing with a thousand questions. Who was she? Where had she come from? What the hell had happened to her? How long had she been here? Not more than a few hours had passed since Ry would’ve locked up around three and no way would he have missed her.
“Excuse me, miss?”
She didn’t move, not a twitch of a muscle, and he felt invisible. He was almost touching her now and raising his voice to a little below a shout.
“Excuse me, miss? You okay? Can you hear me? I—”
Okay, he could see the expansion and contraction of her ribs so she wasn’t dead, but if she wasn’t responding to him when he was practically on top of her, she wasn’t in good shape, not at all.
Finally he put a hand on her shoulder and she still didn’t open her eyes or anything. Fucking hell. And what a stupid fuck he was for not bringing his phone.
Not that he ever did on runs. It had never been a problem and he really hated the way it bounced around in his pocket. Hudson had gotten him one of those arm-band thingers and he should fucking use it because well, because apparently they might have the little goddamn matchstick girl show up unconscious on their doorstep.
Ian shook her gently, and finally, finally, that got her to turn over. Turn was a strong word, more like half-jerk, half-fall. She opened her eyes, startled, and tried to push herself further into the corner of the doorway.
Girl looked like she’d been in a cage match with a professional MMA fighter who’d shown no mercy. Made him want to puke. Yeah, he hit women and he fucking loved it, but so did they. He’d never hit someone who hadn’t asked to be hit, and even when they had, he’d never do this kind of damage.
Her face was a wreck, and there wasn’t much skin showing between the bruises. Not to mention she looked malnourished. Maybe she’d been on the street for a while and she’d gotten jumped? That could explain the lack of stuff, her having no shoes.
“Hey, hey,” he said, holding up his hands and backing up a few steps. “You’re okay. I’m not gonna hurt you, promise.”
He made no promises about what he was gonna do to whoever had done this to her, though. And now that he was getting a better look, she seemed familiar somehow. He couldn’t place from where, though. No surprise since she probably hadn’t looked like a worn out crash test dummy the last time he’d laid eyes on her.
“You’re not in trouble. I just live here, that’s all,” he said, gesturing upstairs to the loft apartment he shared with his partners.
She blinked at him, looking a smidge less terrified.
“Do you know Hudson?”
Her voice sounded like a hinge that needed oiling, and the way she winced and her brow creased said it hurt to get that many words out.
“I do. Do youknow Hudson?”
Her face fell and she shook her head, grimacing when she did.
So the mystery woman was asking for Hudson but didn’t know him? This shit was just getting weirder with every passing second.
“If you tell me your name, I’ll let him know you’re here,” he volunteered, hoping she might drop some more clues about what the everliving fuck was going on.
“He’s here?”
A spark of hope lit up her eye that wasn’t swollen shut. Pretty whisky amber color from what he could see, though that wasn’t much because of the swollen flesh and the burst blood vessels. Fuck who did he have to fuck up for doing this to her? Because he would. Huds didn’t let him get in fights nearly often enough but he was pretty sure the big guy would give him a pass on this motherfucker.
“Yeah. I’ll go get him, no problem.”
Hudson was not a morning person but he wouldn’t mind being dragged outta bed for this. Dude was a sucker for a damsel in distress. If Ian and Ry didn’t watch him carefully, Huds would adopt every stray that came within a hundred yards. Human, animal, plant, furniture—didn’t matter to his big-hearted softie of a best friend, he’d take them all in. That man needed supervision.
“What’s your name, sweetheart? Who can I tell Hud is here?”
She looked down at the stone she was sitting on like she could bore a hole in it with her gaze.
“No one,” she muttered. “This was stupid. I’m sorry, I’ll go.”
Then with her torn up soles and looking like a sack of worn out bones, she actually tried to stand. He wanted to yell at her—because what in the actual fuck was she thinking?—but he didn’t even have time to raise his voice because she passed out. He barely had time to catch her before she slumped to the ground.
Ian didn’t hesitate to scoop her up in his arms and head toward the entrance to their apartment.
“The only place you’re going is home with me.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“H HUDSON
uds, wake up.”
“Mmph,” he replied, which was frankly a lot more polite than Ian deserved. Waking him up at what-thefuck o’clock on a Sunday? Come on.
“I’m not fucking around. Move over. There was a girl outside looking for you and she’s hurt real bad. We gotta call 911 but I couldn’t leave her outside.”
