There they did thinke themselves on her to wreake: Who as she nigh unto them drew, the one These vile reproches gan unto her speake; "Thou recreant false traytor, that with lone Of armes hast knighthood stolne, yet knight art none, No more shall now the darkenesse of the night Defend thee from the vengeance of thy fone; But with thy bloud thou shalt appease the spright Of Guizor by thee slaine and murdred by thy slight."
Strange were the words in Britomartis eare; Yet stayd she not for them, but forward fared, Till to the perilous bridge she came; and there Talus desir'd that he might have prepared The way to her, and those two losels scared: But she thereat was wroth, that for despight The glauncing sparkles through her bever glared, And from her eies did flash out fiery light, Like coles that through a silver censer sparkle bright.
She stayd not to advise which way to take; But, putting spurres unto her fiery beast, Thorough the midst of them she way did make. The one of them, which most her wrath increast, Uppon her speare she bore before her breast, Till to the bridges further end she past; Where falling downe his challenge he releast: The other over side the bridge she cast Into the river, where he drunke his deadly last.
As when the flashing levin haps to light Uppon two stubborne oakes, which stand so neare That way betwixt them none appeares in sight; The engin, fiercely flying forth, doth teare
Th' one from the earth, and through the aire doth The other it with force doth overthrow [beare; Uppon one side, and from his rootes doth reave: So did the championesse those two there strow, And to their sire their carcassess left to bestow.
Britomart comes to Isis Church, Where shee strange visions sees : She fights with Radigund, her slaies, And Artegall thence frees.
NOUGHT is on Earth more sacred or divine, That gods and men doe equally adore, Then this same vertue that doth right define: For th' Hevens themselves, whence mortal men implore
Right in their wrongs, are rul'd by righteous lore Of highest love, who doth true iustice deale To his inferiour gods, and evermore Therewith containes his heavenly common weale: The skill whereof to princes hearts he doth reveale.
Well therefore did the antique world invent That Iustice was a god of soveraine grace And altars unto him and temples lent, And heavenly honours in the highest place; Calling him great Osyris, of the race
Of th' old Egyptian kings that whylome were; With fayned colours shading a true case; For that Osyris, whilest he lived here,
The iustest man alive and truest did appeare.
One foote was set appon the crocodile, And on the ground the other fast did stand; So meaning to suppresse both forged guile And open force: and in her other hand She stretched forth a long white sclender wand. Such was the goddesse: whom when Britomart Had long beheld, herselfe uppon the land She did prostrate, and with right humble hart Unto herselfe her silent prayers did impart.
To which the idoll as it were inclining Her wand did move with amiable looke, By outward shew her inward sence desining: Who well perceiving how her wand she shooke, It as a token of good fortune tooke.
By this the day with dampe was overcast, And ioyous light the house of love forsooke: Which when she saw, her helmet she unlaste, And by the altars side herselfe to slumber plaste.
For other beds the priests there used none, But on their mother Earths deare lap did lie, And bake their sides uppon the cold hard stone, Tenure themselves to sufferaunce thereby, And proud rebellious flesh to mortify: For, by the vow of their religion, They tied were to stedfast chastity And continence of life; that, all forgon, They mote the better tend to their devotion
Therefore they mote not taste of fleshly food, Ne feed on ought the which doth blond containe, Ne drinke of wine; for wine they say is blood, Even the bloud of gyants, which were slaine By thundring love in the Phlegrean plaine: For which the Earth (as they the story tell) Wroth with the gods, which to perpetuall paine Had damn'd her sonnes which gainst them did rebell, With inward griefe and malice did against them swell:
And of their vitall bloud, the which was shed Into her pregnant bosome, forth she brought The fruitfull vine; whose liquor blonddy red, Having the mindes of men with fury fraught, Mote in them stirre up old rebellious thought To make new warre against the gods againe : Such is the powre of that same fruit, that nought The fell contagion may thereof restraine,
Ne within reasons rule her madding mood containe.
