The Faerie Queene

by The Faerie Queen(Lit)

  Eftsoones the people all to harnesse ran,

  And like a sort of Bees in clusters swarmed:

  Ere long their Queene her selfe, halfe like a man

  Came forth into the rout, and them t'array began.

  And now the Knights being arriued neare,

  Did beat vppon the gates to enter in,

  And at the Porter, skorning them so few,

  Threw many threats, if they the towne did win,

  To teare his flesh in peeces for his sin.

  Which when as Radigund there comming heard,

  Her heart for rage did grate, and teeth did grin:

  She bad that streight the gates should be vnbard,

  And to them way to make, with weapons well prepard.

  Soone as the gates were open to them set,

  They pressed forward, entraunce to haue made.

  But in the middle way they were ymet

  With a sharpe showre of arrowes, which them staid,

  And better bad aduise, ere they assaid

  Vnknowen perill of bold womens pride.

  Then all that rout vppon them rudely laid,

  And heaped strokes so fast on euery side,

  And arrowes haild so thicke, that they could not abide.

  But Radigund her selfe, when she espide

  Sir Terpin, from her direfull doome acquit,

  So cruell doale amongst her maides dauide,

  T'auenge that shame, they did on him commit;

  All sodainely enflam'd with furious fit,

  Like a fell Lionesse at him she flew,

  And on his head-peece him so fiercely smit,

  That to the ground him quite she ouerthrew,

  Dismayd so with the stroke, that he no colours knew.

  Soone as she saw him on the ground to grouell,

  She lightly to him leapt, and in his necke

  Her proud foote setting, at his head did leuell,

  Weening at once her wrath on him to wreake,

  And his contempt, that did her iudg'ment breake.

  As when a Beare hath seiz'd her cruell clawes

  Vppon the carkasse of some beast too weake,

  Proudly stands ouer, and a while doth pause,

  To heare the piteous beast pleading her plaintiffe cause.

  Whom when as Artegall in that distresse

  By chaunce beheld, he left the bloudy slaughter,

  In which he swam, and ranne to his redresse.

  There her assayling fiercely fresh, he raught her

  Such an huge stroke, that it of sence distraught her:

  And had she not it warded warily,

  It had depriu'd her mother of a daughter.

  Nathlesse for all the powre she did apply,

  It made her stagger oft, and stare with ghastly eye.

  Like to an Eagle in his kingly pride,

  Soring through his wide Empire of the aire,

  To weather his brode sailes, by chaunce hath spide

  A Goshauke, which hath seized for her share

  Vppon some fowle, that should her feast prepare;

  With dreadfull force he flies at her byliue,

  That with his souce, which none enduren dare,

  Her from the quarrey he away doth driue,

  And from her griping pounce the greedy prey doth riue.

  But soone as she her sence recouer'd had,

  She fiercely towards him her selfe gan dight,

  Through vengeful wrath & sdeignfull pride half mad:

  For neuer had she suffred such despight.

  But ere she could ioyne hand with him to fight,

  Her warlike maides about her flockt so fast,

  That they disparted them, maugre their might,

  And with their troupes did far a sunder cast:

  But mongst the rest the fight did vntill euening last.

  And euery while that mighty yron man,

  With his strange weapon, neuer wont in warre,

  Them sorely vext, and courst, and ouerran,

  And broke their bowes, and did their shooting marre,

  That none of all the many once did darre

  Him to assault, nor once approach him nie,

  But like a sort of sheepe dispersed farre

  For dread of their deuouring enemie,

  Through all the fields and vallies did before him flie.

  But when as daies faire shinie-beame, yclowded

  With fearefull shadowes of deformed night,

  Warn'd man and beast in quiet rest be shrowded,

  Bold Radigund with sound of trumpe on hight,

  Causd all her people to surcease from fight,

  And gathering them vnto her citties gate,

  Made them all enter in before her sight,

  And all the wounded, and the weake in state,

  To be conuayed in, ere she would once retrate.

  When thus the field was voided all away,

  And all things quieted, the Elfin Knight

  Weary of toile and trauell of that day,

  Causd his pauilion to be richly pight

  Before the city gate, in open sight;

  Where he him selfe did rest in safety,

  Together with sir Terpin all that night:

  But Talus vsde in times of ieopardy

  To keepe a nightly watch, for dread of treachery.

  But Radigund full of heart-gnawing griefe,

  For the rebuke, which she sustain'd that day,

  Could take no rest, ne would receiue reliefe,

  But tossed in her troublous minde, what way

  She mote reuenge that blot, which on her lay.

  There she resolu'd her selfe in single fight

  To try her Fortune, and his force assay,

  Rather then see her people spoiled quight,

  As she had seene that day a disauenterous sight.

  She called forth to her a trusty mayd,

  Whom she thought fittest for that businesse,

  Her name was Clarin, and thus to her sayd;

  Goe damzell quickly, doe thy selfe addresse,

  To doe the message, which I shall expresse.

