194
The second Booke of
Cant. I.
The valley did with coole shade ouercast;Through midst thereof a little riuer rold,By which there sate a knight with helme vnlaste,Himselfe refreshing with the liquid cold,After his trauell long, and labours manifold.
Lo yonder he, cryde Archimage alowd,That wrought the shamefull fact, which I did shew,And now he doth himselfe in secret shrowd,To fly the vengeaunce for his outrage dew;But vaine: for ye shall dearely do him rew,So God ye speed, and send you good successe;Which we far off will here abide to vew.So they him left, inflam'd with wrathfulnesse,That streight against that knight his speare he did addresse.
Who seeing him from far so fierce to pricke,His warlike armes about him gan embrace,And in the rest his ready speare did sticke;Tho when as still he saw him towards pace,He gan rencounter him in equall race:They bene ymett, both ready to affrap,When suddeinly that warriour gan abaceHis threatned speare, as if some new mishapHad him betide, or hidden danger did entrap.
And cryde, Mercie Sir knight, and mercie Lord,For mine offence and heedelesse hardiment,That had almost committed crime abhord,And with reprochfull shame mine honour shent,Whiles cursed steele against that badge I bent,The sacred badge of my Redeemers death,Which on your shield is set for ornament:But his fierce foe his steed could stay vneath,Who prickt with courage kene, did cruell battell breath
But