That made Hudson sit bolt upright. His eyes sprang open to reveal Ian standing there with a—Jesus, that was a girl? Looked like a heap of scraps that had been left outside overnight. Where he could see her feet they were coated in blood and dirt, and her skin was a patchwork of bruises.
He jumped out of bed and dragged the covers off so Ian could put the girl down. Usually he’d call Eric for any situation requiring medical attention but Ian was right, they needed to call an ambulance because she looked godawful.
“Who’d you say she was?” Hudson asked, pulling on a shirt so he wouldn’t be half-naked if she woke up and saw him standing over her.
“She didn’t say. Asked for you but said she didn’t know you. Really fucking weird. Then she tried to leave but when she stood, she passed out and I brought her up here. I’m gonna grab my phone. Keep an eye on her, yeah?”
“Course,” he said, drawing the comforter up to her chin so she wouldn’t be cold or so exposed.
While Ian went to get his phone and went upstairs to bang on Ryker’s door, Hudson studied the girl to see if he couldn’t figure out who she was. Asked for him by name but then said she didn’t know him? What was up with that? And how the hell was he supposed to recognize her when her face resembled raw hamburger more than
anything else? Anyone who did this to another human being should be drawn and quartered. What the fuck kind of monster—
It was when he saw her hair that he placed her. Darker brown than his but not the black of Ryker’s, and cut short. Not in a way that looked like it would be fashionable if you gave it a wash and maybe threw a little product in it, either. Nah, it looked way too uneven and choppy, and that’s when his imagination could do that magic eraser thing.
It was the girl from last night. The one he’d tried to talk to. The one who’d told him to go away. The one who’d seemed petrified.
She and the guy she’d come with had disappeared soon after he’d talked to her, and he’d regretted not insisting on waiting with her so he could talk to her top. Now he regretted it a thousand times more.
How in the hell had she ended up here? Where had she come from and what had happened to her? His stomach dropped as he imagined what had happened. Was this his fault? He’d given her his card—forced her to take it, actually and if she’d kept it and her top had found it and thought she’d been cheating… Fuck.
He knew some men who could be fiercely possessive of their partners but none of them would ever do this to their partners, not ever.
The girl turned her head on the pillow, leaving blood stains on the pale blue fabric of the pillowcase and she made a small pained cry. Poor little thing.
He could hear Ian on the phone with a dispatcher, and he wanted to yell for him to hang up. Thing was, he knew she needed to go to the hospital, knew she needed more care than they—or even Eric could give her but he hated the idea of strangers taking her away. She was gonna be so scared.
It was crazy thinking that way given that he’d talked to her for all of five minutes last night, but there had obviously been something there if she’d come here when she needed help. Besides, this was what he did. Collected strays. So as far as he was concerned— despite not knowing her name—she was his now. His to help. His to
heal, his to nurture, his to protect, and if she wanted to be kept, his to keep.
A raised voice outside the door caught his attention—no doubt Ryker had some thoughts about Ian bringing a battered woman into their house. Thoughts about police and lawyers and all that practical stuff he always had in his head. Well, Hudson would let the two of them have it out. His only responsibility was to this tiny little heap of a girl in front of him. She was so small she’d practically fit in a teapot. Little darling.
It was then that her lashes fluttered and her eyes cracked open. The second they did, she opened her mouth and scrambled to sit up, making the most pathetic noises he’d ever heard, like every movement was painful. It probably was, given the shape she was in.
“Hey,” he said, not knowing what else to say. “It’s me, Hudson. From last night? You talked to my roommate Ian outside and then you passed out. He brought you up to our apartment. You’re in my bed and there’s an ambulance on the way. We just wanted to keep you warm and safe until they got here.”
She blinked at him as well as she could with one eye swollen shut and eyed him warily. Didn’t say anything.
“It’s okay,” he assured her, his heart hurting that she was so afraid. “I’m glad you came. I told you if you needed anything, anytime, I’d be there. I meant it.”
Her chin trembled and tears slipped down her cheeks and he couldn’t take it anymore. He didn’t want to hurt her but he needed to hold her, offer her comfort.
He knew he wasn’t the best with words and he didn’t know her well enough to know what else might make her feel better. He did know he was a world class cuddler, though, so that’s what he’d offer her.
Hudson sat with his back to the headboard and then scooped her up, comforter and all, and cradled her in his lap, murmuring the whole time.
“There you go, sweet girl. Just relax. You’re going to be okay. I’m not going to hurt you, promise. I’ll just hold you until the ambulance comes, warm you up. I’m good at that. Like a big teddybear.”
