Artegall meets Radigund in single combat and yields himself her His degradation.
I So soon as day forth dawning from the east
Night's humid curtain from the heavens withdrew,
And early calling forth both man and beast,
Commanded them their daily works renew;
These noble warriors, mindful to pursue
The last day's purpose of their vowèd fight,
Themselves thereto prepared in order due ;
The knight, as best was seeming for a knight,
And th' amazon, as best it liked herself to dight 1:
2 All in a camis 2 light of purple silk
Woven upon with silver, subtly wrought,
And quilted upon satin white as milk;
Trailed with ribbons diversely distraught,3
Like as the workman had their courses taught ;
Which was short tuckèd for light motion
Up to her ham 4; but, when she list,5 it raught
Down to her lowest heel, and thereupon.
She wore for her defence a mailed habergeon.7
1 As best it liked herself to dight, i.e. as she liked best to array herself.
2 Camis, a loose robe.
distraught, i.e. with ribbons run-
ning over it in different directions.
4 Ham, thigh.
5 List, pleased.
Raught, reached.
3 Trailed with ribbons diversely
Habergeon, sleeveless coat of mail.
3 And on her legs she painted buskins 1 wore,
Basted with bands of gold2 on every side,
And mails between, and lacèd close afore;
Upon her thigh her scimitar was tied
With an embroidered belt of mickle pride;
And on her shoulder hung her shield, bedecked
Upon the boss 5 with stones that shinèd wide,
As the fair moon in her most full aspect;
That to the moon it mote be like in each respect.
4 So forth she came out of the city-gate
With stately port and proud magnificence,
Guarded with many damsels that did wait
Upon her person for her sure defence,
Playing on shawms 6 and trumpets, that from hence
Their sound did reach unto the heaven's height :
So forth into the field she marchèd thence,
Where was a rich pavilion ready pight
Her to receive, till time they should begin the fight.
5 Then forth came Artegall out of his tent,
All armed to point, and first the lists did enter :
Soon after eke 8 came she with full intent
And countenance fierce, as having fully bent her
That battle's utmost trial to adventer.9
1 Buskins, coverings for the feet, coming some distance up the leg.
2 Basted with bands of gold, i.e.
with bands of gold sewed on.
4 Belt of mickle pride, i.e. a rich, showy belt.
5 Boss, any protuberant part. 6 Shawms, pipes.
To point, i.e. at all points, completely.
3 Mails, metal rings interlinked.
The lists were closèd fast, to bar the rout
From rudely pressing on the middle centre;
Which in great heaps them circled all about,
Waiting how fortune would resolve that dangerous doubt.1
6 The trumpets sounded, and the field2 began ;
With bitter strokes it both began and ended.
She at the first encounter on him ran
With furious rage, as if she had intended
Out of his breast the very heart have rended :
But he, that had like tempests often tried,
From that first flaw himself right well defended.
The more she raged, the more he did abide :
She hewed, she foined, she lashed, she laid on
every side.
7 Yet still her blows he bore, and her forbore,
Weening at last to win advantage new ;
Yet still her cruelty increasèd more,
And, though pow'r failed, her courage did accrue1;
Which failing, he gan fiercely her pursue :
Like as a smith that to his cunning feat
The stubborn metal seeketh to subdue,
Soon as he feels it mollified with heat,
With his great iron sledge doth strongly on it beat.
8 So did Sir Artegall upon her lay,
As if she had an iron andvile 5 been,
1 Dangerous doubt, i.e. doubtful
contest.
2 Field, battle.
8 Foined, thrust.
4 Accrue, increase.
5 Andvile, anvil.
That flakes of fire, bright as the sunny ray,
Out of her steely arms were flashing seen,
That all on fire ye would her surely ween:
But with her shield so well herself she warded
From the dread danger of his weapon keen,
That all that while her life she safely guarded;
But he that help from her against her will discarded:
9 For with his trenchant blade at the next blow
Half of her shield he sharèd1 quite away,
That half her side itself did naked show,
And thenceforth unto danger opened way.
Much was she moved with the mighty sway
Of that sad2 stroke, that half enraged she grew ;
And like a greedy bear unto her prey
With her sharp scimitar at him she flew,
That glancing down his thigh the purple blood forth drew.
IO Thereat she gan to triumph with great boast,
And to upbraid that chance which him misfell,
As if the prize she gotten had almost,
With spiteful speeches, fitting with her well;
That his great heart gan inwardly to swell
With indignation at her vaunting vain,
And at her strook with puissance fearful fell 3;
Yet with her shield she warded it again,
That shattered all to pieces round about the plain.
II Having her thus disarmèd of her shield,
Upon her helmet he again her strook,
That down she fell upon the grassy field
In senseless swoon, as if her life forsook,
And pangs of death her spirit overtook :
Whom when he saw before his foot prostrated,
He to her leapt with deadly dreadful look,
And her sun-shiny helmet soon unlacèd,
Thinking at once both head and helmet to have
racèd.1
12 But, whenas he discovered had her face,
He saw, his senses' strange astonishment,
A miracle of nature's goodly grace
In her fair visage void of ornament,
But bathed in blood and sweat together ment 2;
Which, in the rudeness of that evil plight,
Bewrayed the signs of feature excellent :
Like as the moon, in foggy winter's night,
Doth seem to be herself, though dark'ned be her
light.
13 At sight thereof his cruel minded heart
Empierced was with pitiful regard,
That his sharp sword he threw from him apart,
Cursing his hand that had that visage marred :
No hand so cruel, nor no heart so hard,
But ruth of beauty will it mollify.
By this, upstarting from her swoon she star'd
A while about her with confusèd eye;
Like one that from his dream is wakèd suddenly.
1 Raced, razed, cut off.
2 Ment, mingled.
3 Bewrayed, revealed.
4 Ruth, pity.
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