25 Thereby so fearlesse, and so fell he grew, That his owne sire and maister of his guise Did often tremble at his horrid vew, And oft for dread of hurt would him advise The angry beastes not rashly to despise, Nor too much to provoke; for he would learne (A lesson hard,) and make the libbard sterne Leave roaring, when in rage he for revenge did earne. 26 And for to make his powre approved more, Wyld beasts in yron yokes he would compell; Unto the woods, to see her little sonne; 28 The fearefull dame all quaked at the sight, And then to him these womanish words gan say: For love of me leave off this dreadfull play; To dally thus with death, is no fit toy: Go find some other play-fellowes, mine own sweet boy. 29 In these and like delights of bloudy game And far abroad for straunge adventures sought; But through all Faery lond his famous worth was blown. 30 Yet evermore it was his manner faire, After long labours and adventures spent, Unto those native woods for to repaire, To see his syre and offspring auncient. And now he thither came for like intent; Where he unwares the fairest Una found, Straunge lady, in so straunge habiliment, Teaching the satyres, which her sat around, Trew sacred lore, which from her sweet lips did redound. 31 He wondred at her wisedome heavenly rare, Whose like in womens wit he never knew; 32 But she, all vowd unto the Redcrosse knight, Ne in this new acquaintaunce could delight, To Satyrane she shewed her intent; Who, glad to gain such favour, gan devise, How with that pensive maid he best might thence arise. 33 So on a day, when satyres all were gone The gentle virgin, left behind alone In vaine he seekes that having cannot hold. That they the woods are past, and come now to the plaine. 34 The better part now of the lingring day For feare as seemd, or for some feigned losse : 35 A silly man, in simple weedes forworne, And soild with dust of the long dried way; His scrip did hang, in which his needments he did bind. 36 The knight approaching nigh, of him inquerd Ay me, Deare dame (quoth he) well may I rew 37 That cruell word her tender hart so thrild, That suddein cold did runne through every vaine, And stony horrour all her sences fild With dying fit, that downe she fell for paine. The knight her lightly reared up againe, And comforted with curteous kind reliefe: Then, wonne from death, she bad him tellen plaine The lesser pangs can beare, who hath endur'd the chief. 38 Then gan the pilgrim thus; I chaunst this day, This fatall day, that shall I ever rew, To see two knights, in travell on my way, (A sory sight) arraung'd in battell new, Both breathing vengeaunce, both of wrathfull hew; My fearefull flesh did tremble at their strife, To see their blades so greedily imbrew, That drunke with blood, yet thristed after life: [knife. What more? the Redcrosse knight was slaine with Paynim 39 Ah dearest lord (quoth she) how might that bee, Not far away (quoth he) he hence doth wonne, [cleft. Washing his bloody wounds, that through the steele were 40 Therewith the knight thence marched forth in hast, Whiles Una with huge heavinesse opprest, Could not for sorrow follow him so fast; Even he it was, that earst would have supprest With foule reprochfull words he boldly him defide; 41 And said, Arise, thou cursed miscreaunt, That hast with knightlesse guile and trecherous train And catching up in hast his three-square shield, 42 And, drawing nigh him, said, Ah misborne elfe, 43 Therewith they gan, both furious and fell, To thunder blowes, and fiersly to assaile Each other bent his enimy to quell; That with their force they perst both plate and maile, That it would pitty any living eie. Large floods of blood adowne their sides did raile; Both hongred after death; both chose to win, or die. 44 So long they fight, and full revenge pursue, That fainting each, themselves to breathen let; And oft refreshed, battell oft renue: As when two bores with rancling malice met, Their gory sides fresh bleeding fiercely fret, Til breathlesse both them selves aside retire, Where foming wrath, their cruell tuskes they whet, And trample th' earth, the whiles they may respire; Then backe to fight againe, new breathed and entire. |