| |
| | Prince Arthure overcomes the great |
| Gerioneo in fight: |
| Doth slay the monster, and restore |
| Belge unto her right. |
I IT often fals in course of common life, | |
| That right long time is overborne of wrong, | |
| Through avarice, or powre, or guile, or strife, | |
| That weakens her, and makes her party strong: | |
| But Justice, though her dome she doe prolong, | 5 |
| Yet at the last she will her owne cause right: | |
| As by sad Belge seemes, whose wrongs though long | |
| She suffred, yet at length she did requight, | |
| And sent redresse thereof by this brave Briton knight. | |
| |
II Whereof when newes was to that tyrant brought, | 10 |
| How that the Lady Belge now had found | |
| A champion, that had with his champion fought, | |
| And laid his seneschall low on the ground, | |
| And eke him selfe did threaten to confound, | |
| He gan to burne in rage, and friese in feare, | 15 |
| Doubting sad end of principle unsound: | |
| Yet sith he heard but one that did appeare, | |
| He did him selfe encourage, and take better cheare. | |
| |
III Nathelesse him selfe he armed all in hast, | |
| And forth he fard with all his many bad, | 20 |
| Ne stayed step, till that he came at last | |
| Unto the castle which they conquerd had. | |
| There with huge terrour, to be more ydrad, | |
| He sternely marcht before the castle gate, | |
| And with bold vaunts and ydle threatning bad | 25 |
| Deliver him his owne, ere yet too late, | |
| To which they had no right, nor any wrongfull state. | |
| |
IV The Prince staid not his aunswere to devize, | |
| But opening streight the sparre, forth to him came, | |
| Full nobly mounted in right warlike wize; | 30 |
| And asked him, if that he were the same, | |
| Who all that wrong unto that wofull dame | |
| So long had done, and from her native land | |
| Exiled her, that all the world spake shame. | |
| He boldly aunswerd him, he there did stand | 35 |
| That would his doings justifie with his owne hand. | |
| |
V With that so furiously at him he flew, | |
| As if he would have overrun him streight, | |
| And with his huge great yron axe gan hew | |
| So hideously uppon his armour bright, | 40 |
| As he to peeces would have chopt it quight: | |
| That the bold Prince was forced foote to give | |
| To his first rage, and yeeld to his despight; | |
| The whilest at him so dreadfully he drive, | |
| That seemd a marble rocke asunder could have rive. | 45 |
| |
VI Thereto a great advauntage eke he has | |
| Through his three double hands thrise multiplyde, | |
| Besides the double strength which in them was: | |
| For stil when fit occasion did betyde, | |
| He could his weapon shift from side to syde, | 50 |
| From hand to hand, and with such nimblesse sly | |
| Could wield about, that ere it were espide, | |
| The wicked stroke did wound his enemy, | |
| Behinde, beside, before, as he it list apply. | |
| |
VII Which uncouth use when as the Prince perceived, | 55 |
| He gan to watch the wielding of his hand, | |
| Least by such slight he were unwares deceived; | |
| And ever ere he saw the stroke to land, | |
| He would it meete and warily withstand. | |
| One time, when he his weapon faynd to shift, | 60 |
| As he was wont, and changd from hand to hand, | |
| He met him with a counterstroke so swift, | |
| That quite smit off his arme, as he it up did lift. | |
| |
VIII Therewith, all fraught with fury and disdaine, | |
| He brayd aloud for very fell despight, | 65 |
| And sodainely t avenge him selfe againe, | |
| Gan into one assemble all the might | |
| Of all his hands, and heaved them on hight, | |
| Thinking to pay him with that one for all: | |
| But the sad steele seizd not, where it was hight, | 70 |
| Uppon the childe, but somewhat short did fall, | |
| And lighting on his horses head, him quite did mall. | |
| |
IX Downe streight to ground fell his astonisht steed, | |
| And eke to th earth his burden with him bare: | |
| But he him selfe full lightly from him freed, | 75 |
| And gan him selfe to fight on foote prepare. | |
| Whereof when as the gyant was aware, | |
| He wox right blyth, as he had got thereby, | |
| And laught so loud, that all his teeth wide bare | |
| One might have seene enraungd disorderly, | 80 |
| Like to a rancke of piles, that pitched are awry. | |
| |
X Eftsoones againe his axe he raught on hie, | |
