15
described having entered the said wood a few hours before. Amorissa immediately pursued the intelligence she got, till she came to the place where the fight had been, where seeing the grass and leaves dyed with blood, she started in a fright and would fain have returned but her steed being headstrong, carried her away by force. She had not rode far before she heard a monster terribly roaring, who had scented the blood of the slain, was making towards them to satiate his hungry maw; but upon hearing the noise of her horse’s feet, made after her at full cry, which unusual sound piercing the ears of Leander as he sat by the side of a rivulet washing off the blood and dust from his face and armour, occasioned by the combat, whereat, clapping on his helmet, he came into the way with his drawn sword, perceiving a woman flying and crying for help before a monstrous beast, he made haste to save her, but she through fear falling down in a swoon, missing her, tore and rent the horse in a miserable manner. Leander being come up, the monster made at him, with all his might, and Leander with a home thrust pierced his heart, that he fell down dead with a dismal cry, when he had done this he came to Amorissa and saluted her, who now began again to recover her senses; demanding what adventure had brought her such a dangerous way? at these words, opening her eyes, and fixing them upon him, she immediately knew him to be the person that had won the prize at Sestus, and the man she was in search after, whereupon she fell at his feet, and, with tears of joy in her eyes, said, Sure heaven is this day favourable to me, and to the fair Hero, in delivering me for death, and is I hope, putting an end to a more tedious search.
