THE FAERIE QUEENE by Edmund Spenser TO The ... - Planet.ee

www.TaleBooks.comThe face of heven, and the cleare ayre engroste,The world in darkenes dwels; till that at lastThe watry Southwinde, from the seabord costeUpblowing, doth disperse the vapour lo'ste,And poures it selfe forth in a stormy showre:So the fayre Britomart, having disclo'steHer clowdy care into a wrathfull stowre,The mist of griefe dissolv'd did into vengeance powre.XIV. Eftsoones, her goodly shield addressing fayre,That mortall speare she in her hand did take,And unto battaill did her selfe prepayre.The knight, approching, sternely her bespake:"Sir knight, that doest thy voyage rashly makeBy this forbidden way in my despight,Ne doest by others death ensample take,I read thee soone retyre, whiles thou hast might,Least afterwards it be too late to take thy flight."XV. Ythrild with deepe disdaine of his proud threat,She shortly thus: "Fly they, that need to fly;Wordes fearen babes. I meane not thee entreatTo passe, but maugre thee will passe or dy."Ne lenger stayd for th' other to reply,But with sharpe speare the rest made dearly knowne.Strongly the straunge knight ran, and sturdilyStrooke her full on the brest, that made her downeDecline her head, and touch her crouper with her crown.XVI. But she againe him in the shield did smiteWith so fierce furie and great puissaunce,That, through his three-square scuchin percing quiteAnd through his mayled hauberque, by mischaunceThe wicked steele through his left side did glaunce.Him so transfixed she before her boreBeyond his croupe, the length of all her launce;Till, sadly soucing on the sandy shore,He tombled on an heape, and wallowd in his gore.XVII. Like as the sacred Oxe that carelesse stands,With gilden hornes and flowry girlonds crownd,Proud of his dying honor and deare bandes,Whiles th' altars fume with frankincense arownd,All suddeinly, with mortall stroke astownd,Doth groveling fall, and with his streaming goreDistaines the pillours and the holy grownd,And the faire flowres that decked him afore:So fell proud Marinell upon the pretious shore.XVIII. The martiall Mayd stayd not him to lament,But forward rode, and kept her ready wayAlong the strond; which, as she over-went,She saw bestrowed all with rich arayOf pearles and pretious stones of great assay,Page 296 , Faerie Queene, The - Edmund Spenser