There did the warlike maide herselfe repose, Under the wings of Isis all that night; And with sweete rest her heavy eyes did close, After that long daies toile and weary plight: Where whilest her earthly parts with soft delight Of sencelesse sleepe did deeply drowned lie, There did appeare unto her heavenly spright A wondrous vision, which did close implie The course of all her fortune and posteritie.
Her seem'd, as she was doing sacrifize To Isis, deckt with mitre on her hed And linnen stole after those priestës gnize, All sodainely she saw transfigured Her linnen stole to robe of scarlet red, And moone-like mitre to a crowne of gold; That even she herselfe much wondered At such a chaunge, and ioyed to behold Herselfe adorn'd with gems and jewels manifold.
And, in the midst of her felicity,
An hideous tempest seemed from below To rise through all the temple sodainely, That from the altar all about did blow The holy fire, and all the embers strow Uppon the ground; which, kindled privily, Into outragious flames unwares did grow, That all the temple put in ieopardy Of flaming, and herselfe in great perplexity.
With that the crocodile, which sleeping lay Under the idols feete in fearelesse bowre, Seem'd to awake in horrible dismay, As being troubled with that stormy stowre; And gaping greedy wide did streight devoure Both flames and tempest; with which growen great, And swolne with pride of his owne peerelesse powre, He gan to threaten her likewise to eat; [beat. But that the goddesse with her rod him backe did
Tho, turning all his pride to humblesse meeke, Himselfe before her feete he lowly threw, And gan for grace and love of her to seeke: Which she accepting, he so neare her drew, That of his game she soone enwombed grew, And forth did bring a lion of great might, That shortly did all other beasts subdew: With that she waked full of fearefull fright, And doubtfully dismayd through that so uncouth sight.
So thereuppon long while she musing lay, With thousand thoughts feeding her fantasie; Untill she spide the lampe of lightsome day Up-lifted in the porch of Heaven hie: Then up she rose fraught with melancholy, And forth into the lower parts did pas, Whereas the priests she found full busily About their holy things for morrow mas; Whom she saluting faire, faire resaluted was:
But, by the change of her unchearefull looke, They might perceive she was not well in plight, Or that some pensiveness to heart she tooke: Therefore thus one of them, who seem'd in sight To be the greatest and the gravest wight, To her bespake; "Sir Knight, it seemes to me That, thorough evill rest of this last night, Or ill apayd or much dismayd ye be; That by your change of cheare is easie for to see.”
"Certes," sayd she, "sith ye so well have spide The troublous passion of my pensive mind, I will not seeke the same from you to hide; But will my cares unfolde, in hope to find Your aide to guide me out of errour blind." "Say on," quoth he, "the secret of your hart: For, by the holy vow which me doth bind, I am adiur'd best counsell to impart
To all that shall require my comfort in their smart."
Then gan she to declare the whole discourse Of all that vision which to her appeard, As well as to her minde it had recourse. All which when he unto the end had heard, Like to a weake faint-hearted man he fared Through great astonishment of that strange sight; And, with long locks up-standing stifly, stared Like one adawed with some dreadfull spright: So fild with heavenly fury thus he her behight;
All which when she unto the end had heard, She much was eased in her troublous thought, And on those priests bestowed rich reward; And royall gifts of gold and silver wrought She for a present to their goddesse brought. Then taking leave of them she forward went To seeke her love, where he was to be sought; Ne rested till she came without relent
Unto the land of Amazons, as she was bent.
Whereof when newes to Radigund was brought, Not with amaze, as women wonted bee, She was confused in her troublous thought; But fild with courage and with ioyous glee, As glad to heare of armes, the which now she Had long surceast, she bad to open bold, That she the face of her new foe might see: But when they of that yron man had told, Which late her folke had slaine, she bad them forth to hold.
