Britomart and the Redcross knight journey on together. Going back in his narrative, the poet tells how the maiden sees in a magic lookingglass the image of Arthegall, and how she falls in love with the unknown knight.
I HERE have I cause in men just blame to find,
That in their proper praise1 too partial be,
And not indifferent 2 to woman kind,
To whom no share in arms and chivalry
They do impart, ne maken memory
Of their brave gests and prowess martial:
Scarce do they spare to one, or two, or three,
Room in their writtes; yet the same writing small
Does all their deeds deface, and dims their glories all.
2 But by record of ántique times I find
That women wont in wars to bear most sway,
And to all great exploits themselves inclined,
Of which they still the girlond 5 bore away;
Till envious men, fearing their rule's decay,
Gan coin strait' laws to curb their liberty:
Yet, sith they warlike arms have laid away,
1 In their proper praise, i.e. in praising themselves.
2 Indifferent, impartial. 3 Gests, deeds.
4 Writtes, writings.
5 Girlond, garland.
6 Their rule's decay, i.e. the decline of their own authority.
7 Strait, strict, rigorous.
8 Sith, since.
They have excelled in arts and policy,
That1 now we foolish men that praise gin2 eke t' envý.3
3 Of warlike puissance in ages spent,
Be thou,5 fair Britomart, whose praise I write;
But of all wisdom be thou precedent,
O sovereign Queen, whose praise I would endite,"
Endite I would as duty doth excite;
But ah! my rhymes too rude and rugged are,
When in so high an object they do light,
And, striving fit to make, I fear do mar:
Thyself thy praises tell, and make them knowen far.
4 She, travelling with Guyon, by the way
Of sundry things fair purpose 10 gan to find,11
T'abridge their journey long and ling'ring day :
Mongst which it fell into that Faery's 12 mind
To ask this Briton maid what uncouth 13 wind
Brought her into those parts, and what inquest 14
Made her dissemble her disguised kind 15:
Fair lady she him seemed, like lady dressed,
But fairest knight alive, when armèd was her breast.
5 Thereat she sighing softly had no pow'r
To speak awhile, ne ready answer make ;
But with heart-thrilling throbs and bitter stour,1
As if she had a fever fit, did quake,
And every dainty limb with horror shake;
And ever and anon the rosy red
Flashed through her face, as it had been a flake 2
Of lightning through bright heaven fulminèd3:
At last, the passion past, she thus him answered:
"Fair sir, I let you weet, that from the hour
I taken was from nurse's tender pap,
I have been trainèd up in warlike stour,5
To tossen spear and shield, and to affrap
The warlike rider to his most mishap;
Sithence I loathed have my life to lead,
As ladies wont, in pleasure's wanton lap,
To finger the fine needle and nice thread;
Me lever were 9 with point of foeman's spear be dead.
7 "All my delight on deeds of arms is set,
To hunt out perils and adventures hard,
By sea, by land, whereso they may be met,
Only for honour and for high regard,
Without respect of richesse or reward :
For such intent into these parts I came,
Withouten compass or withouten card,1
Far fro my native soil, that is by name
The Greater Britain,2 here to seek for praise and fame.
8 "Fame blazèd hath, that here in Faery-lond
Do many famous knights and ladies won,3
And many strange adventures to be fond,4
Of which great worth and worship 5 may be won :
Which to prove, I this voyage have begun.
But mote I weet of you, right courteous knight,
Tidings of one that hath unto me done
Late foul dishonour and reproachful spite,
The which I seek to wreak, and Arthegall he
hight.9"
9 The word gone out she back again would call,
As her repenting so to have missaid,10
But that he, it uptaking ere the fall,11
Her shortly answered: "Fair martial maid,
Certes 12 ye misavisèd 13 been t' upbraid
A gentle 14 knight with so unknightly blame :
For, weet1 ye well, of all that ever played
At tilt or tourney, or like warlike game,
The noble Arthegall hath ever borne the name.2
10 "Forthy great wonder were it, if such shame
Should ever enter in his bounteous thought,
Or ever do that mote deserven blame 5:
The noble corage never weeneth 7 aught
That may unworthy of itself be thought.
Therefore, fair damsel, be ye well aware,
Lest that too far ye have your sorrow sought 8:
You and your country both I wish welfare,
And honour both; for each of other worthy are.”
II The royal maid woxe9 inly wondrous glad,
To hear her love so highly magnified;
And joyed that ever she affixèd had
Her heart on knight so goodly glorified,
However finely 10 she it feigned to hide.
12 But to occasion him to further talk,
To feed her humour with his pleasing style,
Her list 11 in stryfull 12 terms with him to balk, 13
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