222
The second Booke of
Cant. III.
He is a great aduenturer, (said he)That hath his sword through hard assay forgone,And now hath vowd, till he auenged bee,Of that despight, neuer to wearen none;That speare is him enough to doen a thousand grone.
Th'enchaunter greatly ioyed in the vaunt,And weened well ere long his will to win,And both his foen with equall foyle to daunt.Tho to him louting lowly did beginTo plaine of wronges, which had committed binBy Guyon, and by that false Redcrosse knight,Which two through treason and deceiptfull gin,Had slayne Sir Mordant, and his Lady bright:That more him honour win, to wreak so foule despight.
Therewith all suddeinly he seemd enragd,And threatned death with dreadfull countenaunce,As if their liues had in his hand beene gagd;And with stiffe force shaking his mortall launce,To let him weet his doughtie valiaunce,Thus said; Old man, great sure shalbe thy meed,If where those knights for feare of dew vengeaunceDoe lurke, thou certeinly to mee areed,That I may wreake on them their hainous hateful deed.
Certes, my Lord, (said he) that shall I soone,And giue you eke good helpe to their decay.But mote I wisely you aduise to doon;Giue no ods to your foes, but doe puruayYour selfe of sword before that bloody day:For they be two the prowest knights on grownd,And oft approu'd in many hard assay,And eke of surest steele, that may be fownd,Doe arme yourself against that day, them to confownd.
Dotard