So there without the gate, as seemed best, She caused her pavilion be pight; In which stout Britomart herselfe did rest, Whiles Talus watched at the dore all night. All night likewise they of the towne in fright Uppon their wall good watch and ward did keepe. The morrow next, so soone as dawning light Bad doe away the dampe of drouzie sleepe, The warlike Amazon out of her bowre did peepe ;
And caused streight a trumpet loud to shrill, To warne her foe to battell soone be prest: Who, long before awoke, (for she full ill Could sleepe all night, that in unquiet brest Did closely harbour such a jealous guest) Was to the battell whilome ready dight. Eitsoones that warrioresse with haughty crest Did forth issue all ready for the fight;
Full fiercely layde the Amazon about, And dealt her blowes unmercifully sore; Which Britomart withstood with courage stout, And them repaide againe with double more. So long they fought, that all the grassie flore Was fild with bloud which from their sides did flow, And gushed through their armes, that all in gore They trode, and on the ground their lives did strow, Like fruitles seede, of which untimely death should grow.
At last proud Radigund with fell despight, Having by channce espide advantage neare, Let drive at her with all her dreadfull might, And thus upbrayding said; "This token beare Unto the man whom thou doest love so deare; And tell him for his sake thy life thou gavest." Which spitefull words she sore engriev'd to heare Thus answer'd; "Lewdly thou my love depravest, Who shortly must repent that now so vaincly bravest."
Nath'lesse that stroke so cruell passage found, That glauncing on her shoulder-plate it bit Unto the bone, and made a griesly wound, That she her shield through raging smart of it For, having force increast through furious paine, Could scarse uphold; yet soone she it requit: She her so rudely on the helmet smit That it empierced to the very braine, And her proud person low prostrated on the plaine. Where being layd, the wrothfull Britonesse Stayd not till she came to herselfe againe; But in revenge both of her loves distresse And her late vile reproch though vaunted vaine, And also of her wound which sore did paine, She with one stroke both head and helmet cleft: Which dreadfull sight when all her warlike, traine There present saw, each one of sence bereft
On th' other side her foe appeared soone in sight. Fled fast into the towne, and her sole victor left.
But, ere they reared hand, the Amazone Began the streight conditions to propound, With which she used still to tye her fone, To serve her so, as she the rest had bound: Which when the other heard, she sternly frownd For high disdaine of such indignity,
And would no lenger treat, but bad them sound: For her no other termes should ever tie Then what prescribed were by lawes of chevalrie.
The trumpets sound, and they together run With greedy rage, and with their faulchins smot; Ne either sought the others strokes to shun,. But through great fury both their skill forgot, And practicke use in armes; ne spared not Their dainty parts, which Nature had created So faire and tender without staine or spot For other uses then they them translated; [hated. Which they now hackt and hewd as if such use they
As when a tygre and a lionesse
Are met at spoyling of some hungry pray, Both challenge it with equall greedinesse: But first the tygre clawes thereon did lay; And therefore loth to loose her right away Doth in defence thereof full stoutly stond: To which the lion strongly doth gainesay, That she to hunt the beast first tooke in hond; And therefores ought it have wherever she it fond.
But yet so fast they could not home retrate," But that swift Talus did the formost win; And, pressing through the preace unto the gate, Pelmell with them attonce did enter in: There then a piteous slaughter did begin; For all that ever came within his reach He with his yron flale did thresh so thin, That he no worke at all left for the leach; [peach. Like to an hideous storme, which nothing may em-
And now by this the noble conqueresse Herselfe came in, her glory to partake; Where though revengefull vow she did professe, Yet, when she saw the heapes which he did make Of slaughtred carkasses, her heart did quake For very ruth, which did it almost rive, That she his fury willed him to slake: For else he sure had left not one alive; But all, in his revenge, of spirite would deprive
Tho, when she had his execution stayd, She for that yron prison did enquire, In which her wretched love was captive layd: Which breaking open with indignant ire, She entred into all the partes entire : Where when she saw that lothly uncouth sight Of men disguiz'd in womanishe attire, Her heart gan grudge for very deepe despight Of so unmanly maske in misery misdight
At last whenas to her owne love she came, Whom like disguize no lesse deformed had, At sight thereof abasht with secrete shame She turnd her head aside, as nothing glad To have beheld a spectacle so bad;
And then too well believ'd that which tofore Iealous suspect as true untruely drad: Which vaine conceipt now nourishing no more, She sought with ruth to salve his sad misfortunes sore.