  Goe thou vnto that stranger Faery Knight,

  Who yesterday droue vs to such distresse,

  Tell, that to morrow I with him will fight,

  And try in equall field, whether hath greater might.

  But these conditions doe to him propound,

  That if I vanquishe him, he shall obay

  My law, and euer to my lore be bound;

  And so will I, if me he vanquish may,

  What euer he shall like to doe or say.

  Goe streight, and take with thee, to witnesse it,

  Sixe of thy fellowes of the best array,

  And beare with you both wine and iuncates fit,

  And bid him eate, henceforth he oft shall hungry sit.

  The Damzell streight obayd, and putting all

  In readinesse, forth to the Towne-gate went;

  Where sounding loud a Trumpet from the wall,

  Vnto those warlike Knights she warning sent.

  Then Talus forth issuing from the tent,

  Vnto the wall his way did fearelesse take,

  To weeten what that trumpets sounding ment:

  Where that same Damzell lowdly him bespake,

  And shew'd, that with his Lord she would emparlaunce make.

  So he them streight conducted to his Lord,

  Who, as he could, them goodly well did greete,

  Till they had told their message word by word:

  Which he accepting well, as he could weete,

  Them fairely entertaynd with curt'sies meete,

  And gaue them gifts and things of deare delight.

  So backe againe they homeward turnd their feete.

  But Artegall him selfe to rest did dight,

  That he mote fresher be against the next daies fight.

  Cant. V.

  Artegall fights with Radigund

  And is subdewd by guile:
/>   He is by her emprisoned,

  But wrought by Clarins wile.

  S O soone as day forth dawning from the East,

  Nights humid curtaine from the heauens withdrew,

  And earely calling forth both man and beast,

  Comaunded them their daily workes renew,

  These noble warriors, mindefull to pursew

  The last daies purpose of their vowed fight,

  Them selues thereto preparde in order dew;

  The Knight, as best was seeming for a Knight,

  And th'Amazon, as best it likt her selfe to dight.

  All in a Camis light of purple silke

  Wouen vppon with siluer, subtly wrought,

  And quilted vppon sattin white as milke,

  Trayled with ribbands diuersly distraught

  Like as the workeman had their courses taught;

  Which was short tucked for light motion

  Vp to her ham, but when she list, it raught

  Downe to her lowest heele, and thereuppon

  She wore for her defence a mayled habergeon.

  And on her legs she painted buskins wore,

  Basted with bends of gold on euery side,

  And mailes betweene, and laced close afore:

  Vppon her thigh her Cemitare was tide,

  With an embrodered belt of mickell pride;

  And on her shoulder hung her shield, bedeckt

  Vppon the bosse with stones, that shined wide,

  As the faire Moone in her most full aspect,

  That to the Moone it mote be like in each respect.

  So forth she came out of the citty gate,

  With stately port and proud magnificence,

  Guarded with many damzels, that did waite

  Vppon her person for her sure defence,

  Playing on shaumes and trumpets, that from hence

  Their sound did reach vnto the heauens hight.

  So forth into the field she marched thence,

  Where was a rich Pauilion ready pight,

  Her to receiue, till time they should begin the fight.

  Then forth came Artegall out of his tent,

  All arm'd to point, and first the Lists did enter:

  Soone after eke came she, with fell intent,

  And countenaunce fierce, as hauing fully bent her,

  That battels vtmost triall to aduenter.

  The Lists were closed fast, to barre the rout

  From rudely pressing to the middle center;

  Which in great heapes them circled all about,

  Wayting, how Fortune would resolue that daungerous dout.

  The Trumpets sounded, and the field 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 haue rended:

  But he that had like tempests often tride,

  From that first flaw him selfe right well defended.

  The more she rag'd, the more he did abide;

  She hewd, she foynd, she lasht, she laid on euery side.

  Yet still her blowes he bore, and her forbore,

  Weening at last to win aduantage new;

  Yet still her crueltie increased more,

  And though powre faild, her courage did accrew:

  Which fayling he gan fiercely her pursew.

  Like as a Smith that to his cunning feat

  The stubborne mettall seeketh to subdew,

  Soone as he feeles it mollifide with heat,

  With his great yron sledge doth strongly on it beat.

  So did Sir Artegall vpon her lay,

  As if she had an yron anduile beene,

  That flakes of fire, bright as the sunny ray,

  Out of her steely armes were flashing seene,

  That all on fire ye would her surely weene.

  But with her shield so well her selfe she warded,

  From the dread daunger of his weapon keene,

  That all that while her life she safely garded:

  But he that helpe from her against her will discarded.

  For with his trenchant blade at the next blow

  Halfe of her shield he shared quite away,

  That halfe her side it selfe did naked show,

  And thenceforth vnto daunger opened way.

