So much her malice did her might surpas,
That even th' Almightie selfe she did maligne,
Because to man so merciful he was,
And unto all his creatures so benigne,
Sith she herselfe was of his grace indigne;
For all this world's faire workmanship she tride
Unto his last confusion to bring,
And that great golden chaine quite to divide,
With which it blessed Concord hath together tide.
XXXI.
Such was that hag which with Duessa roade,
And serving her in her malitious use
To hurt good knights, was, as it were, her baude,
To sell her borrowed beautie to abuse;
For though like withered tree, that wanteth iuyce,
She old and crooked were, yet now of late
As fresh and fragrant as the floure-deluce
She was become, by chaunge of her estate, [mate.
And made full goodly ioyance to her new-found
XXXII.
Her mate, he was a iollie youthfull knight,
That bore great sway in armes and chivalrie,.
And was indeed a man of mickle might;
His name was Blandamour, that did descrie
His fickle mind full of inconstancie,
And now himselfe he fitted had right well.
With two companions of like qualitie,
Faithlesse Duessa, and false Paridell,
That whether were more false full hard it is to tell.
Now when this gallant with his goodly crew
From farre espide the famous Britomart,
Like knight adventurous in outward vew,
With his faire paragon (his conquest's part)
Approching nigh, eftsoones his wanton hart
Was tickled with delight, and iesting sayd,
"Lo there, Sir Paridell! for your desart,
"Good lucke presents you with yond lovely mayd,
"For pitie that ye want a fellow for your ayd.”
XXXIV.
By that the lovely paire drew nigh to hond;
Whom whenas Paridel more plaine beheld,
Albee in heart he like affection fond,
Yet mindfull how he late by one was feld
That did those armes and that same scutchion weld,
He had small lust to buy his love so deare,
But answerd, "Sir, him wise I never held,
"That having once escaped perill neare,
"Would afterwards afresh the sleeping evill reare. XXXV.
"This knight too late his manhood and his might "I did assay, that me right dearely cost; "Ne list I for revenge provoke new fight, "Ne for light ladies love, that soone is lost." The hot-spurre youth so scorning to be crost, "Take then to you this dame of mine," quoth hee, "And I without your perill or your cost
"Will challenge yond same other for my fee.” So forth he fiercely prickt, that one him scarce could
The warlike Britonesse her soone addrest,
And with such uncouth welcome did receave
Her fayned paramour, her forced guest,
That being forst his saddle soone to leave,
Himselfe he did of his new love deceave,
And made himselfe th' ensample of his follie;
Which done, she passed forth not taking leave,
And left him now as sad as whilome iollie, [lie.
Well warned to beware with whom he dar'd to dal-
Which when his other companie beheld,
They to his succour ran with readie ayd,
And finding him unable once to weld,
They reared him on horse-backe, and upstayd,
Till on his way they had him forth convayd;
And all the way with wondrous griefe of mynd
And shame, he shewd himselfe to be dismayd
More for the love which he had left behynd,
Then that which he had to Sir Paridel resynd.
XXXVIII.
Nathlesse he forth did march well as he might,
And made good semblaunce to his companie,
Dissembling his disease and evill plight,
Till that ere long they chaunced to espie
Two other knights, that towards them did ply
With speedie course, as bent to charge them new:
Whom whenas Blandamour approching nie,
Perceiv'd to be such as they seemd in vew,
He was full wo, and gan his former griefe renew.
For th' one of them he perfectly descride
To be Sir Scudamour, by that he bore
The God of Love with wings displayed wide;
Whom mortally he hated evermore,
Both for his worth, that all men did adore,
And eke because his love he wonne by right;
Which when he thought, it grieved him full sore,
That through the bruses of his former fight
He now unable was to wreake his old despight.
XL.
Forthy he thus to Paridel bespake;
"Faire Sir! of friendship let me now you pray, "That as I late adventured for your sake "The hurts whereof me now from battell stay, "Ye will me now with like good turne repay, "And iustifie my cause on yonder knight." "Ah! Sir," said Paridel," do not dismay "Yourselfe for this; myselfe will for you fight, "As ye have done for me: the left hand rubs the
[right." With that he put his spurres unto his steed, With speare in rest, and toward him did fare, Like shaft out of a bow preventing speed; But Scudamour was shortly well aware Of his approch, and gan himselfe prepare Him to receive with entertainment meete: So furiously they met, that either bare The other downe under their horses feete, [weete. That what of them became, themselves did scarsly
As when two billowes in the Irish sowndes,
Forcibly driven with contrarie tydes,
Do meete together, each abacke rebowndes
With roaring rage, and dashing on all sides,
That filleth ail the sea with fome, divydes
The doubtfull current into divers wayes,
So fell those two in spight of both their prydes;
But Scudamour himselfe did soone uprayse,
And mounting light, his foe for lying long up[brayes:
Who rolled on an heape lay still in swound,
All carelesse of his taunt and bitter rayle,
Till that the rest him seeing lie on ground
Ran hastily, to weete what did him ayle;
Where finding that the breath gan him to fayle,
With busie care they strove him to awake,
And doft his helmet, and undid his mayle;
So much they did, that at the last they brake
His slomber, yet so mazed that he nothing spake.
XLIV.
Which whenas Blandamour beheld, he sayd,
"False faitour Scudamour, that hast by slight
"And foule advantage this good knight dismayd,
"A knight much better than thyselfe behight,
"Well falles it thee that I am not in plight
"This day to wreake the dammage by thee donne;
"Such is thy wont, that still when any knight
"Is weakned, then thou doest him over-ronne;
"So hast thou to thyselfe false honor often wonne."
|