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Though now their acts be no where to be found, As that renowmed Poet them compyled, With warlike numbers and Heroicke sound, Dan Chaucer, well of English vndefyled, On Fames eternall beadroll worthie to be fyled.
But wicked Time that all good thoughts doth waste, xxxiii And workes of noblest wits to nought out weare, That famous moniment hath quite defaste, And robd the world of threasure endlesse deare, The which mote haue enriched all vs heare. O cursed Eld the cankerworme of writs, How may these rimes, so rude as doth appeare, Hope to endure, sith workes of heauenly wits Are quite deuourd, and brought to nought by little bits?
Then pardon, O most sacred happie spirit, xxxiv That I thy labours lost may thus reuiue, And steale from thee the meede of thy due merit, That none durst euer whilest thou wast aliue, And being dead in vaine yet many striue: Ne dare I like, but through infusion sweete Of thine owne spirit, which doth in me surviue, I follow here the footing of thy feete, That with thy meaning so I may the rather meete.
Cambelloes sister was fayre Canacee, xxxv
That was the learnedst Ladie in her dayes, Well seene in euerie science that mote bee, And euery secret worke of natures wayes, In wittie riddles, and in wise soothsayes, In power of herbes, and tunes of beasts and burds; And, that augmented all her other prayse, She modest was in all her deedes and words, And wondrous chast of life, yet lou’d of Knights and Lords.
Full many Lords, and many Knights her loued, xxxvi Yet she to none of them her liking lent,
Ne euer was with fond affection moued, But rul’d her thoughts with goodly gouernement, For dread of blame and honours blemishment; And eke vnto her lookes a law she made, That none of them once out of order went, But like to warie Centonels well stayd, Still watcht on euery side, of secret foes affrayd.
So much the more as she refusd to loue, xxxvii So much the more she loued was and sought, That oftentimes vnquiet strife did moue Amongst her louers, and great quarrels wrought, That oft for her in bloudie armes they fought. Which whenas Cambell, that was stout and wise, Perceiu’d would breede great mischiefe, he bethought How to preuent the perill that mote rise, And turne both him and her to honour in this wise.
One day, when all that troupe of warlike wooers xxxviii Assembled were, to weet whose she should bee, All mightie men and dreadfull derring dooers, (The harder it to make them well agree) Amongst them all this end he did decree; That of them all, which loue to her did make, They by consent should chose[39] the stoutest three, That with himselfe should combat for her sake, And of them all the victour should his sister take.
Bold was the chalenge, as himselfe was bold, xxxix And courage full of haughtie hardiment, Approued oft in perils manifold, Which he atchieu’d to his great ornament: But yet his sisters skill vnto him lent Most confidence and hope of happie speed, Concerned by a ring, which she him sent, That mongst the manie vertues, which we reed, Had power to staunch al wounds, that mortally did bleed.
Well was that rings great vertue knowen to all, xl That dread thereof, and his redoubted might Did all that youthly rout so much appall, That none of them durst vndertake the fight; More wise they weend to make of loue delight, Then life to hazard for faire Ladies looke, And yet vncertaine by such outward sight, Though for her sake they all that perill tooke, Whether she would them loue, or in her liking brooke.
Amongst those knights there were three brethren bold, xli Three bolder brethren neuer were yborne, Borne of one mother in one happie mold, Borne at one burden in one happie morne, Thrise happie mother, and thrise happie morne, That bore three such, three such not to be fond; Her name was Agape whose children werne All three as one, the first hight Priamond, The second Dyamond, the youngest Triamond.
Stout Priamond but not so strong to strike, xlii Strong Diamond, but not so stout a knight, But Triamond was stout and strong alike: On horsebacke vsed Triamond to fight, And Priamond on foote had more delight, But horse and foote knew Diamond to wield: With curtaxe vsed Diamond to smite, And Triamond to handle speare and shield, But speare and curtaxe both vsd Priamond in field.
These three did loue each other dearely well, xliii And with so firme affection were allyde, As if but one soule in them all did dwell, Which did her powre into three parts diuyde; Like three faire branches budding farre and wide, That from one roote deriu’d their vitall sap: And like that roote that doth her life diuide,
Their mother was, and had full blessed hap, These three so noble babes to bring forth at one clap.
Their mother was a Fay, and had the skill xliv
Of secret things, and all the powres of nature, Which she by art could vse vnto her will, And to her seruice bind each liuing creature,[40]
Through secret vnderstanding of their feature.