| Ere he were throughly buckled to his geare, | |
| And can let drive at him so dreadfullie, | |
| That had he chaunced not his shield to reare, | 85 |
| Ere that huge stroke arrived on him neare, | |
| He had him surely cloven quite in twaine. | |
| But th adamantine shield which he did beare | |
| So well was tempred, that, for all his maine, | |
| It would no passage yeeld unto his purpose vaine. | 90 |
| |
XI Yet was the stroke so forcibly applide, | |
| That made him stagger with uncertaine sway, | |
| As if he would have tottered to one side. | |
| Wherewith full wroth, he fiercely gan assay | |
| That curtsie with like kindnesse to repay; | 95 |
| And smote at him with so importune might, | |
| That two more of his armes did fall away, | |
| Like fruitlesse braunches, which the hatchets slight | |
| Hath pruned from the native tree, and cropped quight. | |
| |
XII With that all mad and furious he grew, | 100 |
| Like a fell mastiffe through enraging heat, | |
| And curst, and band, and blasphemies forth threw | |
| Against his gods, and fire to them did threat, | |
| And hell unto him selfe with horrour great. | |
| Thenceforth he card no more which way he strooke, | 105 |
| Nor where it light, but gan to chaufe and sweat, | |
| And gnasht his teeth, and his head at him shooke, | |
| And sternely him beheld with grim and ghastly looke. | |
| |
XIII Nought feard the childe his lookes, ne yet his threats, | |
| But onely wexed now the more aware, | 110 |
| To save him selfe from those his furious heats, | |
| And watch advauntage, how to worke his care; | |
| The which good fortune to him offred faire. | |
| For as he in his rage him overstrooke, | |
| He, ere he could his weapon backe repaire, | 115 |
| His side all bare and naked overtooke, | |
| And with his mortal steel quite throgh the body strooke. | |
| |
XIV Through all three bodies he him strooke attonce, | |
| That all the three attonce fell on the plaine: | |
| Else should he thrise have needed for the nonce | 120 |
| Them to have stricken, and thrise to have slaine. | |
| So now all three one sencelesse lumpe remaine, | |
| Enwallowd in his owne blacke bloudy gore, | |
| And byting th earth for very deaths disdaine; | |
| Who, with a cloud of night him covering, bore | 125 |
| Downe to the house of dole, his daies there to deplore. | |
| |
XV Which when the lady from the castle saw, | |
| Where she with her two sonnes did looking stand, | |
| She towards him in hast her selfe did draw, | |
| To greet him the good fortune of his hand: | 130 |
| And all the people both of towne and land, | |
| Which there stood gazing from the citties wall | |
| Uppon these warriours, greedy t understand | |
| To whether should the victory befall, | |
| Now when they saw it falne, they eke him greeted all. | 135 |
| |
XVI But Belge with her sonnes prostrated low | |
| Before his feete, in all that peoples sight, | |
| Mongst joyes mixing some tears, mongst wele some wo, | |
| Him thus bespake: O most redoubted knight, | |
| The which hast me, of all most wretched wight, | 140 |
| That earst was dead, restord to life againe, | |
| And these weake impes replanted by thy might; | |
| What guerdon can I give thee for thy paine, | |
| But even that which thou savedst, thine still to remaine? | |
| |
XVII He tooke her up forby the lilly hand, | 145 |
| And her recomforted the best he might, | |
| Saying: Deare lady, deedes ought not be scand | |
| By th authors manhood, nor the doers might, | |
| But by their trueth and by the causes right: | |
| That same is it, which fought for you this day. | 150 |
| What other meed then need me to requight, | |
| But that which yeeldeth vertues meed alway? | |
| That is the vertue selfe, which her reward doth pay. | |
| |
XVIII She humbly thankt him for that wondrous grace, | |
| And further sayd: Ah! sir, but mote ye please, | 155 |
| Sith ye thus farre have tendred my poore case, | |
| As from my chiefest foe me to release, | |
| That your victorious arme will not yet cease, | |
| Till ye have rooted all the relickes out | |
| Of that vilde race, and stablished my peace. | 160 |
| What is there else, sayd he, left of their rout? | |
| Declare it boldly, dame, and doe not stand in dout. | |
| |
XIX Then wote you, sir, that in this church hereby, | |
| There stands an idole of great note and name, | |
