University of Virginia Library

CANTO III.

Inlarg'd from sorrow's thraldom by hope's bail,
Guy arms his thoughts with Honours enterprize,
Imbarks himself, and into France doth fail
Leaving fair England, where his comfort lies,
He seeks for Enemies, he longs for Foes,
And now desires to be a dealing blows.
In Normandy arriv'd, he understands
That there was Warlike business to be done,
For valiant Knights of divers Christian Lands,
The race of Valour did intend to run:
A great advantage was propounded there,
Which news was musick to his greedy ear,
The prize that drew them all unto this Place,
Was Daughter to the Almain Emperor,
For Blanch, with such a wondrous heavenly face,
It had attractive beauty full of power:
In her such Graces did unite together,
The Worthies of the world came posting thither.
Who won the Damsel (it was thus decreed)
By manly courage, and victorious might,
Should have her mounted on a milk-white Steed,
Two Greyhounds and a Faulcon, all in white:
This was his lot that could attain the day,
To bear the Honour, and the Maid away.
Our English Knight prepares him for the Field
Where Kings were present, Princes did repair;
Where Dukes and Earls a great Assembly held
About the face that was so wondrous fair:
Though only one must speed, and hundreds miss,
Yet each man there imagines Blanch is his.
The spacious field where they assembled were,
Hardly affordeth room for Armed Crouds:
The golden glittering Armour that was there,
Did dart the Sun-beams back into the Clouds:
The pamper'd horses proudly stamp the ground,
To hear the clamour of the Trumpets sound.
A German Prince of an undaunted sprite,
A first and very fierce Encounter gave
Unto an Earl, whose valour did requite
With blow for blow, as resolutely brave;
Till by a stroke the Earl receiv'd on's head,
He was unhors'd, falling to ground for dead.
Then Guy came forth with courage to the Prince,
And deals with him as Hercules would do;
Like force he never felt before nor since,
Such hard extreams he ne're was put unto:
Just where himself had laid the Earl in swound,
There down comes he, both horse and man to ground.
Duke Otton seeing this, was in a rage,
And desp'rate humour did incense him so,
He vow'd by Heaven nothing should asswage
His fury, but the death of that proud Foe.
Prepare thee, fight, to breathe thy last (quoth he)
Monster, or Devil, or what e're thou be.
They joyn together with a dreadful fight,
The splinters fly, and clatteing Armour sounds;
The dust ascended up, and blinds their sight;
The blood allays it, streaming forth their wounds;
Both their swords break, they light, and on his back
Guy threw the Duke, that ev'n his bones did crack.
Duke Rainer would revenge his Cousin then,
And for Encounter he prepareth next.
Quoth Guy, I find y'are wretches and no men,
That with a blow or fall so soon be vext:
But come, and welcome, I am for you all;
We say in England, The weakest must to th' wall.
They rush together, that the ground did shake,
Whilst animating Trumpets sound alarm;
In Rainer's shoulder Guy a wound did make,
Whereby he lost the use of his right arm;
Yielding himself as others did before,
Unable once to wield his weapon more.
Then for a while all stood amaz'd at Guy,
And not a man was forward to proceed;
Till Lovaine's Duke his Fortunes went to try,
Having good hope that he should better speed:
Well mounted, and well arm'd, he fair did sit
On a proud Steed, that ill indur'd the bit.
I think (quoth he) thou some Inchanter art,
That hath the force of Magick in thine arm,
I'le teach thee to believe e're we depart,
Quoth Guy, for thou shalt feel that I can charm:
I'le conjure thee even with an Iron Spell,
My sword shall send thee unto Heaven or Hell.
With that he lent him such a cruel stroke,
That the other did return a weak reply;
With second and with third his Helmet broke;
Hold, hold (quoth he) I'le rather yield than die:
Fight for a Woman he that list for me,
I think the Devil cannot deal with thee:
Then not a man that would encounter more,
They all were terrifi'd and stood in fear;
And in a rage among themselves they swore,
What shall a stranger all the honour bear
Of this great day? What cursed fortune's this,