Thereto she was right faire, when so her face
She list discouer, and of goodly stature; But she as Fayes are wont, in priuie place
Did spend her dayes, and lov’d in forests wyld to space.
There on a day a noble youthly knight xlv
Seeking aduentures in the saluage wood, Did by great fortune get of her the sight,[41]
As she sate carelesse by a cristall flood, Combing her golden lockes, as seemd her good: And vnawares vpon her laying hold, That stroue in vaine him long to haue withstood, Oppressed her, and there (as it is told)
Got these three louely babes, that prov’d three champions bold.
Which she with her long fostred in that wood, xlvi
Till that to ripenesse of mans state they grew: Then shewing forth signes of their fathers blood, They loued armes, and knighthood did ensew, Seeking aduentures, where they anie knew. Which when their mother saw, she gan to dout Their safetie, least by searching daungers new, And rash prouoking perils all about,
Their days mote be abridged through[42] their corage stout.
Therefore desirous th’end of all their dayes xlvii
To know, and them t’enlarge with long extent, By wondrous skill, and many hidden wayes,
To the three fatall sisters house she went.
Farre vnder ground from tract of liuing went, Downe in the bottome of the deepe Abysse, Where Demogorgon in dull darknesse pent, Farre from the view of Gods and heauens blis, The hideous Chaos keepes, their dreadfull dwelling is.
There she them found, all sitting round about xlviii
The direfull distaffe standing in the mid, And with vnwearied fingers drawing out
The lines of life, from liuing knowledge hid. Sad Clotho held the rocke, the whiles the thrid
By griesly Lachesis was spun with paine,
That cruell Atropos eftsoones vndid, With cursed knife cutting the twist in twaine: Most wretched men, whose dayes depend on thrids so vaine.
She them saluting, there by them sate still, xlix
Beholding how the thrids of life they span: And when at last she had beheld her fill, Trembling in heart, and looking pale and wan, Her cause of comming she to tell began.
To whom fierce Atropos, Bold Fay, that durst Come see the secret of the life of man,
Well worthie[43] thou to be of Ioue accurst, And eke thy childrens thrids to be a sunder burst.
Whereat she sore affrayd, yet her besought l
To graunt her boone, and rigour to abate, That she might see her childrens thrids forth brought, And know the measure of their vtmost date, To them ordained by eternall fate. Which Clotho graunting, shewed her the same: That when she saw, it did her much amate, To see their thrids so thin, as spiders frame, And eke so short, that seemd their ends out shortly came.
She then began them humbly to intreate, li
To draw them longer out, and better twine, That so their liues might be prolonged late. But Lachesis thereat gan to repine,
And sayd, Fond[44] dame that deem’st of things diuine As of humane, that they may altred bee, And chaung’d at pleasure for those impes of thine. Not so; for what the Fates do once decree, Not all the gods can chaunge, nor Ioue him self can free.
Then since[45] (quoth she) the terme of each mans life lii
For nought may lessened nor enlarged bee, Graunt this, that when ye shred with fatall knife
His line, which is the eldest of the three, Which is of them the shortest, as I see, Eftsoones his life may passe into the next; And when the next shall likewise ended bee, That both their liues may likewise be annext Vnto the third, that his may so be trebly wext.
They graunted it; and then that carefull Fay liii Departed thence with full contented mynd; And comming home, in warlike fresh aray Them found all three according to their kynd: But vnto them what destinie was assynd, Or how their liues were eekt, she did not tell; But euermore, when she fit time could fynd, She warned them to tend their safeties well, And loue each other deare, what euer them befell.
So did they surely during all their dayes, liv And neuer discord did amongst them fall; Which much augmented all their other praise. And now t’increase affection naturall, In loue of Canacee they ioyned all: Vpon which ground this same great battell grew, Great matter growing of beginning small; The which for length I will not here pursew,
But rather will reserue it for a Canto new
FOOTNOTES:
[22] iii 5 As] And 1609
[23] vi 8 torne 1596
[24] x 4 draft, 1596, 1609
[25] xiii 2 day by day, 1596
[26] xvii 1 amaze; 1596 &c.
[27] 2 dreme, 1596 &c
[28] xviii 7 breathe 1609
[29] xxi 7 known 1609
[30] xxii 2 Florimell, 1596
[31] 4 tell, 1596
[32] 7 avising 1609
[33] xxiii 6 late, 1596
[34] 8 state, 1596
[35] xxv 1 count’nance 1609
[36] xxvii 5 Sith 1609
[37] xxx 1 disguise, 1596
[38] xxxii 3 draddest 1609
[39] xxxviii 7 chuse 1609
[40] xliv 4 creature: 1596
[41] xlv 3 sight; 1596
[42] xlvi 9 throgh 1609
[43] xlix 8 woorthy 1609
[44] li 5 fond 1596
[45] lii 1 since] sith 1609
Cant. III.