| The which this gyant reared first on hie, | 165 |
| And of his owne vaine fancies thought did frame: | |
| To whom, for endlesse horrour of his shame, | |
| He offred up for daily sacrifize | |
| My children and my people, burnt in flame, | |
| With all the tortures that he could devize, | 170 |
| The more t aggrate his god with such his blouddy guize. | |
| |
XX And underneath this idoll there doth lie | |
| An hideous monster, that doth it defend, | |
| And feedes on all the carkasses that die | |
| In sacrifize unto that cursed feend: | 175 |
| Whose ugly shape none ever saw, nor kend, | |
| That ever scapd: for of a man they say | |
| It has the voice, that speaches forth doth send, | |
| Even blasphemous words, which she doth bray | |
| Out of her poysnous entrails, fraught with dire decay. | 180 |
| |
XXI Which when the Prince heard tell, his heart gan earne | |
| For great desire, that monster to assay, | |
| And prayd the place of her abode to learne. | |
| Which being shewd, he gan him selfe streight way | |
| Thereto addresse, and his bright shield display. | 185 |
| So to the church he came, where it was told | |
| The monster underneath the altar lay; | |
| There he that idoll saw of massy gold | |
| Most richly made, but there no monster did behold. | |
| |
XXII Upon the image with his naked blade | 190 |
| Three times, as in defiance, there he strooke; | |
| And the third time, out of an hidden shade, | |
| There forth issewd, from under th altars smooke, | |
| A dreadfull feend, with fowle deformed looke, | |
| That stretcht it selfe, as it had long lyen still; | 195 |
| And her long taile and fethers strongly shooke, | |
| That all the temple did with terrour fill; | |
| Yet him nought terrifide, that feared nothing ill. | |
| |
XXIII An huge great beast it was, when it in length | |
| Was stretched forth, that nigh fild all the place, | 200 |
| And seemd to be of infinite great strength; | |
| Horrible, hideous, and of hellish race, | |
| Borne of the brooding of Echidna base, | |
| Or other like infernall Furies kinde: | |
| For of a mayd she had the outward face, | 205 |
| To hide the horrour which did lurke behinde, | |
| The better to beguile whom she so fond did finde. | |
| |
XXIV Thereto the body of a dog she had, | |
| Full of fell ravin and fierce greedinesse; | |
| A lions clawes, with powre and rigour clad, | 210 |
| To rend and teare what so she can oppresse; | |
| A dragons taile, whose sting without redresse | |
| Full deadly wounds, where so it is empight; | |
| And eagles wings, for scope and speedinesse, | |
| That nothing may escape her reaching might, | 215 |
| Whereto she ever list to make her hardy flight. | |
| |
XXV Much like in foulnesse and deformity | |
| Unto that monster whom the Theban knight, | |
| The father of that fatall progeny, | |
| Made kill her selfe for very hearts despight, | 220 |
| That he had red her riddle, which no wight | |
| Could ever loose, but suffred deadly doole. | |
| So also did this monster use like slight | |
| To many a one which came unto her schoole, | |
| Whom she did put to death, deceived like a foole. | 225 |
| |
XXVI She comming forth, when as she first beheld | |
| The armed Prince, with shield so blazing bright, | |
| Her ready to assaile, was greatly queld, | |
| And much dismayd with that dismayfull sight, | |
| That backe she would have turnd for great affright. | 230 |
| But he gan her with courage fierce assay, | |
| That forst her turne againe in her despight, | |
| To save her selfe, least that he did her slay: | |
| And sure he had her slaine, had she not turnd her way. | |
| |
XXVII Tho, when she saw that she was forst to fight, | 235 |
| She flew at him, like to an hellish feend, | |
| And on his shield tooke hold with all her might, | |
| As if that it she would in peeces rend, | |
| Or reave out of the hand that did it hend. | |
| Strongly he strove out of her greedy gripe | 240 |
| To loose his shield, and long while did contend: | |
| But when he could not quite it, with one stripe | |
| Her lions clawes he from her feete away did wipe. | |
| |
XXVIII With that aloude she gan to bray and yell, | |
| And fowle blasphemous speaches forth did cast, | 245 |
| And bitter curses, horrible to tell, | |
| That even the temple, wherein she was plast, | |
| Did quake to heare, and nigh asunder brast. | |
