248
The second Booke of
Cant. V.
He hewd, and lasht, and foynd, and thondred blowes,And euery way did seeke into his life,Ne plate, ne male could ward so mighty throwes,But yeilded passage to his cruell knife.But Guyon, in the heat of all his strife,Was wary wise, and closely did awaytAuauntage, whilest his foe did rage most rife;Sometimes a thwart, sometimes he strook him strayt,And falsed oft his blowes, t'illude him with such bayt.
Like as a Lyon, whose imperiall powreA prowd rebellious Vnicorne defyes,T'auoide the rash assault and wrathfull stowreOf his fiers foe, him to a tree applyes,And when him ronning in full course he spyes,He slips aside; the whiles that furious beastHis precious horne, sought of his enimyeStrikes in the stocke, ne thence can be releast,But to the mighty victor yields a bounteous feast.
With such faire sleight him Guyon often fayld,Till at the last all breathlesse, weary, faintHim spying, with fresh onsett he assayld,And kindling new his corage seeming queint,Strooke him so hugely, that through grear constraintHe made him stoup perforce vnto his knee,And doe vnwilling worship to the Saint,That on his shield depainted he did see;Such homage till that instant neuer learned hee.
Whom Guyon seeing stoup, poursewed fastThe present offer of faire victory,And soone his dreadfull blade about he cast,Wherewith he smote his haughty crest so hye,
That