Not so great wonder and astonishment Did the most chast Penelope possesse, To see her lord, that was reported drent And dead long since in dolorous distresse, Come home to her in piteous wretchednesse, After long travell of full twenty yeares; That she knew not his favours likelynesse, For many scarres and many hoary heares; [feares. But stood long staring on him mongst uncertaine "Ah! my deare lord, what sight is this," quoth she, "What May-game hath misfortune made of you? Where is that dreadfull manly looke? where be Those mighty palmes, the which ye wont t' embrew In bloud of kings, and great hoastes to subdew? Could ought on Earth so wondrous change have wrought,
As to have robde you of that manly hew? Could so great courage stouped have to ought? Then farewell, fleshly force; I see thy pride is nought!"
Thenceforth she streight into a bowre him brought, And causd him those uncomely weedes undight; And in their steede for other rayment sought, Whereof there was great store, and armors bright, Which had bene reft from many a noble knight; Whom that proud Amazon subdewed had, Whilest fortune favourd her successe in fight: In which whenas she him anew had clad, [glad. She was reviv'd, and ioyd much in his semblance
So there awhile they afterwards remained, Him to refresh, and her late wounds to heale: During which space she there as princess rained; And changing all that forme of common-weale The liberty of women did repeale,
Which they had long usurpt; and, them restoring To mens subiection, did true iustice deale: That all they, as a goddesse her adoring, [loring. Her wisedome did admire, and hearkned to her
For all those knights, which long in captive shade Had shrowded bene, she did from thraldome free; And magistrates of all that city made, And gave to them great living and large fee: And, that they should for ever faithfull bee, Made them sweare fealty to Artegall: Who when himselfe now well recur'd did see, He purposd to proceed, whatso befall, Uppon his first adventure which him forth did call.
Full sad and sorrowfull was Britomart For his departure, her new cause of griefe; Yet wisely moderated her owne smart, Seeing his honor, which she tendred chiefe, Consisted much in that adventures priefe: The care whereof, and hope of his successe, Gave unto her great comfort and reliefe; That womanish complaints she did represse, And tempred for the time her present heavinesse.
There she continu'd for a certaine space,
Till through his want her woe did more increase: Then, hoping that the change of aire and place Would change her paine and sorrow somewhat ease, She parted thence, her anguish to appease. Meane while her noble lord sir Artegall Went on his way; ne ever howre did cease, Till he redeemed had that lady thrall: That for another canto will more fitly fall.
Prince Arthure and sir Artegall Free Samient from feare: They slay the Soudan; drive his wife Adicia to despaire.
NOUGHT under Heaven so strongly doth allure The sence of man, and all his minde possesse, As beauties lovely baite, that doth procure Great warriours oft their rigour to represse, And mighty hands forget their manlinesse; Drawne with the powre of an heart-robbing eye, And wrapt in fetters of a golden tresse, Their hardned hearts enur'd to bloud and cruelty. That can with melting pleasaunce mollifye
So whylome learnd that mighty lewish swaine, Each of whose lockes did match a man in might, To lay his spoiles before his lemans traine: So also did that great Oetean knight For his love sake his lions skin undight; And so did warlike Antony neglect
The worlds whole rule for Cleopatras sight. Such wondrous powre hath wemens faire aspect To captive men, and make them all the world reiect.
Yet could it not sterne Artegall retaine, Nor hold from suite of his avowed quest, Which he had undertane to Gloriane; But left his love (albe her strong request) Faire Britomart in languor and unrest, And rode himselfe uppon his first intent: Ne day nor night did ever idly rest; Ne wight but onely Talus with him went, The true guide of his way and vertuous government.