The battell twixt three brethren with Cambell for Canacee:[46]
Cambina with true friendships bond doth their long strife agree.
O Why doe wretched men so much desire, i To draw their dayes vnto the vtmost date, And doe not rather wish them soone expire, Knowing the miserie of their estate, And thousand perills which them still awate, Tossing them like a boate amid the mayne, That euery houre they knocke at deathes gate? And he that happie seemes and least in payne, Yet is as nigh his end, as he that most doth playne.
Therefore this Fay I hold but fond and vaine, ii The which in seeking for her children three Long life, thereby did more prolong their paine. Yet whilest they liued none did euer see More happie creatures, then they seem’d to bee, Nor more ennobled for their courtesie, That made them dearely lou’d of each degree;
Ne more renowmed for their cheualrie, That made them dreaded much of all men farre and nie.
These three that hardie chalenge tooke in hand, iii For Canacee with Cambell for to fight: The day was set, that all might vnderstand, And pledges pawnd the same to keepe a right, That day, the dreddest day that liuing wight Did euer see vpon this world to shine, So soone as heauens window shewed light, These warlike Champions all in armour shine, Assembled were in field, the chalenge to define.
The field with listes was all about enclos’d, iv To barre the prease of people farre away; And at th’one side sixe iudges were dispos’d, To view and deeme the deedes of armes that day; And on the other side in fresh aray, Fayre Canacee vpon a stately stage Was set, to see the fortune of that fray, And to be seene, as his most worthie wage, That could her purchase with his liues aduentur’d gage.
Then entred Cambell first into the list, v With stately steps, and fearelesse countenance, As if the conquest his he surely wist. Soone after did the brethren three aduance, In braue aray and goodly amenance, With scutchins gilt and banners broad displayd: And marching thrise in warlike ordinance, Thrise lowted lowly to the noble Mayd, The whiles shril trompets and loud clarions sweetly playd.
Which doen the doughty chalenger came forth, vi
All arm’d to point his chalenge to abet:
Gainst whom Sir Priamond with equall worth,[47] And equall armes himselfe did forward set.
A trompet blew; they both together met, With dreadfull force, and furious intent, Carelesse of perill in their fiers affret, As if that life to losse they had forelent, And cared not to spare, that should be shortly spent.
Right practicke was Sir Priamond in fight, vii And throughly skild in vse of shield and speare; Ne lesse approued was Cambelloes might, Ne lesse his skill[48] in weapons did appeare, That hard it was to weene which harder were. Full many mightie strokes on either side Were sent, that seemed death in them to beare, But they were both so watchfull and well eyde, That they auoyded were, and vainely by did slyde.
Yet one of many was so strongly bent viii By Priamond, that with vnluckie glaunce Through Cambels shoulder it vnwarely went, That forced him his shield to disaduaunce:[49] Much was he grieued with that gracelesse chaunce, Yet from the wound no drop of bloud there fell, But wondrous paine, that did the more enhaunce His haughtie courage to aduengement[50] fell: Smart daunts not mighty harts, but makes them more to swell.
With that his poynant speare he fierce auentred, ix With doubled force close vnderneath his shield, That through the mayles into his thigh it entred, And there arresting, readie way did yield, For bloud to gush forth on the grassie field; That he for paine himselfe n’ote[51] right vpreare, But too and fro in great amazement reel’d, Like an old Oke whose pith and sap is seare, At puffe of[52] euery storme doth stagger here and theare.
Whom so dismayd when Cambell had espide, x
Againe he droue at him with double might, That nought mote stay the steele, till in his side
The mortall point most cruelly empight: Where fast infixed, whilest he sought by slight It forth to wrest, the staffe a sunder brake, And left the head behind: with which despight He all enrag’d, his shiuering speare did shake, And charging him a fresh thus felly him bespake.
Lo faitour there thy meede vnto thee take, xi
The meede of thy mischalenge and abet: Not for thine owne, but for thy sisters sake, Haue I thus long thy life vnto thee let: But to forbeare doth not forgiue the det.
The wicked weapon heard his wrathfull vow, And passing forth with furious affret, Pierst through his beuer quite into his brow, That with the force it backward forced him to bow.
