CANTO VIII. Prince Arthure overcomes Disdaine; Quites Mirabell from dreed: By Calepine is freed. I. YE gentle Ladies, in whose soveraine powre Delivered hath unto your hands by gift; He from you take that chiefedome which ye doe abuse. II. And as ye soft and tender are by kynde,2 Who from the high degree of happy state Fell into wretched woes, which she repented late. III. Who after thraldome of the gentle Squire, For aye the more that she did them entreat, The more they him misust, and cruelly did beat. IV. So as they forward on their way did pas, They met Prince Arthure with Sir Enias, (That was that courteous Knight, whom he before To whom as they approcht, they gan augment Scourging and haling him more vehement; V. The Squire himselfe, whenas he saw his Lord IV. 4. 1 Entire, earnest. 2 Abase, hang down. That was that courteous Knight, &c.] See the twelfth stanza of the preceding canto. Beheld two such, of two such Villaines thrall, His manly mynde was much emmoved therewithall; VI. And to the Prince thus sayd; "See you, Sir Knight, Yond Lady and her Squire with foule despight See how they doe that Squire beat and revile! I will them soone acquite,2 and both of blame assoile.” VII. The Prince assented; and then he, streightway VIII. The Villaine stayd not aunswer to invent 5; His mindes sad message backe unto him sent; VI. 9.Both of blame assoile.] Free both from their present disgraceful situation. No more then lightening from the lofty sky: Ne list the Knight the powre thereof assay, Whose doome was death; but, lightly slipping by, Unwares defrauded his intended destiny: IX. And, to requite him with the like againe, With his sharpe sword he fiercely at him flew, And strooke so strongly, that the Carle with paine Saved himselfe but that he there him slew; Yet sav'd not so, but that the blood it drew, And gave his Foe good hope of victory: Who, therewith flesht, upon him set anew, And with the second stroke thought certainely To have supplyde the first, and paide the usury. X. But Fortune aunswerd not unto his call; The Villaine met him in the middle fall, And with his club bet backe his brond-yron bright He driven was to ground in selfe despight; He in his necke had set his foote with fell disdaine. XI. With that the Foole, which did that end awayte, Then, than. 2 Flesht, flushed. 3 Weld, manage, direct. Him to have bound and thrald without delay; The whiles the Foole did him revile and flout,1 Threatning to yoke them two and tame their corage stout. XII. As when a sturdy ploughman with his hynde2 By strength have overthrowne a stubborne steare, They downe him hold, and fast with cords do bynde, Till they him force the buxome 3 yoke to beare: So did these two this Knight oft tug and teare. Which when the Prince beheld, there standing by, He left his lofty steede to aide him neare; And, buckling soone himselfe, gan fiercely fly Upon that Carle, to save his friend from ieopardy. XIII. The Villaine, leaving him unto his Mate Now here, now there, and oft him neare he mist; 7 Whether more wary were to give or ward the blow. But XIV. yet the Prince so well enured 8 was With such huge strokes, approved oft in fight, 7 Whether, which of the two. 8 Enured, accustomed. XI. 9. Them two.] Sir Enias and Timias. VOL. IV. 12 |