CANTO V. Artegall fights with Radigund, He is by her emprisoned, But wrought by Clarins wile. I. So soone as Day forth dawning from the east II. All in a Camis light of purple silke Woven uppon with silver, subtly wrought, And quilted uppon sattin white as milke; Trayled with ribbands diversly distraught, Like as the workeman had their courses taught; Which was short tucked for light motion Up to her ham; but, when she list, it raught Downe to her lowest heele, and thereuppon She wore for her defence a mayled habergeon. III. ' And on her legs she painted buskins wore, IV. So forth she came out of the citty-gate With stately port and proud magnificence, Playing on shaumes and trumpets, that from hence Her to receive, till time they should begin the fight. V. Then forth came Artegall out of his tent, All arm'd to point, and first the lists did enter: And countenaunce fierce, as having fully bent her The lists were closed fast, to barre the rout Which in great heapes them circled all about, Wayting how fortune would resolve that dangerous dout. VI. The trumpets sounded, and the field began; With furious rage, as if she had intended VII. Yet still her blowes he bore, and her forbore, And, though powre faild, her courage did accrew; Soone as he feeles it mollifide with heat, VIII. So did Sir Artegall upon her lay, As if she had an yron andvile beene, That flakes of fire, bright as the sunny ray, Out of her steely armes were flashing seene, That all on fire ye would her surely weene: But with her shield so well herselfe she warded From the dread daunger of his weapon keene, That all that while her life she safely garded; But he that helpe from her against her will discarded: IX. For with his trenchant blade at the next blow With her sharpe cemitare at him she flew, [drew. That glauncing downe his thigh the purple bloud forth X. Thereat she gan to triumph with great boast, And to upbrayd that chaunce which him misfell, With spightfull speaches, fitting with her well; And at her strooke with puissaunce fearefull fell; XI. Having her thus disarmed of her shield, Upon her helmet he againe her strooke, That downe she fell upon the grassie field In sencelesse swoune, as if her life forsooke, And pangs of death her spirit overtooke: Whom when he saw before his foote prostrated, He to her lept with deadly dreadfull looke, And her sun-shynie helmet soone unlaced, Thinking at once both head and helmet to have raced. XII. But, whenas he discovered had her face, In her faire visage voide of ornament, XIII. At sight thereof his cruell minded hart Empierced was with pittifull regard, That his sharpe sword he threw from him apart, No hand so cruell, nor no hart so hard, But ruth of beautie will it mollifie. By this, upstarting from her swoune she star'd Like one that from his dreame is waked suddenlye. XIV. Soone as the Knight she there by her did spy gan renew her former cruelnesse : And though he still retyr'd, yet nathëlesse With huge redoubled strokes she on him layd; And more increast her outrage mercilesse, The more that he with meeke intreatie prayd Her wrathful hand from greedy vengeance to have stayd. |