Her fertile wombe, which goodly fruit did beare, Now barren made, war’s stormie breath hath blasted, Her buds of gaysome youth, which whilome were The flowers of chiualrie, haue headlong hasted Their timelesse end, while she in woe hath wasted, And we the cause, we wretches, that delight By wicked warre to worke her more despight. 62. O noble princes, let not warre’s blacke hand Put out for aye the shine of England’s light, About whose right, both in contention stand, But combate for it in a single fight, And he that conquers, his be it by right: Faire conquest’s gift is in the hand of heau’n, Which vnto truth, for truth’s owne sake is giuen.” 63. He hauing said, forthwith I forth did step, And cast my brazen gauntlet on the plaine, To which _Canute_ with courage bold did lep And tooke it vp, casting in deepe disdaine His rich grau’d gauntlet on the ground againe, Which I accepted and propos’d the day, When we in fight each other should assay. 64. For battell was design’d a plot of ground Within a little ile, which Olney hight, Whom Seuerne with his armes incircleth round, Where we as combatants in single fight Should d’araine bettell in both armie’s sight, While they assigned were by our command, On th’other side of Seuern’s streame to stand. 65. The day of fight being come and order giuen, Through either host to euery seuerall band To keepe their stand, my souldiers vp to heau’n Did cast their eyes, beseeching Ioue to stand By me in fight, and grace my powerfull hand With conquest ’gainst _Canute_, by whom cast downe, They did expect the rise of my renowne. 66. As they thus prai’d, I arm’d me for the fight, And being mounted on a sprightfull steed, When ’twixt both armies I appear’d in sight, My terrible aspect did terror breed Vnto the aduerse part, but hope did feed My souldier’s sight to see my goodly grace, My stout demeanor, and my stately pace. 67. As Priam’s Hector on the barren plaine, Manag’d his horse before the walles of Troy, When he in single battell did maintaine Troye’s right ’gainst Telamon, who did imploy All his best strength bold Hector to destroy, So on my steed I trotted to and fro, Waiting th’approch of my expected foe. 68.