Therewith a sunder in the midst it brast, xii
And in his hand nought but the troncheon left, The other halfe behind yet sticking fast, Out of his headpeece Cambell fiercely reft, And with such furie backe at him it heft, That making way vnto his dearest life, His weasand pipe it through his gorget cleft: Thence streames of purple bloud issuing rife, Let forth his wearie ghost and made an end of strife.
His wearie ghost assoyld from fleshly band, xiii Did not as others wont, directly fly
Vnto her rest in Plutoes griesly land, Ne into ayre did vanish presently, Ne chaunged was into a starre in sky: But through traduction was eftsoones deriued, Like as his mother prayd the Destinie, Into his other brethren, that suruiued,
In whom he liu’d a new, of former life depriued.
Whom when on ground his brother next beheld, xiv Though sad and sorie for so heauy sight, Yet leaue vnto his sorrow did not yeeld, But rather stird to vengeance and despight, Through secret feeling of his generous spright, Rusht fiercely forth, the battell to renew, As in reuersion of his brothers right; And chalenging the Virgin as his dew. His foe was soone addrest: the trompets freshly blew
With that they both together fiercely met, xv As if that each ment other to deuoure; And with their axes both so sorely bet, That neither plate nor mayle, whereas their powre They felt, could once sustaine the hideous stowre, But riued were like rotten wood a sunder, Whilest through their rifts the ruddie bloud did showre And fire did flash, like lightning after thunder, That fild the lookers on attonce with ruth and wonder.
As when two Tygers prickt with hungers rage, xvi Haue by good fortune found some beasts fresh spoyle, On which they weene their famine to asswage, And gaine a feastfull guerdon of their toyle, Both falling out doe stirre vp strifefull broyle, And cruell battell twixt themselues doe make, Whiles neither lets the other touch the soyle, But either sdeignes with other to partake: So cruelly these Knights stroue for that Ladies sake.
Full many strokes, that mortally were ment, xvii The whiles were enterchaunged twixt them two; Yet they were all with so good wariment Or warded, or auoyded and let goe, That still the life stood fearelesse of her foe: Till Diamond disdeigning long delay
Of doubtfull fortune wauering to and fro, Resolu’d to end it one or other way; And heau’d his murdrous axe at him with mighty sway.
The dreadfull stroke in case it had arriued, xviii
Where it was ment, (so deadly it was ment[53]) The soule had sure out of his bodie riued, And stinted all the strife incontinent. But Cambels fate that fortune did preuent: For seeing it at hand, he swaru’d asyde, And so gaue way vnto his fell intent: Who missing of the marke which he had eyde, Was with the force nigh feld whilst his right foot did slyde.
As when a Vulture greedie of his pray, xix
Through hunger long, that hart to him doth lend, Strikes at an Heron with all his bodies sway, That from his force seemes nought may it defend; The warie fowle that spies him toward bend[54] His dreadfull souse, auoydes it[55] shunning light, And maketh him his wing in vaine to spend; That with the weight of his owne weeldlesse might, He falleth nigh to ground, and scarse recouereth flight.
Which faire adventure when Cambello spide, xx
Full lightly, ere himselfe he could recower[56] , From daungers dread to ward his naked side, He can let driue at him with all his power, And with his axe him smote in euill hower, That from his shoulders quite his head he reft: The headlesse tronke, as heedlesse of that stower, Stood still a while, and his fast footing kept, Till feeling life to fayle, it fell, and deadly slept.
They which that piteous spectacle beheld, xxi Were much amaz’d the headlesse tronke to see Stand vp so long, and weapon vaine to weld,
Vnweeting of the Fates diuine decree, For lifes succession in those brethren three. For notwithstanding that one soule was reft, Yet, had the bodie not dismembred bee, It would haue liued, and reuiued eft; But finding no fit seat, the lifelesse corse it left. It left; but that same soule, which therein dwelt, xxii
Streight entring into Triamond, him fild
With double life, and griefe, which when he felt,
As one whose inner parts had bene ythrild
With point of steele, that close his hartbloud spild, He lightly lept out of his place of rest, And rushing forth into the emptie field, Against Cambello fiercely him addrest; Who him affronting soone to fight was readie prest.
Well mote ye wonder how that noble Knight, xxiii
After he had so often wounded beene, Could stand on foot, now to renew the fight. But had ye then him forth aduauncing seene, Some newborne wight ye would him surely weene: So fresh he seemed and so fierce in sight;
Like as a Snake, whom wearie winters teene[57]
Hath worne to nought, now feeling sommers might, Casts off his ragged skin and freshly doth him dight.