So travelling, he chaunst far off to heed A damzell flying on a palfrey fast Before two knights that after her did speed With all their powre, and her full fiercely chast In hope to have her overhent at last:
Yet fled she fast, and both them farre outwent, Carried with wings of feare, like fowle aghast, With locks all loose, and rayment all to rent ; And ever as she rode her eye was backeward bent.
Soone after these he saw another knight, That after those two former rode apace With speare in rest, and prickt with all his might: So ran they all, as they had bene at bace, They being chased that did others chace. At length he saw the hindmost overtake One of those two, and force him turne his face; However loth he were his way to slake,
Yet mote he algates now abide, and answere make.
But th' other still pursu'd the fearefull mayd; Who still from him as fast away did flie, Ne once for ought her speedy passage stayd, Till that at length she did before her spie Sir Artegall, to whom she streight did hie With gladfull hast, in hope of him to get Succour against her greedy enimy: Who seeing her approch gan forward set
To save her from her feare, and him from force to let.
But he, like hound full greedy of his pray,
Being impatient of impediment,
Continu'd still his course, and by the way
Thought with his speare him quight have overwent.
So both together, ylike felly bent,
Like fiercely met: but Artegall was stronger, And better skild in tilt and turnament,
And bore him quite out of his saddle, longer Then two speares length: so mischiefe overmatcht the wronger:
And in his fall misfortune him mistooke; For on his head unhappily he pight, That his owne waight his necke asunder broke,. And left there dead. Meane while the other knight Defeated had the other faytour quight, And all his bowels in his body brast: Whom leaving there in that dispiteous plight, He ran still on, thinking to follow fast
His other fellow Pagan which before him past.
Instead of whom finding there ready prest Sir Artegall, without discretion
He at him ran with ready speare in rest: Who, seeing him come still so fiercely on, Against him made againe: so both anon Together met, and strongly either strooke And broke their speares; yet neither has forgon His horses backe, yet to and fro long shooke And tottred, like two towres which through a tem- pest quooke.
But, when againe they had recovered sence, They drew their swords, in mind to make amends For what their speares had fayld of their pretence: Which when the damzell, who those deadly ends Of both her foes had seene, and now her frends For her beginning a more fearefull fray; She to them runnes in hast, and her haire rends, Crying to them their cruell hands to stay, Untill they both do heare what she to them will say.
They stayd their hands; when she thus gan to speake; "Ah! gentle knights, what meane ye thus unwise Upon yourselves anothers wrong to wreake? I am the wrong'd, whom ye did enterprise Both to redresse, and both redrest likewise: Witnesse the Paynims both, whom ye may see There dead on ground: what doe ye then devise Of more revenge? if more, then I am shee [mee." Which was the roote of all; end your revenge on
Whom when they heard so say, they lookt about To weete if it were true as she had told; Where when they saw their foes dead out of doubt, Eftsoones they gan their wrothfull hands to hold, And ventailes reare each other to behold. Tho, when as Artegall did Arthure vew, So faire a creature and so wondrous bold, He much admired both his heart and hew, And touched with intire affection nigh him drew;
"Her name Mercilla most men use to call; That is a mayden queene of high renowne, For her great bounty knowen over all And soveraine grace, with which her royall crowne She doth support, and strongly beateth downe The malice of her foes, which her envy And at her happinesse do fret and frowne; Yet she herselfe the more doth magnify, And even to her foes her mercies multiply.
"Mongst many which maligne her happy state, There is a mighty man, which wonnes here by, That with most fell despight and deadly hate Seekes to subvert her crowne and dignity, And all his powre doth thereunto apply: And her good knights, (of which so brave a band Serves her as any princesse under sky) He either spoiles, if they against him stand, Or to his part allures, and bribeth under hand. "Ne him sufficeth all the wrong and ill, Which he unto her people does each day; But that he seekes by trayterous traines to spill Her person, and her sacred selfe to slay: That, O ye Heavens, defend! and turne away From her unto the miscreant himselfe ; That neither hath religion nor fay, But makes his god of his ungodly pelfe, And idoles serves: so let his idols serve the Elfe!
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