Where they arriving by the watchmen were Descried streight; who all the citty warned 36 37 And like a sort of Bees in clusters swarmed: Ere long their queene her selfe, halfe like a man, Came forth into the rout, and them t' array began. And now the Knights, being arrived neare, Did beat uppon the gates to enter in ; And at the Porter, skorning them to feare, Threw many threats, if they the towne did win, To teare his flesh in pieces for his sin: Which when as Radigund there comming heard, Her heart for rage did grate, and teeth did grin. She bad that streight the gates should be unbard, And to them way to make with weapons well prepard. Soone as the gates were open to them set, They pressed forward, entraunce to have made; 38 With a sharpe showre of arrowes, which them staid, And arrowes haild so thicke, that they could not abide. But Radigund her selfe, when she espide Sir Terpin, from her direfull doome acquit, Like a fell Lionesse at him she flew, 39 And on his head-peece him so fiercely smit, That to the ground him quite she overthrew, Dismayd so with the stroke that he no colours knew. 40 Soone as she saw him on the ground to grovell, 41 By chaunce beheld, he left the bloudy slaughter It had depriv'd her mother of a daughter: It made her stagger oft, and stare with ghastly eye. 42 Soring through his wide Empire of the aire To weather his brode sailes, by chaunce hath spide A Goshauke, which hath seized for her share Uppon some fowle that should her feast prepare; With dreadfull force he flies at her bylive, That with his souce, which none enduren dare, Her from the quarrey he away doth drive, And from her griping pounce the greedy prey doth rive. But soone as she her sence recover'd had, 43 She fiercely towards him her selfe gan dight, And with their troupes did far a sunder cast; But mongst the rest the fight did untill evening last. And every while that mighty yron man With his strange weapon, never wont in warre, Through all the fields and vallies did before him flie. But when as daies faire shinie-beame, yclowded 45 To keepe a nightly watch for dread of treachery For the rebuke which she sustain'd that day, 46 47 She called forth to her a trusty mayd, 48 Whom she thought fittest for that businesse; Her name was Clarin, and thus to her sayd: "Goe, damzell, quickly, doe thy selfe addresse To doe the message which I shall expresse. Goe thou unto that stranger Faery Knight, Who yeester day drove us to such distresse : Tell, that to morrow I with him wil fight, And try in equall field whether hath greater might. "But these conditions doe to him propound: That if I vanquishe him, he shall obay My law, and ever to my lore be bound; And so will I, if me he vanquish may, What ever he shall like to doe or say. Goe streight, and take with thee to witnesse it Sixe of thy fellowes of the best array, 49 50 And beare with you both wine and juncates fit, And bid him eate: henceforth he oft shall hungry sit." The Damzell streight obayd, and putting all In readinesse, forth to the Town-gate went; Where sounding loud a Trumpet from the wall, Unto those warlike Knights she warning sent. Then Talus forth issuing from the tent Unto the wall his way did fearelesse take, To weeten what that trumpets sounding ment: Where that same Damzell lowdly him bespake, And shew'd that with his Lord she would emparlaunce make. 51 So he them streight conducted to his Lord; That he mote fresher be against the next daics fight. |