Well mote ye wonder how that noble Knight, xxiii After he had so often wounded beene, Could stand on foot, now to renew the fight. But had ye then him forth aduauncing seene, Some newborne wight ye would him surely weene: So fresh he seemed and so fierce in sight; Like as a Snake, whom wearie winters teene[57] Hath worne to nought, now feeling sommers might, Casts off his ragged skin and freshly doth him dight. All was through vertue of the ring he wore, xxiv The which not onely did not from him let One drop of bloud to fall, but did restore His weakned powers, and dulled spirits whet, Through working of the stone therein yset. Else how could one of equall might with most, Against so many no lesse mightie met, Once thinke to match three such on equall cost, Three such as able were to match a puissant host. Yet nought thereof was _Triamond_ adredde, xxv Ne desperate of glorious victorie, But sharpely him assayld, and sore bestedde, With heapes of strokes, which he at him let flie, As thicke as hayle forth poured from the skie: He stroke[58], he soust, he foynd, he hewd, he lasht, And did his yron brond so fast applie, That from the same the fierie sparkles flasht, As fast as water-sprinkles gainst a rocke are dasht. Much was _Cambello_ daunted with his blowes.[59] xxvi So thicke they fell, and forcibly were sent, That he was forst from daunger of the throwes Backe to retire, and somewhat to relent, Till th’heat of his fierce furie he had spent: Which when for want of breath gan to abate, He then afresh with new encouragement Did him assayle, and mightily amate, As fast as forward erst, now backward to retrate. Like as the tide that comes fro th’Ocean mayne, xxvii Flowes vp the Shenan with contrarie forse, And ouerruling him in his owne rayne, Driues backe the current of his kindly course, And makes it seeme to haue some other sourse: But when the floud is spent, then backe againe His borrowed waters forst to redisbourse, He sends the sea his owne with double gaine, And tribute eke withall, as to his Soueraine. Thus did the battell varie to and fro, xxviii With diuerse fortune doubtfull to be deemed: Now this the better had, now had his fo; Then he halfe vanquisht, then the other seemed, Yet victors both them selues alwayes esteemed. And all the while the disentrayled blood Adowne their sides like litle riuers stremed, That with the wasting of his vitall flood, Sir _Triamond_ at last full faint and feeble stood.