English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
Ah dearest Lord (quoth she) how might that bee,
2 And he the stoutest knight, that euer wonne?
Ah dearest dame (quoth he) how might I see
4 The thing, that might not be, and yet was donne?
Where is (said _Satyrane_) that Paynims sonne,
6 That him of life, and vs of ioy hath reft?
Not far away (quoth he) he hence doth wonne
8 Foreby a fountaine, where I late him left
Washing his bloudy wounds, that through the steele were cleft.
1 "Ah, dearest Lord!" quoth she, "how might that be,
2 And he the stoutest knight, that ever won?"
stoutest > bravest; strongest
ever won > invariably used to win; _or:_ ever lived
3 "Ah, dearest dame," quoth he, "how might I see
4 The thing that might not be, and yet was done?"
5 "Where is," said Satyrane, "that paynim's son,
paynim > pagan, heathen
6 That him of life, and us of joy, has reft?"
reft > bereaved
7 "Not far away," quoth he, "he hence does won,
hence > from here, away from here (pleonastic)
won > dwell; _hence:_ remain
8 Forby a fountain, where I late him left
Forby > Hard by, near
late > recently
9 Washing his bloody wounds, that through the steel were cleft."
106.40
Therewith the knight thence marched forth in hast,
2 Whiles _Vna_ with huge heauinesse opprest,
Could not for sorrow follow him so fast;
4 And soone he came, as he the place had ghest,
Whereas that _Pagan_ proud him selfe did rest,
6 In secret shadow by a fountaine side:
Euen he it was, that earst would haue supprest
8 Faire _Vna_: whom when _Satyrane_ espide,
With fowle reprochfull words he boldly him defide.
1 Therewith the knight thence marched forth in haste,
Therewith > With that, thereupon
2 While Una, with huge heaviness oppressed,
heaviness > sadness, grief
3 Could not for sorrow follow him so fast;
4 And soon he came, as he the place had guessed,
5 Where that pagan proud himself did rest
that pagan proud > [Sansloy]
6 In secret shadow by a fountain's side:
secret > hidden
7 Even he it was, that erst would have suppressed
erst > recently
suppressed > forced (cf. 106.4:9)
8 Fair Una: whom when Satyrane espied,
9 With foul reproachful words he boldly him defied.
106.41
And said, Arise thou cursed Miscreaunt,
2 That hast with knightlesse guile and trecherous train
Faire knighthood fowly shamed, and doest vaunt
4 That good knight of the _Redcrosse_ to haue slain:
Arise, and with like treason now maintain
6 Thy guilty wrong, or else thee guilty yield.
The Sarazin this hearing, rose amain,
8 And catching vp in hast his three square shield,
And shining helmet, soone him buckled to the field.
1 And said, "Arise, you cursed miscreant,
miscreant > infidel; villain; wretch
2 That has with knightless guile and treacherous train
knightless > unknightly, unchivalrous
train > deceit
3 Fair knighthood foully shamed, and do vaunt
vaunt > boast
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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