| Tho with her huge long taile she at him strooke, | |
| That made him stagger, and stand halfe agast | 250 |
| With trembling joynts, as he for terrour shooke; | |
| Who nought was terrifide, but greater courage tooke. | |
| |
XXIX As when the mast of some well timbred hulke | |
| Is with the blast of some outragious storme | |
| Blowne downe, it shakes the bottome of the bulke, | 255 |
| And makes her ribs to cracke, as they were torne, | |
| Whilest still she stands as stonisht and forlorne: | |
| So was he stound with stroke of her huge taile. | |
| But ere that it she backe againe had borne, | |
| He with his sword it strooke, that without faile | 260 |
| He joynted it, and mard the swinging of her flaile. | |
| |
XXX Then gan she cry much louder then afore, | |
| That all the people there without it heard, | |
| And Belge selfe was therewith stonied sore, | |
| As if the onely sound thereof she feard. | 265 |
| But then the feend her selfe more fiercely reard | |
| Uppon her wide great wings, and strongly flew | |
| With all her body at his head and beard, | |
| That had he not foreseene with heedfull vew, | |
| And thrown his shield atween, she had him done to rew. | 270 |
| |
XXXI But as she prest on him with heavy sway, | |
| Under her wombe his fatall sword he thrust, | |
| And for her entrailes made an open way | |
| To issue forth; the which, once being brust, | |
| Like to a great mill damb forth fiercely gusht, | 275 |
| And powred out of her infernall sinke | |
| Most ugly filth, and poyson therewith rusht, | |
| That him nigh choked with the deadly stinke: | |
| Such loathly matter were small lust to speake, or thinke. | |
| |
XXXII Then downe to ground fell that deformed masse, | 280 |
| Breathing out clouds of sulphure fowle and blacke, | |
| In which a puddle of contagion was, | |
| More loathd then Lerna, or then Stygian lake, | |
| That any man would nigh awhaped make. | |
| Whom when he saw on ground, he was full glad, | 285 |
| And streight went forth his gladnesse to partake | |
| With Belge, who watcht all this while full sad, | |
| Wayting what end would be of that same daunger drad. | |
| |
XXXIII Whom when she saw so joyously come forth, | |
| She gan rejoyce, and shew triumphant chere, | 290 |
| Lauding and praysing his renowmed worth | |
| By all the names that honorable were. | |
| Then in he brought her, and her shewed there | |
| The present of his paines, that monsters spoyle, | |
| And eke that idoll deemd so costly dere; | 295 |
| Whom he did all to peeces breake, and foyle | |
| In filthy durt, and left so in the loathely soyle. | |
| |
XXXIV Then all the people, which beheld that day, | |
| Gan shout aloud, that unto heaven it rong; | |
| And all the damzels of that towne in ray | 300 |
| Came dauncing forth, and joyous carrols song: | |
| So him they led through all their streetes along, | |
| Crowned with girlonds of immortall baies, | |
| And all the vulgar did about them throng, | |
| To see the man, whose everlasting praise | 305 |
| They all were bound to all posterities to raise. | |
| |
XXXV There he with Belgæ did a while remaine, | |
| Making great feast and joyous merriment, | |
| Untill he had her settled in her raine, | |
| With safe assuraunce and establishment. | 310 |
| Then to his first emprize his mind he lent, | |
| Full loath to Belgæ and to all the rest: | |
| Of whom yet taking leave, thenceforth he went | |
| And to his former journey him addrest, | |
| On which long way he rode, ne ever day did rest. | 315 |
| |
XXXVI But turne we now to noble Artegall; | |
| Who, having left Mercilla, streight way went | |
| On his first quest, the which him forth did call, | |
| To weet, to worke Irenaes franchisement, | |
| And eke Grantortoes worthy punishment. | 320 |
| So forth he fared as his manner was, | |
| With onely Talus wayting diligent, | |
| Through many perils and much way did pas, | |
| Till nigh unto the place at length approcht he has. | |
| |
XXXVII There as he traveld by the way, he met | 325 |
| An aged wight, wayfaring all alone, | |
| Who through his yeares long since aside had set | |
| The use of armes, and battell quite forgone: | |
| To whom as he approcht, he knew anone | |
| That it was he which whilome did attend | 330 |
| On faire Irene in her affliction, | |
