oorke.

At hir eares moste richelye were hanged in the typpes two earinges, two
great shynyng Carbunckles of an inestimable price.

Hir shooes were of greene silke, and hir pantofles of gould imbrodered
in a leafe woorke. Vppon a foote stoole aboue the which, and vnder hir
feete, was layde a cushion of white Veluet, with a purseling of silke
and Orient Pearles of_Arabia_, within the persick golph, with foure
Buttons wrought with pretious Stones, and tasseld with goulde twist, and
crimosen silke, depending.

Vppon eyther sides along vpon the aforesaid benches couered ouer with
greene veluet, sate hir Ladyes of honour, attendant in a goodly and
commendable order, according to their estates, apparrelled in clothe of
goulde in an incredible brauerie, as in the world may bee seene. And in
the middest of them this renowned and famous Queene in great pompe and
vnspeakeable statelynes, and the hemmes of hir vestures so edged and set
with pearle and stone, as if nature had rayned and powred them down vpon
hir.

At hir high and imperiall aspect, with great reuerence bowing their
knees to the ground vnto hir, hir women did rise vppe from their seates,
occasioned by the noueltie of the spectacle, & greatly marueiling that I
should come into such a place.

But I founde my selfe more amazed, my hearte quayling, and dilating both
of the troubles that I passed, and the present estate that I was brought
into, which did enuiron and fill me with an extreame amasement, reuerend
feare, and honest shamefastnesse.

And they asking the fiue Nimphes that brought me in, whysperinglie what
I was, and the strangenesse of my hap, directing, bending and
intentiuely fixing all their eyes vpon me. Where finding my selfe so
base a worme in such an excellent conspect, I was woonderfully
astonished, and lyke one that had no spyrite.

But the successe and manner of my comming being demaunded of them, the
Nymphes plainly, open and manifest the same at large, whereat the
gratious Queene beeing mooued to compassion, caused me to stand vp, and
vnderstanding what my name was, began to say.

_Poliphilus_, be of good comfort, and pluck vp a good heart, and tell me
how thou commest hither, and by what meanes, and how thou diddest escape
that mortall and horrible Dragon? and how thou diddest finde away out of
that odious and blinde darkenes, I haue beene tould of it: But I maruell
me not a little, because few or none dare aduenture that waye. But
seeing