  Much was she moued with the mightie sway

  Of that sad stroke, that halfe enrag'd she grew,

  And like a greedie Beare vnto her pray,

  With her sharpe Cemitare at him she flew,

  That glauncing downe his thigh, the purple bloud forth drew.

  Thereat she gan to triumph with great boast,

  And to vpbrayd that chaunce, which him misfell,

  As if the prize she gotten had almost,

  With spightfull speaches, fitting with her well;

  That his great hart gan inwardly to swell

  With indignation, at her vaunting vaine,

  And at her strooke with puissance fearefull fell;

  Yet with her shield she warded it againe,

  That shattered all to peeces round about the plaine.

  Hauing her thus disarmed of her shield,

  Vpon her helmet he againe her strooke,

  That downe she fell vpon the grassie field,

  In sencelesse swoune, as if her life forsooke,

  And pangs of death her spirit ouertooke.

  Whom when he saw before his foote prostrated,

  He to her lept with deadly dreadfull looke,

  And her sunshynie helmet soone vnlaced,

  Thinking at once both head and helmet to haue raced.

  But when as he discouered had her face,

  He saw his senses straunge astonishment,

  A miracle of natures goodly grace,

  In her faire visage voide of ornament,

  But bath'd in bloud and sweat together ment;

  Which in the rudenesse of that euill plight,

  Bewrayd the signes of feature excellent:

  Like as the Moone in foggie winters night,

  Doth seeme to be her selfe, though darkned be her light.

  At sight thereof his cruell minded hart

  Empierced was with pittifull regard,

  That his sharpe sword he threw from him apart,

  Cursing his hand that had that visage mard:

  No hand so cruell, nor no hart so hard,

  But ruth of beautie will it mollifie.

  By this vpstarting from her swoune, she star'd

  A while about her with confused eye;

  Like one that from his dreame is waked suddenlye.

  Soone as the knight she there by her did spy,

  Standing with emptie hands all weaponlesse,

  With fresh assault vpon him she did fly,

  And gan renew her former cruelnesse:

  And though he still retyr'd, yet nathelesse

  With huge redoubled strokes she on him layd;

  And more increast her outrage mercilesse,

  The more that he with meeke intreatie prayd,

  Her wrathful hand from greedy vengeance to haue stayd.

  Like as a Puttocke hauing spyde in sight

  A gentle Faulcon sitting on an hill,

  Whose other wing, now made vnmeete for flight,

  Was lately broken by some fortune ill;

  The foolish Kyte, led with licentious will,

  Doth beat vpon the gentle bird in vaine,

  With many idle stoups her troubling still:

  Euen so did Radigund with bootlesse paine

  Annoy this noble Knight, and sorely him constraine.

  Nought could he do, but shun the dred despight

  Of her fierce wrath, and backward still retyre,

  And with his single shield, well as he might,

  Beare off the burden of her raging yre;

  And euermore he gently did desyre,

  To stay her stroks, and he himselfe would yield:
/>   Yet nould she hearke, ne let him once respyre,

  Till he to her deliuered had his shield,

  And to her mercie him submitted in plaine field.

  So was he ouercome, not ouercome,

  But to her yeelded of his owne accord;

  Yet was he iustly damned by the doome

  Of his owne mouth, that spake so warelesse word,

  To be her thrall, and seruice her afford.

  For though that he first victorie obtayned,

  Yet after by abandoning his sword,

  He wilfull lost, that he before attayned.

  No fayrer conquest, then that with goodwill is gayned.

  Tho with her sword on him she flatling strooke,

  In signe of true subiection to her powre,

  And as her vassall him to thraldome tooke.

  But Terpine borne to'a more vnhappy howre,

  As he, on whom the lucklesse starres did lowre,

  She causd to be attacht, and forthwith led

  Vnto the crooke t'abide the balefull stowre,

  From which he lately had through reskew fled:

  Where he full shamefully was hanged by the hed.

  But when they thought on Talus hands to lay,

  He with his yron flaile amongst them thondred,

  That they were fayne to let him scape away,

  Glad from his companie to be so sondred;

  Whose presence all their troups so much encombred

  That th'heapes of those, which he did wound and slay,

  Besides the rest dismayd, might not be nombred:

  Yet all that while he would not once assay,

  To reskew his owne Lord, but thought it iust t'obay.

  Then tooke the Amazon this noble knight,

  Left to her will by his owne wilfull blame,

  And caused him to be disarmed quight,

  Of all the ornaments of knightly name,

  With which whylome he gotten had great fame:

  In stead whereof she made him to be dight

  In womans weedes, that is to manhood shame,

  And put before his lap a napron white,

  In stead of Curiets and bases fit for fight.

  So being clad, she brought him from the field,

  In which he had bene trayned many a day,

  Into a long large chamber, which was sield

  With moniments of many knights decay,