University of Virginia Library

CANTO V

Now Guy expects a favourable gail,
Which to his hearts desire he doth attain;
And with a speedy passage he doth fail,
To seek Adventures out in in France again;
Where finding none, from thence away he hies
To Lovain, where in siege the Emp'ror lies.
For Segwin Duke of Lovain's hap was such,
At Turnament a Noble-man to kill,
The Emperor's cousin, whom he loved much,
And took the death of him exceeding ill;
So that a quarrel thereupon arose,
And Wars ensu'd betwixt two mighty foes.
Thither goes Guy to lend the Duke his aid,
But in the way an accident besel;
For by Duke Otton he was false betray'd,
And's life in question, which he freed well,
Otton in France before disgrac'd by Guy,
Had vow'd where e're he met him he should die.
And to that end, sixteen appointed were
To lye in ambush, and surprize him so;
All men of resolution, void of fear,
That in a Forest did themselves bestow,
And set on Guy, only with three Knights more,
The like distress he ne're was in before.
Now Gentlemen, and loving Friends (quoth he),
Shew your selves English hearted, rightly bred.
Here is some odds, sixteen unto you three;
But I the fourth will stand you in some stead;
You three shall combat six, that's two for one;
And with the other ten let me alone.
Wherewith he drew his sword, and laid about,
That ratling Armour eccho'd in the skye;
Dealing so resolute amongst the rout,
That down they drop on every side, and die.
Here lyeth one that hath no legs to stand,
And there another wanting head and hand,
Guy quickly made dispatch of his half score,
He was not long in ridding them away:
But then remained half a dozen more,
Which two of his most worthy Knights did slay;
When he perceiv'd them fall, he stampt the ground,
And utter'd forth this fearful angry sound:
Ah villains! how my soul abhors this sight:
For these how my tevenging passion strives:
This bloody deed with blood I will requite.
You die for it, had each a thousand lives.
Two slain out-right, and Heraud wounded too,
Is the last cursed Act that you shall do.
With force (as 'twere exceeding humane strength)
He lays upon them blows to stagger under,
And brought them breathless to the ground, at length
Cut all in piece-meal for the Crows asunder:
There lye (quoth he) and feast Fowls of the Air,
Or feed those savage beasts that will repair.
But these sweet Gentlemen that have resign'd
Their dearest Lives for the defence of me,
And came from England, as their Love inclin'd,
Companions in my hardest haps to be;
I will inter in honourable wise,
With best solemnity I can devise,
From thence unto a Hermit, dwelling nigh,
He rode, and did commit that charge with care,
Who did perform that office carefully,
And Heraud home unto his Cell he bare;
Who was not dead, though Guy suppos'd him slain,
But by the Hermet was restor'd again.
Now forth goes Guy, pensive, perplexed, sad,
Grieving that Destiny so cruel dealt;
For left alone, no company he had,
To ease the torments that in heart he felt:
Till travelling along, at last he found
A place for honour very much renown'd.
There did he meet with Tilt and Turnament,
And entertain both glory and delight;
There fortune yielded him her full consent
To win the best of every valiant Knight:
Of all the worthy men that did resort,
Not one could match him in Duke Reyner's Court.
Then to the Duke of Millain he repairs,
Where for his worth he is admir'd of all:
And understanding that some great affairs
'Twixt Segwin Duke of Lovain did befall,
And th' Emperor; Millain he did forsake,
And towards Lovain did his journey take,
As he did pass upon the way, he meets
A Pilgrim, that with travel seemed faint:
Whom in all human courtesies he greets,
And with some news entreats him to acquaint
His longing ear; he with a sigh or two
Said, Sir, with news I little have to do.
One thing in all this world is all my care,
And only that, and nothing else I mind;
I seek a man, and seek him in despair;
Because I long have sought, and cannot find.
A man more dearly to my souls love ty'd,
Than all the men are in the world beside.
Why, what art thou, quoth Guy, or who is he?
Of kindness be so kind, as tell in brief,
I am an English man of Knights degree,
(Quoth Heraud) and the subject of my grief,
Is loss of one Sir Guy, my Countrey-man,
Guy with joys tears lights to embrace him then.
And art thou living, Heraud, my dear freind
(Quoth he)? and kindly took him in his arms.
Then cheerfully let sorrows all take end,
And let me know who cur'd thee of thy harms?
The good old Hermit by his skill did save me,
With wholsome Medicines and Salves he gave me.
Guy did rejoyce; and Heraud's joys abound
At this so good and happy accident;
No angry Star in opposition frown'd.
But each was owner of his own content:
So posting with good fortune on their side,
Unto the Duke of Lovain they do ride.
The City in distress besieg'd they find,
And very small resistance could be made;
But Segwin was right joyful in his mind,
That worthy Guy was come unto his aid.
