With his great yron fledge doth strongly on it By this upftarting from her fwoune, fhe ftar'd
So did Sir Artegall upon her lay,
As if he had an yron andvile beene,
That flakes of fire bright as the funny ray,
Out of her steele armes were flashing feene,
That all on fire ye would her furely weene;
But with her fhield fo well herfeife fhe warded
From the dread daunger of his weapon keene,
That all that while her life fhe fafely garded,
But he that helpe from her against her will dif-
carded:
For with his trenchant blade at the next blow
Halfe of her fhicid he fhared quite away,
That halfe her fide itfelfe did naked fhow,
And thenceforth unto daunger opened way.
Much was the moved with the mighty fway
Of that fad ftroke, that halfe enrag'd fhe grew;
And like a greedie beare unto her pray,
With her fharp cemitare at him fhe flew,
That glauncing downe his thigh, the purple bloud
forth drew.
Thercat fhe gan to triumph with great boast,
And to upbraid that chaunce which him misfell,
As if the prize she gotten had almost,
With frightfull fpeaches, fitting with her well,
That his great hart gan inwardly to fwell
With indignation at her vaunting vaine,
And at her ftrooke with puiffance fearefull fell;
Yet with her fhield fhe warded it againe,
That shattered all to pieces round about the
plaine.
Having her thus difarmed of her fhield,
Upon her helmet he againe her ftrooke,
That downe fhe fell upon the graffie field
In fenccleffe fwoune, as if her life forfooke,
And pangs of death her fpirit overtooke;
Whom when he faw before his foote proftrated,
He to her lept with deadly dreadfull looke,
And her fun-fhynie helmet foone unlaced,
Thinking at once both head and helmet to have
raced.
But whenas he difcovered had her face,
He faw, his fences ftraunge aftonishment,
A miracle of Nature's goodly grace
In her faire vifage voide of ornament,
Awhile about her with confufed eye,
Like one that from his dreame is waked suddenlye,
Much did he marvell at her uncouth fpeach, Whofe hidden drift he could not well perceive; And gan to doubt least the him fought t'appeach Of treafon, or fome guile full traine did weave,
As one that would confeffe, yet faine would it Through which the might his wretched life be denie.
"Her dayes in warre, yet (weet thou) was ret
Then his foe's love or liking entertaine :
His refolution was both first and last,
His bodie was her thrall, his hart was freely plaft,
Which when the cruell Amazon perceived,
She gan to ftorme, and rage, and rend her gall,
For very fell defpight, which he conceived,
To be fo fcorned of a base-borne thrall,
Whofe life did lie in her leaft eye-lid's fall;
Of which the vow'd with many a cursed threat,
That the therefore would him ere long forfall:
Nathleffe when calmed was her furious heat,
She chang'd that threatfull mood, and mildly gan
"What now is left, Clarinda? what remaines, "That we may compaffe this our enterprize? "Great fhame to lofe fo long employed paines. "And greater fhame t'abide fo great milprize, "With which he dares our offers thus defpize; "Yet that his guilt the greater may appeare, "And more my gratious mercie by this wize, "I will a while with his first folly beare "Till thou have tride againe, and tempted him
"Say and do all that may thereto prevaile; "Leave nought unpromift that may him per< "fwade,
Life, freedome, grace, and gifts of great availe, "With which the gods themselves are mylder "made:
"Thereto adde art, even womens witty trade, "The art of mightie words, that men can charme; "With which in cafe thou canst him not invade, "Let him feele hardneffe of thy heavy arme : "Who will not ftoupe with good, shall be made "floupe with harme.
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