Cant. II.
the Faerie Queene.
23
With faire disport and courting dalliaunceShe intertainde her louer all the way:But when she saw the knight his speare aduaunce,Shee soone left of her mirth and wanton play,And bad her knight addresse him to the fray:His foe was nigh at hand. He prickte with prideAnd hope to winne his Ladies hearte that day.Forth spurred fast: adowne his coursers sideThe red bloud trickling staind the way, as he did ride.
The knight of the Redcrosse when him he spide,Spurring so hote with rage dispiteous,Gan fairely couch his speare, and towards ride:Soone meete they both, both fell and furious,That daunted with theyr forces hideous,Theit steeds doe stagger, and amazed stand,And eke themselues too rudely rigorous,Astonied with the stroke of their owne hand,Doe backe rebutte, and ech to other yealdeth land.
As when two rams stird with ambitious pride,Fight for the rule of the rich fleeced flocke,Their horned fronts so fierce on either side,Doe meete, that with the terror of the shocke.Astonied both, stands fencelesse as a blocke.Forgetfull of the hanging victory:So stood these twaine, vnmoued as a rocke,Both staring fierce, and holding idely,The broken reliques of their former cruelty.
The Sarazin sore daunted with the buffeSnatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies;Who well it wards, and quyteth cuff with cuff:Each others equall puissaunce enuies,
And
