Where, when the Knight arriv'd, he was right well 'Receiv'd, as Knight of fo much worth became, Of fecond fifter, who did far excell
The other two; Medina was her name,
A fober, fad, and comely courteous Dame;
Who rich arrayd, and yet in modest guize,
In goodly garments, that her well became,
Fair marching forth in honourable wize,
Him at the threshold met, and well did enterprize.
XV.
She led him up into a goodly bowre,
And comely courted with meet modefty;
Ne in her speech, ne in her 'haviour,
Was lightness seen or loofer vanity,.
But gracious womanhood, and gravity,
Above the reafon of her youthly years:
Her golden locks fhe roundly did uptie
In breaded tramels, that no loofer hairs
Did out of order ftray about her dainty ears.
XVI.
Whil'ft she her felf thus bufily did frame,
Seemly to entertain her new-come guest,
News hereof to her other fifters came,
Who all this while were at their wanton reft,
Accourting each her friend with lavish feaft:
They were two Knights of peerless puissance,
And famous far abroad for warlike gest
Which to thefe Ladies love did countenance,
And to his mistress each himself ftrove to advance.
XVII.
He that made love unto the eldest Dame,
Was hight Sir Hudibras, an hardy man:
Yet not fo good of deeds, as great of name.
Which he by many rafh adventures wan,
Since errant arms to few he firft began;
More huge in strength, than wife in works he was, And reafon with fool-hardize over-ran;
Stern melancholy did his courage pafs,
And was (for terrour more) all arm'd in fhining brafs.
XVIII.
But he that lov'd the youngest was Sans-loy
He that fair Una late foul outraged,
The most unruly, and the boldest boy
That ever warlike weapons menaged,
And to all lawless luft encouraged,
Through strong opinion of his matchless might:
Ne ought he car'd, whom he endamaged
By tortious wrong, or whom bereav'd of right
He now this Ladies champion chofe for love to fight.
XIX.
Thefe two gay Knights, vow'd to fo divers loves,
Each other does envy with deadly hate,
And daily war against his foeman moves,
In hope to win more favour with his mate,
And th'others pleasing service to abate,
To magnifie his own. But when they heard,
How in that place strange Knight arrived late,
Both Knights and Ladies forth right angry far'd,
And fiercely unto battle ftern themselves prepar'd.
XX.
But ere they could proceed unto the place
Where he abode, themselves at discord fell,
And cruel combat joynd in middle space:
With horrible affault, and fury fell,
They heapt huge ftroakes, the fcorned life to quell,
That all on uprore from her fettled feat,
The house was raiz'd, and all that in did dwell; Seem'd that loud thunder with amazement great, Did rend the ratling skyes with flames of fouldring heat. XXI.
The noyfe thereof call'd forth that ftranger Knight,
To weet what dreadful thing was there in hond;
Where whenas two brave Knights in bioody fight
With deadly rancour he enraunged fond,
His funbroad fhield about his wrift he bond,
And shining blade unfheath'd, with which he ran,
Unto that ftead, their ftrife to understond:
And at his first arrival, them began
With goodly means to pacifie, well as he can.
But they him fpying, both with greedy force
Attonce upon him ran, and him befet
With ftroakes of mortal fteel without remorse,
And on his fhield like iron fledges bet;
As when a Bear and Tyger, being met
In cruel fight on Lybick Ocean wide,
Efpy a traveller with feet furbet,
Whom they in equal prey hope to divide,
They ftint their ftrife, and him affail on every fide.
XXIII.
But he, not like a weary traveller,
Their fharp affault right boldly did rebut, And fuffred not their blows to bite him nere, But with redoubled buffs them back did put : Whose grieved minds, which choler did englut, Against themselves turning their wrathful fpight, Gan with new rage their fhields to hew and cut; But ftill when Guyon came to part their fight, With heavy load on him they freshly 'gan to fmight. XXIV.