For now (quoth he) boldly presume I can,
We have an honourable valiant man.
Advise me, warlike Knight, what's to be done,
To free the present danger we are in?
My Lord (quoth Guy), there's freedom to be won;
Ev'n by a course my self will first begin:
Let's issue forth upon them presently,
Our Courages will make the Cowards fly:
I'le give consent to any thing thou wilt,
Thy project willingly I do approve:
Let limb be lost, let life and blood be spilt,
All follow thee, that comes to me in love,
Open the Gates, let's beat them from our Walls:
He lies no lower than the ground, that falls.
Then suddenly the City they forsake,
And on the Almains resolutely set,
Where such a bloody slaughter they did make,
That many thousand lives paid Death his debt,
Of thirty thousand that in Siege there lay,
Scarce thirty hundred that escap'd away.
The Emperor at this was much agrieved,
And with new forces gave a new assault,
Knowing the City could not be relieved,
And then their strength would weaken by default.
So comes upon them with a fresh supply,
Thinking at length to famish them thereby.
Guy and the Duke upon the Walls appear,
And tell him he shall never win the Town:
For they can spare their Soldiers much good cheer,
Throwing them Victuals in abundance down:
Intreating them, if they want more than that,
To speak, they shall have store to make them fat.
But now quoth Guy, your Bodies are well fed,
How do you feel your Stomachs to go fight?
I am afraid you are not rightly bred,
But Dunghils, that will sooner crow than bite;
For still when Cowards do begin a fray,
Look e're it ends, to see them run away;
And so your selves have lately done we see,
Your tounges we heard, but hands there's no man feels:
Most hot to brabble and contend you be,
But wondrous quick and nimble at your heels.
We did suspect when you came here to forage,
We should have been incumbred with your courage.
But it's not so, alas you're not the men,
Unless perhaps asleep you should us catch;
For waking we'l encounter one for ten,
And never wish to have a better match:
Have at you once again, sit fast, we come,
March on my hearts, sound trumpet, strike up drum:
Upon the sudden with the Foe they be,
Fighting like men that laught pale death to scorn,
Resolved now they would their City free,
Or never live to see the next day morn.
Much blood was shed, great store of lives it cost,
And on the Almains side the day was lost.
The Duke, with Guy, pursue their foes in chase;
Who like so many Hares away do fly,
Wishing that they had wings to mend their pace;
So sweet is life to them that fear to die.
But Fortune in an angry doom decreed,
Their glory, honour, fame and life should bleed:
The Victors to the City then retired,
With Trophies of triumphant glory won;
And all that heard the Action much admired
The great exploit so resolutely done:
But unto Guy the Duke all thanks did yield;
For thou quoth he) art Cæsar of our field
My Lord (quoth Guy), I joy not half so much,
That we have wrought a freedom by the sword,
As I should glory, if my hap were such,
'Twixt you and th' Emperor to make accord:
Give me but leave, I will endeavour it;
And put good will to a blunt Soldiers Wit.
The Duke consents with thanks, and doth intreat
Him take a guard of Soldiers forth the Town;
Danger that seems but little, may prove great,
I would not have thee wrong'd for Reyners Crown
Go honourable man, what thou shalt do,
I'le set my hand, my heart, my life thereto.
Guy goes unto the Emperor, speaks thus:
High Majesty, all health unto thy Grace,
And peace to thee, if thou say peace to us;
And love to thee, if thou wilt love embrace:
As we are Christians, let us War no more,
But fight 'gainst such as will not God adore,
We sue to thee not in a servile manner,
As dreading any power or force thou hast;
For Victory doth now display his banner,
And War yields us a sweet and pleasant tast;
No cause doth move it, but a Conscience cause,
To bring the Heathens to Religious Laws.
Speak Reyner, and resolve, what wilt thou do?
With Soldiers brevity my Message ends;
Give me an Answer, ev'n as brief hereto:
Shall we be Christians Foes, or Christian Friends?
Shall we among our selves the Name divide?
Or challenge them that have the same deni'd?
Brave English man! hadst thou spoke thus before,
Thousands, quoth he, had liv'd which now are slain;
Earth should have wanted of that slaughter'd store
Which doth in her vast bowels now remain:
Thou hast prvail'd with me, hot War shall cease,
And I embrace thee as a friend in piece,
Thy motion tends to Honour, Honour's Knight,
And thou shalt live in Fame's immortal praise,
When thou art buried in eternal night,
Thy name shall last the longest length of days.
Thou dost the Worthies of the world exceed,
Blest be the Countrey did thy person breed.
Come, go my Liege (quoth Guy) unto the Town,
And to Duke Segwin there a League renew:
Our end shall be to pull the Pagans down,
That unto Christ's Religion are untrue.
My greatest joy will be to hear it said,
This is the best days work that e're Guy made.