enged the other ladies present
to try it on. Thus it was ascertained that none could wear it save
Amoret, evidently the only perfectly faithful lady present.

Having thus disposed of her prize, Britomart rode off with her
companion, little suspecting she was turning her back on the very man
she was seeking. Meantime Sir Scudamore, encountering Sir Artegall and
hearing he had been defeated by the knight who had carried off Amoret,
invited him to accompany him and seek revenge. They two soon met
Britomart, now riding alone through the forest, for, while she was
asleep one day, Amoret had strayed away and gotten lost. Spurring
forward to attack the stranger, Sir Scudamore was unhorsed at the
first touch of her spear, and, when Sir Artegall rushed forward to
rescue him, he too was disarmed. But, in the midst of the fight,
Britomart's helmet fell off, so both knights perceived they had been
defeated by a woman. Humbly kneeling before her, they begged her
pardon, Sir Scudamore realizing with joy that, as his wife had been
travelling with a woman, his mad jealousy was without cause!

To justify her mistress, the nurse-squire now explained to both men
how Britomart had seen Sir Artegall in the magic mirror, and was in
quest of him because fate destined him to be her spouse. Happy at
securing such a mate, Sir Artegall expressed deep joy, while Sir
Scudamore clamored to know what had become of his wife, and grieved to
learn she was lost. To comfort him, however, Britomart promised to
help him recover his beloved, before she would consent to marry. Then
all four proceeded to a neighboring castle, where Sir Artegall was
solemnly betrothed to Britomart, and where they agreed their marriage
would take place as soon as Amoret was found.

Meantime Timias, squire of Prince Arthur, seeking to trace the flying
damsel, overtook the grim forester, with whom he had a terrible
encounter. Sorely wounded in this fight, the poor squire lay in the
forest until found by the nymph Belphebe, a twin sister of Amoret,
who, in pity for his sufferings, bathed his wounds, laid healing herbs
upon them, and did all she could to save his life. To her
satisfaction, the wounded squire soon recovered consciousness, so she
conveyed him to her bower, where she and her nymphs attended him until
his wounds were entirely healed. During this illness Timias fell
deeply in love with Belphebe; but, deeming himself of too lowly
condition to declare his passion for a