Her mate, he was a jollie youthfull knight 32 That whether were more false full hard it is to tell. 33 Now, when this gallant with his goodly crew 34 By that the lovely paire drew nigh to hond: Would afterwards afresh the sleeping evill reare. "This knight too late his manhood and his might 35 I did assay, that me right dearely cost; Ne list I for revenge provoke new fight, Ne for light Ladies love that soone is lost." The hot-spurre youth so scorning to be crost, "Take then to you this Dame of mine," (quoth hee) "And I, without your perill or your cost, Will chalenge yond same other for my fee." So forth he fiercely prickt that one him scarce could see 36 The warlike Britonesse her soone addrest, Which when his other companie beheld, They to his succour ran with readie ayd; And, finding him unable once to weld, They reared him on horsebacke and upstayd, Till on his way they had him forth convayd: And all the way, with wondrous griefe of mynd And shame, he shewd him selfe to be dismayd More for the love which he had left behynd, Then that which he had to Sir Paridel resynd. 37 38 Nathlesse he forth did march, well as he might, For th' one of them he perfectly descride To be Sir Scudamour, by that he bore Both for his worth, that all men did adore, 39 For thy he thus to Paridel bespake: 40 "Faire Sir, of friendship let me now you pray, That as I late adventured for your sake, The hurts whereof me now from battell stay, Ye will me now with like good turne repay, And justifie my cause on yonder knight.” "Ah! Sir," (said Paridell) "do not dismay Your selfe for this; my selfe will for you fight, As ye have done for me: the left hand rubs the right." With that he put his spurres unto his steed, With speare in rest, and toward him did fare, 4I Him to receive with entertainment meete. So furiously they met, that either bare The other downe under their horses feete, That what of them became themselves did scarsly weete. 42 As when two billowes in the Irish sowndes, Who, rolled on an heape, lay still in swound All carelesse of his taunt and bitter rayle; Till that the rest him seeing lie on ground Ran hastily, to weete what did him ayle. Where finding that the breath gan him to fayle, With busie care they strove him to awake, And doft his helmet, and undid his mayle: So much they did, that at the last they brake His slomber, yet so mazed that he nothing spake. 41 44 Which when as Blandamour beheld, he sayd; He little answer'd, but in manly heart His mightie indignation did forbeare; 45 With darknes dred, and threatens all the world to wast. "Ah gentle knight!" then false Duessa sayd, 46 47 "Both foolish knights! I can but laugh at both, That strive and storme with stirre outrageous For her, that each of you alike doth loth, And loves another, with whom now she goth In lovely wise, and sleepes, and sports, and playes; Whilest both you here with many a cursed oth Sweare she is yours, and stirre up bloudie frayes, To win a willow bough, whilest other weares the bayes. "Vile hag!" (sayd Scudamour) "why dost thou lye, 48 And falsly seekst a vertuous wight to shame?" [eye "Fond knight," (sayd she) "the thing that with this I saw, why should I doubt to tell the same?" "Then tell," (quoth Blandamour) "and feare no blame; Tell what thou saw'st, maulgre who so it heares." "Isaw" (quoth she) "a straunger knight, whose name I wote not well, but in his shield he beares (That well I wote) the heads of many broken speares; "I saw him have your Amoret at will; I saw him kisse; I saw him her embrace; Ne word he had to speake for great dismay, 49 50 51 gan thereat to triumph without victorie. "Lo! recreant," (sayd he) "the fruitlesse end Of thy vaine boast, and spoile of love misgotten, Whereby the name of knight-hood thou dost shend, And all true lovers with dishonor blotten: All things not rooted well will soone be rotten." “Fy, fy! false knight," (then false Duessa cryde) Unworthy life, that love with guile hast gotten; Be thou, where ever thou do go or ryde, Loathed of ladies all, and of all knights defyde!" |