University of Virginia Library

CANTO VII.

Passing the Desart now, where shady trees
Embrac'd each other in their green-leave arms;
Where Lady Eccho's dwelling best agrees,
And little birds sing fearless of their harms,
They chanc'd to find a silver streaming spring,
Which water to them was a pleasant thing.

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

His Lady sends him forth again,
Whose will he doth obey,
And manfully a Dragon kills,
To part a cruel fray.

There with the crystal streams they cool their heat,
And slake their thirst they had endured long;
There did they make the herbs and roots their meat,
To satisfie for Nature's hungry wrong:
But on a sudden at a noise they wonder,
A Lyon roar'd as if great Jove did thunder.
Heraud (quoth Guy), to horse let's be prepar'd,
And leave our dinner till another day;
Here is a sound, I never was so scar'd,
I'le seek it out, it comes from yonder-way:
Some Monster, or some Devil makes a noise,
For on my life it is no human voice,
So forth he rides, and underneath a hill,
He finds a Dragon with a Lyon met:
Brave sport (said he) I pray fight on your fill,
And then upon the strongest I will set:
Which of the twain that first aside doth start,
I am a friend that will maintain his part.
The Dragon winds his crooked knotted tail
About the Lyon's legs, to cast him so,
The Lyon fastens on his rugged scale,
And nimbly doth avoid that overthrow:
Then tooth and nail, they cruelly tear and bite,
Maintaining long a fierce and bloody fight.
At last the Lyon faintly turns a side:
And looks about, as if he would be gone:
Nay then (quoth Guy) Dragon have at your hide,
Defend thy Devils face, I'le lay it on.
With that couragiously to work he goes,
And deals the Dragon very manly blows.
The ugly beast, with flaggy wings display'd,
Comes at him manly, with most dreadful paws,
Whose very looks might make a man afraid,
So terrible seem'd his devouring jaws:
Wide gaping, grisly, like the mouth of hell,
More horrible than pen or tongue can tell.
His blazing eyes did burn like living fire,
And forth his smoaking gorge came sulphur smoke:
Aloft his speckled breast he lifted higher
Than Guy could reach at length of weapons stroke;
Thus in most ireful mood himself he bore,
And gave a cry as Seas are wont to rore.
With that his mortal sting he stretched out,
Exceeding far the sharpest point of steel;
Then turns and winds his scaly tail about
The Horses legs, more nimble than an Eel:
With that Guy hews upon him with his blade,
And three mens strength to every stroke he laid.
One fatal blow he gave him in the side,
From thence did issue streams of swarthy blood;
The sword had made the passage broad and wide,
That deep into the Monster's gore Guy stood:
Then with a second blow he overtook him,
Which made the Dragon turn to have forsook him.
Nay then, quoth he, thou hast not long to live,
I see thou faintest at the Point to fall;
Then such a stroke of death he did him give,
That down came Dragon, crying out withall
So horrible, the sound did more affright
The Conqueror, than all the dreadful fight.
Away he rides, and lets that Hell-hound lie;
But looking back, espies behind his Horse
The Lyon coming after very nigh,
Which makes him light to follow manly force;
But when the Beast beheld his weapon drawn,
He came to him, and like a dog did fawn.
Like to that grateful Lyon which did free
Androdus life, for pulling out a thorn,
When by offence he should by Laws decree,
Within a Theater by beasts be torn;
The Lyon came, and lick'd him very kind,
Bearing (as seem'd) an old good turn in mind.
Ev'n so this gentle creature deals with him,
For that same benefit which he had done;
Although by Nature cruel, fierce and grim,
Yet like a Spaniel by his horse did run;
Continuing many days with great desire,
Till extream hunger forc'd him to retire.
Now towards the Sea Guy doth his journey take,
Imbarques for France, but by contrary wind
Arrives in Almain, where the Nobles make
Great triumph for him, and with joyful mind;
The Emperor rejoyces that he's come,
And bids him welcome into Christendom.
There is he entertain'd with Turnament,
With Kingly banquets, Princely Revelling:
And multitudes to give their eyes content,
Attend him with their throng, still wondering
At all his worthy Acts report had spread,
Where with their ears most strangely had been fed.
From thence he travels towards his loving friend
The Duke of Lovain, whom he long'd to see;
But e're he came unto his journeys end,
A wronged Lady he did worth'ly free;
Which violently was from her love bereft
And he at point of death sore wounded left.
Thus it befel, Terry a valiant Earl
With his dear Love, sirnam'd Osile the fair,
(His precious Jem, inestimable Pearl)
Into a Forest went to take the air;
Whereas a plot was laid to take his life,
And make his beauteous Love anothers wife.
Upon the sudden sixteen Villains came
Unto the Earl, and did him grievous wound.
Sirrah (quoth one) thou hast a wench we claim,
She must with us, lye thou there on the ground,
And the next passenger that thou dost see,
Intreat him make a grave to bury thee.
Guy finding Terry thus, hearing his plaint,
Doth comfort him in kindest sort he can:
Who with the loss of blood doth weakly faint,
With force of deadly choler pale and wan:
Courage (quoth he) I'le fetch thy Love again,
Or say that Guy is but a Coward Swain.
When Terry heard that name, he did revive,
For unto Guy his worthy deeds were known:
And lifting up himself front ground, did strive
For to embrace him in deep passions groan.
Thanks gracious Heavens (quoth he) with soul and heart,
For sending thee to take my wronged part.
Which is the way (quoth he) those villians went?
That path, said woful Terry by yon Oak:
Have after them, this deed they shall repent,
As I'm a Christian Knight; and as he spoke,
He heard a shriek, Which was the Ladies cry.
So by that sound he did them soon discry:
Coming unto them, Wretched slaves (quoth he)
What do you purpose with this Lady here?
Inlarge her presently, and set her free,
You have done wrongs that will be rated dear;
Her Husband wounded, she us'd violent
Will cost your lives a price incontinent.
With that they laugh'd and said, what fool's this same,
Or rather mad-man in his desperate mind,
That means by wilful death to get a name,
And have the world report he hath been kind?
The fellow sure is in some frantick fit,
And means to fight, without both fear and wit.
Like so (quoth he) the fit that's on me now,
You shall all find to be a raging one,
With that he shews them Mars his angry brow,
And bids the Lady cease her pensive moan:
Saying, Good Madam, unto joy incline,
For suddenly the Rascals will be mine.
Then with a courage admirable bold,
At every blow some one or other dies:
Which when the gentle Lady did behold,
Oh pity! worthy Knight, she crys;
These mortal wounds I can no longer see;
Be not so bloody in revenging me.
Upon my knees I do intreat thee stay,
This is to me a terrifying sight:
Oh! with their lives thou takest mine away;
If one die more, I faintly yield my sp'rite.
Thou worthily mine honour hast defended,
Let the revenging of my wrongs be ended.
Lady (quoth he) I cease at your request,
Depart base Rascals, all but two, be gone:
But Villians, you did bind her for the rest,
And struck them with his sword (the scabbard on)
That down to ground they fell, making this 'scuse,
My Lord we only kept her for thy use.
Then on his Steed he lets the Lady ride,
To seek her Lord, whom she had left distrest:
And Guy unto that place became her guide;
Where coming, they did find him careful drest:
For in their absence came a Hermit by,
Which to his bleeding wounds did salve apply.
Terry and Osile, in their joys abound,
And gratefully to Guy all things do give:
Be thou (said they) in life and death renown'd,
Whom we will honour, while we breathing live;
Hold, here's my hand (quoth Terry) worthy Guy,
In fight for thee, I will be proud to die.