University of Virginia Library

CANTO VI.

The power of peace hath vanquisht stubborn War,
And mighty Princes worthily conclude,
The sword shall rust in sheath before it jar,
To be with blood of Innocents imbrew'd:
Christians in Name and Actions to unite,
'Gainst unbelieving Infidels to fight.
Guy with a thousand men doth take his leave,
To hearken further after Martial news,
And doth a true intelligence receive,
That barb'rous Pagans, Sarazens and Jews,
Turks, and the like, of Mahomet's blind Crew,
In most confused War each others slew.
To them he goes, partial on neither part,
His sword did favour every side alike,
They all were odious to him in his heart;
Which arm'd his hand with vigour for to strike,
And work amazement unto their contending.
Coming so roughly to their quarrels ending,
Qouth they amongst themselves, What fellow's this,
That lays about him like a mad man thus?
Of certainty, more than a man he is;
For human force would fear to fight with us:
But if he be, as seemeth by his shape,
Had he ten thousand lives he should not scape.
Then did a haughty Pagan step to Guy,
And said to him, if Valour in thee rest,
Let's have a little sport 'twixt thee and I,
Only to see which of our Swords cuts best:
Thou hast a weapon there like to a Reed:
Methinks it is too blunt to make one bleed.
Too blunt (quoth Guy)! and in his anger groans.
Pagan, I fike thy humour passing well.
I'le whet it, e're we part, upon thy bones,
And then another tale thou wilt me tell;
If it should fail me now, it were a wonder,
Such Lubbers it hath often hew'd in sunder.
But come, art ready? Bid thy friends adieu,
And fay thy Prayers unto thy Pagan Gods;
For I do mean to use thee like a Jew,
Because with Christians thou dost stand at odds;
Look that thy head be set on sure and fast,
Or, mortal man, I'le prove thee but a blast.
Then did they lend each other lufty knocks,
That sparks of fire did from their Helmets fly:
The Martial multitude about them flocks,
Expecting all the end and death of Guy:
For Colbrond, whom he fought withal, was strong,
And had been Champion to the Pagans long.
At length Guy lent him such a speedy blow,
That down comes Colbrond and his strength to ground.
Pagan (quoth he), is my sword sharp or no,
With which even now such a blunt fault you found?
Rise quick, for if thy legs thou canst not feel,
Off goes thy head as sure as this is steel.
Forthwith he made him shorter by the head,
And that unto the Emperor he sent.
The Infidels grew all astonished,
For they in Colbrond were so confident,
They durst have ventured goods, and life, and limb,
On any Combat that was fought by him,
Then Heraud (to give Guy some breathing space)
Challeng'd a Pagan, called Elmadant;
And dar'd him, and defi'd him to his face;
(For Valiant Heraud did no courage want)
The Pagan somewhat hot with fury fill'd,
Did combat, being quickly cool'd and kill'd.
Presently Guy unto another comes,
Call'd Morgadour, and soundly with his blade
Lays on him, and his senses so benums,
He tumbles head-long like a tired Jade:
The Pagans seeing their Champions thus go down,
Forsook the Field, retiring to the Town.
Where a most bloody Tyrant bare the sway,
Who hearing what had hapned, full of ire,
Went armed to the Tent whereas Guy lay,
And did a Combat at his hands require.
Villain (quoth he) whom like a Dog I scorn,
I'le make thee curse the time that thou wast born.
Now Runnagate, I come to fetch thy head,
For to a Lady I have promis'd it;
My Curs shall with thy English flesh be fed,
They must devour thy body every bit:
Come, I have vow'd by Mahomet thou di'st,
Thou canst not scape by trusting in thy Christ.
And hast thou giv'n away my head (quoth he)
Unto a Lady? 'tis a brave intent;
An honest man will his Words-Master be,
And never promise more than he hath meant:
Come on thy ways, and take it quickly off,
Or else the Lady will suppose you scoff.
With proud disdain together then they rush,
Laying it on as fast as they could drive;
But Eskeldart Guy's sword did so becrush,
That for his head no longer durst he strive;
But on the sudden for to save his own,
Put spurs to horse, and in all post is gone.
Guy then returns to Heraud, and declares
What a bold fellow came to fetch his head:
Who smiling at it, merrily prepares
To tell of his adventures, how he sped
With a false Coward called Addellart,
That wounded him with an envenom'd Dart,
And being hurt most dangerously so,
Was intercepted e're he could retire
By Estellard, a proud insulting Foe,
Compos'd of cruelty, of devilish ire.
But (quoth Sir Heraud) e're our fray was done,
I made them wish it never had begun.
For Addellart I wounded in the side,
And Estellard I cur-tail'd by the knees:
Then left them lying, Death to be their guide
Unto the Jayl where worms do claim their fees.
So when these two were seen to fall down dead,
All t'other Pagans with amazement fled.
Why then (quoth Guy) all's quiet I perceive;
The Miscreants like unto Foxes lye;
But gentle Heraud, e're we take our leave,
One Combat more I am resolv'd to try:
The General of this accursed Rout,
Shall be the man I mean to single out.
They term him mighty Soldan: Friend, I long
To make a proof, if he deserve the name;
I am in doubt they do him mighty wrong,
If might be wanting to avouch the same:
Titles of worth become base Cowards ill,
I'le try what's in him, hap whatever will.
Nay Heraud, leave me, prithee do forbear.
I will be speedy, tarry in this Wood:
Go to your grassy bank, repose thee there,
And with this balsom stay those drops of blood.
E're Phœbus in the Occident decline,
Death shall conclude the Soldans life or mine.
Said Heraud; Since thou wilt not let me go,
But durst appoint this bed of Earth to bear me;
Till thou return, I will converse with wo,
And will not suffer any Bird sing near me.
With longing eyes, and careful listning ears,
I'le spend thy absent time in prayers and tears,
Guy posts with speed, and doth the Souldan find,
And thus he speaks, Art thou the man of Might,
Sirnamed so by tongues, and peoples wind?
Here is a Christian comes to dare thee fight:
Both Mahomet and thee I do defie,
And here's a sword I will maintain it by!
The Souldan with a staring look replies,
Thou Christian slave, I'le chastise thee with steel,
Thou art an odious creature in mine eyes,
And thy presumption shall my fury feel.
With that at Guy he ran with all his force,
Their Launces brake, and each forsook his Horse.
Then by the Sword the Victor must prevail,
Which manly force makes deadly wounds withal,
Cutting through Armour, mangling shirts of Mail,
That at the last down did the Souldan fall,
Sending blasphemous curses to the skye,
And casting handfuls of his blood at Guy.
Who presently took horse, and then retir'd
To Heraud, whom he found in slumber laid;
Rise Friend (quoth he), the time is now expir'd,
An end with mighty Souldan I have made.
With that he rose with joy and Loves embrace,
And forth they travel to another place.