Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Books IV-VII

Name: Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Books IV-VII
Author: Spenser, Edmund

Spenser, Edmund

English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry

Then tooke the bold Sir _Satyrane_ in hand                        xvii
      An huge great speare, such as he wont to wield,
      And vauncing forth from all the other band
      Of knights, addrest his maiden-headed[74] shield,
      Shewing him selfe all ready for the field.
      Gainst whom there singled from the other side
      A Painim knight, that well in armes was skild,
      And had in many a battell oft bene tride,
    Hight _Bruncheual_ the bold, who fiersly forth did ride.

    So furiously they both together met,                             xviii
      That neither could the others force sustaine;
      As two fierce Buls, that striue the rule to get
      Of all the heard, meete with so hideous maine,
      That both rebutted, tumble on the plaine:
      So these two champions to the ground were feld,
      Where in a maze they both did long remaine,
      And in their hands their idle troncheons held,
    Which neither able were to wag, or once to weld.

    Which when the noble _Ferramont_ espide,                           xix
      He pricked forth in ayd of _Satyran_;
      And him against Sir _Blandamour_ did ride
      With all the strength and stifnesse that he can.
      But the more strong and stiffely that he ran,
      So much more sorely to the ground he fell,
      That on an[75] heape were tumbled horse and man.
      Vnto whose rescue forth rode _Paridell_;
    But him likewise with that same speare he eke did quell.

    Which _Braggadocchio_ seeing, had no will                           xx
      To hasten greatly to his parties ayd,
      Albee his turne were next; but stood there still,
      As one that seemed doubtfull or dismayd.
      But _Triamond_ halfe wroth to see him staid,
      Sternly stept forth, and raught away his speare,
      With which so sore he _Ferramont_ assaid,
      That horse and man to ground he quite did beare,
    That neither could in hast themselues againe vpreare.

    Which to auenge, Sir _Deuon_ him did dight,                        xxi
      But with no better fortune then the rest:
      For him likewise he quickly downe did smight,
      And after him Sir _Douglas_ him addrest,
      And after him Sir _Paliumord_[76] forth prest,
      But none of them against his strokes could stand,
      But all the more, the more his praise increst.
      For either they were left vppon the land,
    Or went away sore wounded of his haplesse hand.

    And now by this, Sir _Satyrane_ abraid,                           xxii
      Out of the swowne, in which too long he lay;
      And looking round about, like one dismaid,
      When as he saw the mercilesse affray,
      Which doughty _Triamond_ had wrought that day,
      Vnto the noble Knights of Maidenhead,
      His mighty heart did almost rend in tway,
      For very gall, that rather wholly dead
    Himselfe he wisht haue beene, then in so bad a stead.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Spenser's Faerie Queene, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Books IV-VII

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