| When first to Faery court he saw her wend, | |
| Unto his Soveraine Queene her suite for to commend. | |
| |
XXXVIII Whom by his name saluting, thus he gan: | |
| Haile, good Sir Sergis, truest knight alive, | 335 |
| Well tride in all thy ladies troubles than | |
| When her that tyrant did of crowne deprive; | |
| What new ocasion doth thee hither drive, | |
| Whiles she alone is left, and thou here found? | |
| Or is she thrall, or doth she not survive? | 340 |
| To whom he thus: She liveth sure and sound; | |
| But by that tyrant is in wretched thraldome bound. | |
| |
XXXIX For she, presuming on th appointed tyde, | |
| In which ye promist, as ye were a knight, | |
| To meete her at the Salvage Ilands syde, | 345 |
| And then and there for triall of her right | |
| With her unrighteous enemy to fight, | |
| Did thither come, where she, afrayd of nought, | |
| By guilefull treason and by subtill slight | |
| Surprized was, and to Grantorto brought, | 350 |
| Who her imprisond hath, and her life often sought. | |
| |
XL And now he hath to her prefixt a day, | |
| By which if that no champion doe appeare, | |
| Which will her cause in battailous array | |
| Against him justifie, and prove her cleare | 355 |
| Of all those crimes that he gainst her doth reare, | |
| She death shall sure aby. Those tidings sad | |
| Did much abash Sir Artegall to heare, | |
| And grieved sore, that through his fault she had | |
| Fallen into that tyrants hand and usage bad. | 360 |
| |
XLI Then thus replide: Now sure and by my life, | |
| Too much am I too blame for that faire maide, | |
| That have her drawne to all this troublous strife, | |
| Through promise to afford her timely aide, | |
| Which by default I have not yet defraide. | 365 |
| But witnesse unto me, ye heavens, that know | |
| How cleare I am from blame of this upbraide: | |
| For ye into like thraldome me did throw, | |
| And kept from complishing the faith which I did owe. | |
| |
XLII But now aread, Sir Sergis, how long space | 370 |
| Hath he her lent, a champion to provide. | |
| Ten daies, quoth he, he graunted hath of grace, | |
| For that he weeneth well, before that tide | |
| None can have tidings to assist her side. | |
| For all the shores, which to the sea accoste, | 375 |
| He day and night doth ward both far and wide, | |
| That none can there arrive without an hoste: | |
| So her he deemes already but a damned ghoste. | |
| |
XLIII Now turne againe, Sir Artegall then sayd; | |
| For if I live till those ten daies have end, | 380 |
| Assure your selfe, sir knight, she shall have ayd, | |
| Though I this dearest life for her doe spend. | |
| So backeward he attone with him did wend. | |
| Tho, as they rode together on their way, | |
| A rout of people they before them kend, | 385 |
| Flocking together in confusde array, | |
| As if that there were some tumultuous affray. | |
| |
XLIV To which as they approcht, the cause to know, | |
| They saw a knight in daungerous distresse | |
| Of a rude rout him chasing to and fro, | 390 |
| That sought with lawlesse powre him to oppresse, | |
| And bring in bondage of their brutishnesse: | |
| And farre away, amid their rakehell bands, | |
| They spide a lady left all succourlesse, | |
| Crying, and holding up her wretched hands | 395 |
| To him for aide, who long in vaine their rage withstands. | |
| |
XLV Yet still he strives, ne any perill spares, | |
| To reskue her from their rude violence, | |
| And like a lion wood amongst them fares, | |
| Dealing his dreadfull blowes with large dispence, | 400 |
| Gainst which the pallid death findes no defence. | |
| But all in vaine; their numbers are so great, | |
| That naught may boot to banishe them from thence: | |
| For soone as he their outrage backe doth beat, | |
| They turne afresh, and oft renew their former threat. | 405 |
| |
XLVI And now they doe so sharpely him assay, | |
| That they his shield in peeces battred have, | |
| And forced him to throw it quite away, | |
| Fro dangers dread his doubtfull life to save; | |
| Albe that it most safety to him gave, | 410 |
| And much did magnifie his noble name: | |
| For from the day that he thus did it leave, | |
| Amongst all knights he blotted was with blame, | |
| And counted but a recreant knight, with endles shame. | |
| |
XLVII Whom when they thus distressed did behold, | 415 |
