English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
1 The faithful knight in equal field
equal field > impartial battle
2 subdues his faithless foe,
3 Whom false Duessa saves, and for
4 his cure to hell does go.
105.1
THe noble hart, that harbours vertuous thought,
2 And is with child of glorious great intent,
Can neuer rest, vntill it forth haue brought
4 Th'eternall brood of glorie excellent:
Such restlesse passion did all night torment
6 The flaming corage of that Faery knight,
Deuizing, how that doughtie turnament
8 With greatest honour he atchieuen might;
Still did +he+ wake, and still did watch for dawning light.
9 he > _omitted from 1596_
1 The noble heart, that harbours virtuous thought,
virtuous > potent, powerful, valorous
2 And is with child of glorious great intent,
with child > [pregnant]
glorious > {Eager for glory}
3 Can never rest, until it forth has brought
4 The eternal brood of glory excellent:
excellent > excelling; supreme
5 Such restless passion did all night torment
6 The flaming courage of that Faery knight,
courage > heart, mind
7 Devising how that doughty tournament
8 With greatest honour he achieve might;
achieve > [bring to successful conclusion]
9 Still did he wake, and still did watch for dawning light.
Still > Continuously
105.2
At last the golden Orientall +gate,+
2 Of greatest heauen gan to open faire,
And _Ph{oe}bus_ fresh, as bridegrome to his mate,
4 Came dauncing forth, shaking his deawie haire:
And +hurld+ his glistring beames through gloomy aire.
6 Which when the wakeful Elfe perceiu'd, streight way
He started vp, and did him selfe prepaire,
8 In sun-bright armes, and battailous array:
For with that Pagan proud he combat will that day.
1 gate, > gate _1609_
5 hurld > hurls _1590, 1596: FE;_ hurles _1609_
1 At last the golden oriental gate
oriental > eastern
2 Of greatest heaven began to open fair,
3 And Phoebus fresh, as bridegroom to his mate,
bridegroom > (See _Ps._ 19.5)
4 Came dancing forth, shaking his dewy hair:
5 And hurled his glistering beams through gloomy air.
6 Which when the wakeful Elf perceived, straightway
7 He started up, and did himself prepare,
8 In sun-bright arms, and battailous array:
arms > {Arms and armour}
battailous > warlike, ready for battle
9 For with that pagan proud he combat will that day.
105.3
And forth he comes into the +commune+ hall,
2 Where earely waite him many a gazing eye,
To weet what end to straunger knights may fall.
4 There many Minstrales maken melody,
To driue away the dull melancholy,
6 And many Bardes, that to the trembling chord
Can tune their timely voyces cunningly,
8 And many Chroniclers, that can record
Old loues, and warres for Ladies doen by many a Lord.
1 commune > common _1609_
1 And forth he comes into the common hall,
2 Where early wait him many a gazing eye,
3 To weet what end to stranger knights may fall.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account