Him at the first encounter down he smote, 29 Then, ere his hand he reared, he overthrew Seven knights, one after other, as they came: The instrument of wrath, and with the same Hewing and slashing shields and helmets bright, No less than death itself, in dangerous affright. 30 Much wond'red all men what or whence he came, That did amongst the troops so tyrannise ; It seemed, him to term the salvage knight But certes his right name was otherwise, Though known to few that Arthegall he hight,7 The doughtiest knight that lived that day, and most of might. 1 Hote, was named. 2 Behote, promised. 3 Brust, broken. 4 Fared, went. 5 Certes, truly. 6 Arthegall, or Artegall, the knight whose image Britomart had seen in the magic mirror. 7 Hight, was called. 31 Thus was Sir Satyrane with all his band By his sole manhood and achievement stout So he continued all that day throughout, A stranger knight, that did his glory shend1: 32 He at his entrance charged his pow'rful spear And therewith smote him on his umbriere 2 Whence little lust 3 he had to rise again. 33 Whereat full inly wroth was Triamond, And cast t' avenge the shame done to his friend : In no less need of help then him he weened. 1 Shend, shame. 2 Umbriere, visor. 3 Lust, desire. 4 The same envied, i.e. was sorely vexed on account of the circumstance. 5 Him, i.e. the stranger knight. 6 Cast, planned. 8 Then him he weened, than he whom he thought in need of it. 9 From end to end, i.e. from begining to end. Beheld, he woxe1 therewith displeased sore, 34 Full many others at him likewise ran; That all those stranger knights full sore agrieved, 35 Like as in summer's day, when raging heat 36 So did the warlike Britomart restore 1 Woxe, became. 2 Feutered, put in rest. 8 Ne certes wonder, i.e. and certainly, no wonder. 4 Meat, food. 5 Fain from themselves to fly; meaning doubtful. Prof. Child suggests, -act as if they would (?). Which else was like to have been lost,1 and bore Where beauty's prize should win that precious Where I with sound of trump will also rest awhile. 1 Like to have been lost. Artegall was disguised so that no one recognized him as one of the knights of Maidenhead. 2 Play, amusement. 8 That precious spoil, i.e. Florimell's girdle. XI. The girdle is given to the false Florimell. Scudamour spends the night in the house of Care. I IT hath been through all ages ever seen, And she most fit his service doth deserve, That fairest is, and from her faith will never swerve. 2 So fitly now here cometh next in place, The controverse 2 of beauty's sovereign grace; That many wish to win for glory vain, And not for virtuous use, which some do tell That glorious belt, did in itself contain, Which ladies ought to love, and seek for to obtain. 1 For reason's special privity; means for a special and particular a peculiar phrase which probably reason. 2 Controverse, controversy. |