| They drew unto his aide; but that rude rout | |
| Them also gan assaile with outrage bold, | |
| And forced them, how ever strong and stout | |
| They were, as well approvd in many a doubt, | |
| Backe to recule; untill that yron man | 420 |
| With his huge flaile began to lay about, | |
| From whose sterne presence they diffused ran, | |
| Like scattred chaffe, the which the wind away doth fan. | |
| |
XLVIII So when that knight from perill cleare was freed, | |
| He, drawing neare, began to greete them faire, | 425 |
| And yeeld great thankes for their so goodly deed, | |
| In saving him from daungerous despaire | |
| Of those which sought his life for to empaire. | |
| Of whom Sir Artegall gan then enquire | |
| The whole occasion of his late misfare, | 430 |
| And who he was, and what those villaines were, | |
| The which with mortall malice him pursud so nere. | |
| |
XLIX To whom he thus: My name is Burbon hight, | |
| Well knowne, and far renowmed heretofore, | |
| Untill late mischiefe did uppon me light, | 435 |
| That all my former praise hath blemisht sore; | |
| And that faire lady, which in that uprore | |
| Ye with those caytives saw, Flourdelis hight, | |
| Is mine owne love, though me she have forlore, | |
| Whether withheld from me by wrongfull might, | 440 |
| Or with her owne good will, I cannot read aright. | |
| |
L But sure to me her faith she first did plight, | |
| To be my love, and take me for her lord, | |
| Till that a tyrant, which Grandtorto hight, | |
| With golden giftes and many a guilefull word | 445 |
| Entyced her, to him for to accord. | |
| O who may not with gifts and words be tempted? | |
| Sith which she hath me ever since abhord, | |
| And to my foe hath guilefully consented: | |
| Ay me, that ever guyle in wemen was invented! | 450 |
| |
LI And now he hath this troupe of villains sent, | |
| By open force to fetch her quite away: | |
| Gainst whom my selfe I long in vaine have bent | |
| To rescue her, and daily meanes assay, | |
| Yet rescue her thence by no meanes I may: | 455 |
| For they doe me with multitude oppresse, | |
| And with unequall might doe overlay, | |
| That oft I driven am to great distresse, | |
| And forced to forgoe th attempt remedilesse. | |
| |
LII But why have ye, said Artegall, forborne | 460 |
| Your owne good shield in daungerous dismay? | |
| That is the greatest shame and foulest scorne, | |
| Which unto any knight behappen may, | |
| To loose the badge that should his deedes display. | |
| To whom Sir Burbon, blushing halfe for shame, | 465 |
| That shall I unto you, quoth he, bewray; | |
| Least ye therefore mote happily me blame, | |
| And deeme it doen of will, that through inforcement came. | |
| |
LIII True is, that I at first was dubbed knight | |
| By a good knight, the Knight of the Redcrosse; | 470 |
| Who when he gave me armes, in field to fight, | |
| Gave me a shield, in which he did endosse | |
| His deare Redeemers badge upon the bosse: | |
| The same long while I bore, and therewithall | |
| Fought many battels without wound or losse; | 475 |
| Therewith Grandtorto selfe I did appall, | |
| And made him oftentimes in field before me fall. | |
| |
LIV But for that many did that shield envie, | |
| And cruell enemies increased more; | |
| To stint all strife and troublous enmitie, | 480 |
| That bloudie scutchin being battered sore, | |
| I layd aside, and have of late forbore, | |
| Hoping thereby to have my love obtayned: | |
| Yet can I not my love have nathemore; | |
| For she by force is still fro me detayned, | 485 |
| And with corruptfull brybes is to untruth mis-trayned. | |
| |
LV To whom thus Artegall: Certes, sir knight, | |
| Hard is the case the which ye doe complaine; | |
| Yet not so hard (for nought so hard may light, | |
| That it to such a streight mote you constraine) | 490 |
| As to abandon that which doth containe | |
| Your honours stile, that is your warlike shield. | |
| All perill ought be lesse, and lesse all paine, | |
| Then losse of fame in disaventrous field: | |
| Dye rather, then doe ought that mote dishonour yield. | 495 |
| |
LVI Not so, quoth he; for yet, when time doth serve, | |
| My former shield I may resume againe: | |
| To temporize is not from truth to swerve, | |
| Ne for advantage terme to entertaine, | |
| When as necessitie doth it constraine. | 500 |