As a tall ship toffed in troublous feas,
Whom raging winds threatning to make the prey
Of the rough rocks, do diverfly disease,
Meets two contrary billows by the way,
That her on either fide do fore afsay,
And boaft to fwallow her in greedy grave;
She scorning both their spights, does make wide way, And with her breaft breaking the foamy wave,
Does ride on both their backs, and fair her felf doth fave. XXV.
So boldly he him bears, and rusheth forth
Between them both, by conduct of his blade, Wondrous great prowefs, and heroick worth He fhew'd that day, and rare ensample made, When two fo mighty warriours he dismade: Attonce he wards and ftrikes, he takes and Now forct to yield, now forcing to invade, Before, behind, and round about him lays: So double was his pains, fo double be his praise.
Strange fort of fight, three valiant Knights to fee
Three combats joyn in one, and to darrain
A triple war with triple enmitee,
All for their Ladies froward love to gain,
Which gotten was but hate. So love does reign
In ftouteft minds, and maketh monstrous war;
He maketh war, he maketh peace again,
And yet his peace is but continual jar:
O miferable men, that to him fubject are!
XXVII.
While thus they mingled were in furious arms,
The fair Medina with her treffes torne,
And naked breaft (in pity of their harms)
Emongst them ran, and falling them beforne,
Befought them by the womb which them had borne,
And by the loves which were to them most dear,
And by the Knighthood, which they fure had fworne,
Their dealy cruel difcord to forbear,
And to her juft conditions of fair peace to hear.
XXVIII.
But her two other fifters, standing by,
Her loud gainfaid, and both their champion bade
Purfue the end of their ftrong enemy,
As ever of their loves they would be glad.
Yet fhe, with pithy words and counfel fad,
Still ftrove their ftubborn rages to revoke ;
That at the laft, fuppreffing fury mad,
They 'gan abstain from dint of direful stroke,
And harken to the fober fpeeches which fhe fpoke.
XXIX.
Ah! puiffant Lords, what curfed evil fpright,
Or fell Erinnys, in your noble hearts
Her hellish brond hath kindled with defpight,
And ftird you up to work your wilfull fmarts?
Is this the joy of arms? be thefe the parts
Of glorious Knighthood, after blood to thurst,
And not regard due right and just defarts?
Vain is the vaunt, and victory unjust,
That more to mighty hands, than rightful caufe doth truft,
And were there rightful caufe of difference,
Yet were not better, fair it to accord,
Than with blood-guiltinefs to heap offence,
And mortal vengeance joyn to crime abhord?
O! fly from wrath: fly, O my liefest Lord.
Sad be the fights, and bitter fruits of war,
And thousand furies wait on wrathful fwords;
Ne ought the praise of prowess more doth mar,
Than foul revenging rage, and base contentious jar."
XXXI.
But lovely concord, and most facred peace,
Doth nourish vertue, and faft friendship breeds;
Weak she makes strong, and strong thing does increase,
Till it the pitch of highest praise exceeds:
Brave be her wars, and honourable deeds,
By which the triumphs over ire and pride,
And wins an Olive girlond for her meeds:
Be therefore, O my dear Lords, pacifide,
And this miffeeming difcord meekly lay aside.
XXXII.
Her gracious words their rancour did appall,
And funk fo deep into their boyling breasts,
That down they let their cruel weapons fall,
And lowly did abase their lofty crests
To her fair presence, and difcreet behefts.
Then he began a treaty to procure,
And ftablish terms betwixt both their requests,
That as a law for ever fhould endure;
Which to obferve, in word of Knights they did affure.
XXXIII.
Which to confirm, and faft to bind their league,
After their weary fweat and bloody toil,
She them befought, during their quiet treague,
Into her lodging to repair a while,
To reft themselves, and grace to reconcile.
They foon confent: fo forth with her they fare,
Where they are well receiv'd, and made to fpoil
Themselves of foiled arms, and to prepare
Their minds to pleasure, and their mouths to dainty fare;
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