All was through vertue of the ring he wore, xxiv
The which not onely did not from him let One drop of bloud to fall, but did restore His weakned powers, and dulled spirits whet, Through working of the stone therein yset. Else how could one of equall might with most, Against so many no lesse mightie met, Once thinke to match three such on equall cost, Three such as able were to match a puissant host.
Yet nought thereof was Triamond adredde, xxv Ne desperate of glorious victorie, But sharpely him assayld, and sore bestedde, With heapes of strokes, which he at him let flie, As thicke as hayle forth poured from the skie: He stroke[58], he soust, he foynd, he hewd, he lasht, And did his yron brond so fast applie, That from the same the fierie sparkles flasht, As fast as water-sprinkles gainst a rocke are dasht.
Much was Cambello daunted with his blowes.[59] xxvi So thicke they fell, and forcibly were sent, That he was forst from daunger of the throwes Backe to retire, and somewhat to relent, Till th’heat of his fierce furie he had spent: Which when for want of breath gan to abate, He then afresh with new encouragement Did him assayle, and mightily amate, As fast as forward erst, now backward to retrate.
Like as the tide that comes fro th’Ocean mayne, xxvii Flowes vp the Shenan with contrarie forse, And ouerruling him in his owne rayne, Driues backe the current of his kindly course, And makes it seeme to haue some other sourse: But when the floud is spent, then backe againe His borrowed waters forst to redisbourse, He sends the sea his owne with double gaine, And tribute eke withall, as to his Soueraine.
Thus did the battell varie to and fro, xxviii With diuerse fortune doubtfull to be deemed: Now this the better had, now had his fo; Then he halfe vanquisht, then the other seemed, Yet victors both them selues alwayes esteemed. And all the while the disentrayled blood Adowne their sides like litle riuers stremed,
That with the wasting of his vitall flood, Sir Triamond at last full faint and feeble stood.
But Cambell still more strong and greater grew, xxix
Ne felt his blood to wast[60], ne powres emperisht, Through that rings vertue, that with vigour new, Still when as he enfeebled was, him cherisht, And all his wounds, and all his bruses guarisht, Like as a withered tree through husbands toyle Is often seene full freshly to haue florisht, And fruitfull apples to haue borne awhile, As fresh as when it first was planted in the soyle.
Through which aduantage, in his strength he rose, xxx And smote the other with so wondrous might, That through the seame, which did his hauberk close, Into his throate and life it pierced quight, That downe he fell as dead in all mens sight: Yet dead he was not, yet he sure did die, As all men do, that lose the liuing spright: So did one soule out of his bodie flie Vnto her natiue home from mortall miserie.
But nathelesse whilst all the lookers on xxxi Him dead behight, as he to all appeard, All vnawares he started vp anon, As one that had out of a dreame bene reard, And fresh assayld his foe, who halfe affeard Of th’vncouth sight, as he some ghost had seene, Stood still amaz’d, holding his idle sweard; Till hauing often by him stricken beene, He forced was to strike, and saue him selfe from teene.
Yet from thenceforth more warily he fought, xxxii
As one in feare the Stygian gods t’offend, Ne followd on so fast, but rather sought Him selfe to saue, and daunger to defend,
Then life and labour both in vaine to spend. Which Triamond perceiuing, weened sure He gan to faint, toward the battels end, And that he should not long on foote endure, A signe which did to him the victorie assure.
Whereof full blith, eftsoones his mightie hand xxxiii
He heav’d on high, in mind with that same blow
To make an end of all that did withstand: Which Cambell seeing come, was nothing slow Him selfe to saue from that so deadly throw; And at that instant reaching forth his sweard[61]
Close vnderneath his shield, that scarce did show, Stroke him, as he his hand to strike vpreard, In th’arm-pit full, that through both sides the wound appeard.
Yet still that direfull stroke kept on his way, xxxiv
And falling heauie on Cambelloes crest, Strooke him so hugely, that in swowne he lay, And in his head an hideous wound imprest: And sure had it not happily found rest
Vpon the brim of his brode plated shield, It would haue cleft his braine downe to his brest.
So both at once fell dead vpon the field, And each to other seemd the victorie to yield.
Which when as all the lookers on beheld, xxxv
They weened sure the warre was at an end, And Iudges rose, and Marshals of the field
Broke vp the listes, their armes away to rend; And Canacee gan wayle her dearest frend.