| Fie on such forgerie, said Artegall, | |
| Under one hood to shadow faces twaine! | |
| Knights ought be true, and truth is one in all: | |
| Of all things, to dissemble fouly may befall. | |
| |
LVII Yet let me you of courtesie request, | 505 |
| Said Burbon, to assist me now at need | |
| Against these pesants which have me opprest, | |
| And forced me to so infamous deed, | |
| That yet my love may from their hands be freed. | |
| Sir Artegall, albe he earst did wyte | 510 |
| His wavering mind, yet to his aide agreed, | |
| And buckling him eftsoones unto the fight, | |
| Did set upon those troupes with all his powre and might. | |
| |
LVIII Who flocking round about them, as a swarme | |
| Of flyes upon a birchen bough doth cluster, | 515 |
| Did them assault with terrible allarme, | |
| And over all the fields themselves did muster, | |
| With bils and glayves making a dreadfull luster; | |
| That forst at first those knights backe to retyre: | |
| As when the wrathfull Boreas doth bluster, | 520 |
| Nought may abide the tempest of his yre; | |
| Both man and beast doe fly, and succour doe inquyre. | |
| |
LIX But when as overblowen was that brunt, | |
| Those knights began a fresh them to assayle, | |
| And all about the fields like squirrels hunt; | 525 |
| But chiefly Talus with his yron flayle, | |
| Gainst which no flight nor rescue mote avayle, | |
| Made cruell havocke of the baser crew, | |
| And chaced them both over hill and dale: | |
| The raskall manie soone they overthrew, | 530 |
| But the two knights themselves their captains did subdew. | |
| |
LX At last they came whereas that ladie bode, | |
| Whom now her keepers had forsaken quight, | |
| To save themselves, and scattered were abrode: | |
| Her halfe dismayd they found in doubtfull plight, | 535 |
| As neither glad nor sorie for their sight; | |
| Yet wondrous faire she was, and richly clad | |
| In roiall robes, and many jewels dight, | |
| But that those villens through their usage bad | |
| Them fouly rent and shamefully defaced had. | 540 |
| |
LXI But Burbon, streight dismounting from his steed, | |
| Unto her ran with greedie great desyre, | |
| And catching her fast by her ragged weed, | |
| Would have embraced her with hart entyre. | |
| But she, backstarting with disdainefull yre, | 545 |
| Bad him avaunt, ne would unto his lore | |
| Allured be, for prayer nor for meed. | |
| Whom when those knights so froward and forlore | |
| Beheld, they her rebuked and upbrayded sore. | |
| |
LXII Sayd Artegall: What foule disgrace is this | 550 |
| To so faire ladie as ye seeme in sight, | |
| To blot your beautie, that unblemisht is, | |
| With so foule blame as breach of faith once plight, | |
| Or change of love for any worlds delight! | |
| Is ought on earth so pretious or deare, | 555 |
| As prayse and honour? Or is ought so bright | |
| And beautifull as glories beames appeare, | |
| Whose goodly light then Phebus lampe doth shine more cleare? | |
| |
LXIII Why then will ye, fond dame, attempted bee | |
| Unto a strangers love, so lightly placed, | 560 |
| For guiftes of gold or any worldly glee, | |
| To leave the love that ye before embraced, | |
| And let your fame with falshood be defaced? | |
| Fie on the pelfe for which good name is sold, | |
| And honour with indignitie debased! | 565 |
| Dearer is love then life, and fame then gold; | |
| But dearer then them both your faith once plighted hold. | |
| |
LXIV Much was the ladie in her gentle mind | |
| Abasht at his rebuke, that bit her neare, | |
| Ne ought to answere thereunto did find; | 570 |
| But hanging downe her head with heavie cheare, | |
| Stood long amazd, as she amated weare. | |
| Which Burbon seeing, her againe assayd, | |
| And clasping twixt his armes, her up did reare | |
| Upon his steede, whiles she no whit gainesayd; | 575 |
| So bore her quite away, nor well nor ill apayd. | |
| |
LXV Nathlesse the yron man did still pursew | |
| That raskall many with unpittied spoyle, | |
| Ne ceassed not, till all their scattred crew | |
| Into the sea he drove quite from that soyle, | 580 |
| The which they troubled had with great turmoyle. | |
| But Artegall, seeing his cruell deed, | |
| Commaunded him from slaughter to recoyle, | |
| And to his voyage gan againe proceed: | |
| For that the terme, approching fast, required speed. | 585 |
| |