XXV. The Beast, with their pursuit incited more, And, fiercely charging him with all his might, XXVI. Who nathëlesse, when he the Lady saw There left on ground, though in full evill plight, XXVII. And now by this Sir Calepine, so hight,4 All in gore bloud there tumbled on the ground, 1 Nould, would not. 3 Brast, burst. 2 Gather spright, collect breath. • Hight, called. Grypt, pierced. 5 XXVIII. So well he did his busie paines apply, Then up he tooke her twixt his armës twaine, Now whenas Phoebus with his fiery waine Tho,3 wexing weary of that toylesome paine, Not wont on foote with heavy armes to trace *; He chaunst to spie a faire and stately place, In hope there for his Love some succour to provyde. XXX. But, comming to the rivers side, he found That hardly passable on foote it was; Therefore there still he stood as in a stound, 6 Ne wist which way he through the foord mote pas: Thus whilest he was in this distressed case, Devising what to doe, he nigh espyde An armed Knight approaching to the place 1 Revoke, recall. 2 Inne, resting-place. 3 Tho, then. Trace, walk. 5 Forby, near by. • Stound, doubt, amazement. 7 Wist, knew. With a faire Lady lincked by his side, The which themselves prepard thorough1 the foord to ride. XXXI. Whom Calepine saluting, as became, Besought of courtesie, in that his neede, For safe conducting of his sickely Dame Through that same perillous foord with better heede, To whom that other did this taunt returne; Perdy, thou peasant Knight mightst rightly reed 3 Me then to be full base and evill borne, If I would beare behinde a burden of such scorne. XXXII. "But, as thou hast thy steed forlorne 4 with shame, So fare on foote till thou another gayne, And let thy Lady likewise doe the same, Or beare her on thy backe with pleasing payne, XXXIII. Sir Calepine her thanckt; yet, inly wroth 1 Thorough, through. Forlorne, abandoned, lost. 5 Diseased, afflicted. 2 Perdy, truly. 3 Reed, suppose. XXXI. 7.- Peasant Knight.] Used in the same sense as by Shak speare in Hamlet "O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!" And carelesly into the river go'th, As in despight to be so fowle abused Of a rude Churle, whom often he accused And, strongly wading through the waves unused, With speare in th' one hand stayd himselfe upright, With th' other staide his Lady up with steddy might. XXXIV. And all the while that same discourteous Knight At whose calamity, for more despight, He laught, and mockt to see him like to swim. And saw his carriage1 past that perill well, Looking at that same Carle 2 with count'nance grim, His heart with vengeaunce inwardly did swell, And forth at last did breake in speaches sharpe and fell: XXXV. Unknightly Knight, the blemish of that name, XXXVI. The Dastard, that did heare himselfe defyde, 1 Carriage, burden. 2 Carle, clown, churl. Did scorne the challenge of so base a thrall1; That him to no revenge he forth could call, XXXVII. But he, nought weighing what he sayd or did, And with his Lady to the Castle rid, Where was his won 2; ne did the other stay, For his sicke charge some harbour there to seeke; Drew to the gate, and there with prayers meeke And myld entreaty lodging did for her beseeke. XXXVIII. But the rude Porter that no manners had 4 Unlesse that with his Lord he formerly did fight. XXXIX. "Full loth am I," quoth he, "as now at earst When day is spent, and rest us needeth most, 1 Thrall, slave. 2 Won, dwelling. XXXIX. 1.. 3 Base, humble. as now at earst When day is spent.] Now that day has just ended. |