26 Much was the Knight abashed at that word; Yet answerd thus: "Not unto me the shame, But to the shamefull doer it afford.1 Bloud is no blemish; for it is no blame To punish those that doe deserve the same; 27"Then doe yourselfe, for dread of shame, forgoe This evill manner which ye here maintaine, And doe instead thereof mild curt'sie showe To all that passe: that shall you glory gaine More then his love, which thus ye seeke t' obtaine." Wherewith all full of wrath she thus replyde: "Vile recreant! know that I doe much disdaine Thy courteous lore,2 that doest my Love deride, Who scornes thy ydle scoffe, and bids thee be defyde." 28 "To take defiaunce at a ladies word," But were he here, that would it with his sword Cowherd," quoth she, "were not that thou wouldst Ere he doe come, he should be soone in place." "If I doe so," sayd he, "then liberty 1 Afford, attach, impute. 8 In place, here. I leave to you for aye me to disgrace With all those shames, that erst ye spake me to de face." 29 With that a dwarfe she cald to her in hast, 30 The Dwarfe his way did hast, and went all night: But Calidore did with her there abyde The comming of that so much threatned knight; That yron heart it hardly could sustaine: 31 The morrow next, before the lampe of light 1 I. e. treated him with foul indignity. Therefore he wild her doe away all dread; 32 Thereof full blyth the Lady streight became, But rather did more chearefull seeme therefore: Where long he stayed not, when as a Knight He spide come pricking on with al his powre and might. 33 Well weend he streight that he should be the same Which tooke in hand her quarrell to maintaine; Ne stayd to aske if it were he by name, But coucht his speare, and ran at him amaine. That neither could the others stroke sustaine, But rudely rowld to ground both man and horse, Neither of other taking pitty nor remorse. 34 But Calidore uprose againe full light, Whiles yet his foe lay fast in sencelesse swound; Yet would he not him hurt, although he might; For shame he weend a sleeping wight to wound. 2 Band, bond, pledge. 1 Basenet, helmet. VOL. IV. *The old editions have sound. C. 2 * But when Briana saw that drery stound,1 There where she stood uppon the castle wall, She deem'd him sure to have bene dead on ground; And made such piteous mourning therewithall, That from the battlements she ready seem'd to fall. 35 Nathlesse at length himselfe he did upreare He shooke off luskishnesse3; and, courage chill To prove if better foote then horsebacke would ensew. 36 There then began a fearefull cruell fray 37 Thus long they trac'd 5 and traverst to and fro, And tryde all waies how each mote entrance make 1 Stound, exigency. 2 Lustlesse, listless. 3 Luskishnesse, sluggishness. 4 Practicke, skilful. 5 Trac'd, stepped. Into the life of his malignant foe; They hew'd their helmes, and plates asunder brake, Of bloudy gore congeal'd about them stood, 39 At length it chaunst that both their hands on hie 39 And, ere he could recover foot againe, He, following that faire advantage fast, His stroke redoubled with such might and maine, That him upon the ground he groveling cast; And leaping to him light would have unlast His helme, to make unto his vengeance way: Who, seeing in what daunger he was plast, Cryde out: "Ah mercie, Sir! doe me not slay, But save my life, which lot before your foot doth lay." 1 Potshares, potsherds. 4 Unlast, unlaced. 5 Lot, fortune. |