That all the glory of the field is his!
Amongst themselves his happiness they curst,
In envy's heat, not knowing what to do;
They could have kill'd him, but that no man durst
Put his own life in hazard thereunto.
If wishes might have done it, he had dy'd,
But fight with him not any could abide.
The Emperor, for Guy, a Knight did send,
Asking his Name and Birthright, which he told;
Then said His Majesty, I much commend
Thy haughty Courage resolutely bold:
Brave English man, thou art thy countreys pride,
In Europe lives not such a man beside.
I do admire thy worth, thy Valour's great;
To speak thy praise my tongue cannot suffice;
Ascend to Honour's just deserved seat,
That art a second Hector in mine eyes.
This day thy worthy hand hath shew'd me more
Than in my life I ever saw before.
Come and receive thy due desert of me,
My Daughter's love is free at thy dispose,
The Greyhounds, Steed and Faulcon, take to thee;
Thy worthiness doth merit more than those:
Hold, here's a Jewel, wear it for my sake,
Which I a witness of my love do make.
Guy thank'd his Highness for his gracious favour,
And vow'd him service whilst his life did last,
Then to the Princess with a mild behaviour,
A reverent, humble, modest look he cast,
Saying, Fair Lady, Fortune is my Friend,
That doth such beauty to my lot extend.
Madam, accept your loyal English Knight,
To do true service when you please command it:
Who, while he hath a drop of blood, will fight
In your behalf, against who dare withstand it:
To be your Husband is degree too high;
'Tis Grace sufficient, call me Servant Guy:
In England doth my Marriage Love remain,
To whom I must and will be true forever;
About whose face Nature hath took such pain,
I durst have sworn flesh cou'd have matcht it never;
But now I find (that curiously have ey'd her)
There is a Phœnix in the world beside her,
And that's your self; I dare the world deny it;
But which is fairest, eye cannot decide,
No humane judgment in the world can try it,
Who hath most Beauty, Blanch, or my fair Bride,
I dare be bold to call your Beauties Twins,
And Venns Blackamoor to both your skins.
Oh Phælice! here's thy Picture in this Princess,
Methinks th' art present in her lovely look:
Thou that of my souls faculties art Mistress,
Recorded in Time's brazen leaved Book;
To thee if I prove false, or be misled,
Jove's fearful vengeance light upon my head.
Quoth Blanch, Thy constancy (and sighed deep)
Is highly to be praised; thou dost well:
He that Love's-promise will no faithful keep,
In horrors and in torments let him dwell.
But I suppose thy vows are yet to make,
And so what thy sword won, thy heart may take.
What I avouch is true, the Heaven knows,
My protestations are above the skies;
Madam, the Sun declines, day ancient grows,
I'le take my leave of you in humble-wise,
My Body is unto repose inclin'd,
Although no rest be in my troubled mind.
My troubled mind's in Warwick-Castle now,
Although my body be in Normandy.
Here I make others bend, there I do bow,
And lowly as the humble ground do lye,
Even at Love's feet I cast my self to ground,
Though Victory my Temples here have crown'd.
I cannot stay, I must to England back,
My mind misgives me, Phælice is not well:
Like my sad thoughts, my Armour shall be black!
I'le suit me in a mournful Iron-shell:
For where the mind meets with suspicious cares,
Distrust is ever dealing doubtful shares.
Yet I have much good fortune on my side,
That know the means how to attain my bliss;
For Phælice's Love is to Conditions ty'd,
And I do trust she is my own for this:
By this she may: but if she more require,
There's nothing in the world I will deny'r.
With hasty journey he is homeward bound.
Leaving the vulgar to the nine days wonder:
Arriving safely on the English ground,
Posting to her, suppos'd too long asunder:
Whom with more joy his chearful looks behold,
Than can by pen, or lines of ink be told,

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A woodcut illustration appears here in the text with the following caption:

In France all Knights of Christendom,
To win a Princess, meet:
Guy conquers all, and wins the prize,
Then doth his Goddess greet.