All suddenly they both vpstarted light, The one out of the swownd, which him did blend, The other breathing now another spright, And fiercely each assayling, gan afresh to fight.
Long while they then continued in that wize, xxxvi
As if but then the battell had begonne: Strokes, wounds, wards, weapons, all they did despise, Ne either car’d to ward, or perill shonne, Desirous both to haue the battell donne; Ne either cared life to saue or spill, Ne which of them did winne, ne which were wonne. So wearie both of fighting had their fill, That life it selfe seemd loathsome, and long safetie ill.
Whilst thus the case in doubtfull ballance hong, xxxvii Vnsure to whether side it would incline, And all mens eyes and hearts, which there among Stood gazing, filled were with rufull tine, And secret feare, to see their fatall fine, All suddenly they heard a troublous noyes, That seemd some perilous tumult to desine, Confusd with womens cries, and shouts of boyes, Such as the troubled Theaters oftimes annoyes.
Thereat the Champions both stood still a space, xxxviii
To weeten what that sudden clamour ment; Lo where they spyde with speedie whirling pace, One in a charet of straunge furniment, Towards them driuing like a storme out sent. The charet decked was in wondrous wize, With gold and many a gorgeous ornament, After the Persian Monarks antique guize, Such as the maker selfe could best by art deuize.
And drawne it was (that wonder is to tell) xxxix Of two grim lyons, taken from the wood, In which their powre all others did excell; Now made forget their former cruell mood, T’obey their riders hest, as seemed good. And therein sate a Ladie passing faire And bright, that seemed borne of Angels brood, And with her beautie bountie did compare,
Whether of them in her should haue the greater share.
Thereto she learned was in Magicke leare, xl
And all the artes, that subtill wits discouer, Hauing therein bene trained many a yeare, And well instructed by the Fay her mother, That in the same she farre exceld all other. Who vnderstanding by her mightie art, Of th’euill plight, in which her dearest brother Now stood, came forth in hast[62] to take his part, And pacifie the strife, which causd so deadly smart.
And as she passed through th’vnruly preace xli Of people, thronging thicke her to behold, Her angrie teame breaking their bonds of peace, Great heapes of them, like sheepe in narrow fold, For hast did ouer-runne, in dust enrould, That thorough rude confusion of the rout, Some fearing shriekt, some being harmed hould, Some laught for sport, some did for wonder shout, And some that would seeme wise, their wonder turnd to dout.
In her right hand a rod of peace shee bore, xlii
About the which two Serpents weren wound, Entrayled mutually in louely lore, And by the tailes together firmely bound, And both were with one oliue garland crownd, Like to the rod which Maias sonne doth wield, Wherewith the hellish fiends he doth confound. And in her other hand a cup she hild, The which was with Nepenthe to the brim vpfild.
Nepenthe is a drinck of souerayne grace, xliii
Deuized by the Gods, for to asswage Harts grief, and bitter gall away to chace, Which stirs vp anguish and contentious rage: In stead thereof sweet peace and quiet age[63]
It doth establish in the troubled mynd. Few men, but such as sober are and sage, Are by the Gods to drinck thereof assynd; But such as drinck, eternall happinesse do fynd.
Such famous men, such worthies of the earth, xliv As Ioue will haue aduaunced to the skie, And there made gods, though borne of mortall berth, For their high merits and great dignitie, Are wont, before they may to heauen flie, To drincke hereof, whereby all cares forepast Are washt away quite from their memorie. So did those olde Heroes hereof taste, Before that they in blisse amongst the Gods were plaste.
Much more of price and of more gratious powre xlv Is this, then that same water of Ardenne, The which Rinaldo drunck in happie howre, Described by that famous Tuscane penne: For that had might to change the hearts of men Fro loue to hate, a change of euill choise: But this doth hatred make in loue to brenne, And heauy heart with comfort doth reioyce. Who would not to this vertue rather yeeld his voice?
At last arriuing by the listes side, xlvi
Shee with her rod did softly smite the raile, Which straight flew ope, and gaue her way to ride. Eftsoones out of her Coch she gan auaile, And pacing fairely forth, did bid all haile, First to her brother, whom she loued deare, That so to see him made her heart to quaile: And next to Cambell, whose sad ruefull cheare Made her to change her hew, and hidden loue t’appeare.
They lightly her requit (for small delight xlvii They had as then her long to entertaine,) And eft them turned both againe to fight,
