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234 THE IIII BOOKE OF THE Cant IIII
With that he driues at them with dread full might,
Both in remembrance of his friendslateharme,
And in reuengement of his owne despight,
So both together giue a new allarme,
As if but now the battell wexed warme
As when twogreedy Wolues doe breake by force
Into an heard, farre from the husband farme,
They spoile and raume without all remorse,
So did these two through all the field their foes
enforce 36
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He at his first incomming, charg'd his spere
At him, that first appeared in his sight
That was to weet, the stout Sir Sangliere,
Who well was knowen to be a valiant Knight,
Approued oft in many a perlous fight
Him at the first encounter downe he smote,
And ouerbore beyond his crouptr quight,
And after him another Knight, that hote
Sir Brianor, so sore, that none him life behote
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Fiercely they followd on their bolde empnze, Then ere his hand he reard, he ouerthrew
Till trumpets sound did warne them all to rest, Scuen Knights one after other as they came
Then all with one consent did yeeld the prize And when his speare was brust, his sword he
To Triamond and Cambell as the best
drew,
But Triamond to Cambell it relest
The instrument of wrath, and with the same
And Cambell it to Triamond transferd, Far'd like a lyon in his bloodie game,
Each labouring t'aduance the others gest, Hewing, and slashing shields, and helmets
And make his prabe before his owne preferd bright,
So that the doome was to another day differd And beating downe, what euer nigh him came,
That euery one gan shun his dreadfull sight,
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No lesse then death it selfe, in daungerous
The last day came, whenall those knightes againe affright
Assembled were their deedes of armes to shew
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Full many deedes that day were shewed plaine Much wondredallmen, what, orwhencehe came,
But Satyrane boue all the other crew, That did amongst the troupes so tyrannize ,
His wondrous worth declared in all mens view And each of other gan inquire his name
For from the first he to the last endured, But when they could not learne it by no wize,
And though some while Fortune from him Most answerable to his wyld disguize
withdrew,
It seemed, him to terme the saluage knight
Yet euermore his honour he recured, But certes his right name was otherwize,
And with vnweaned powre his party stillassured Though knowne to few, that Arthegallhe hight,
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The doughtiest knight that liv'd that day, and
Newas there Knight that euer thought of armes, most of might
But that his vtmost prowesse there made
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knowen, [harmes, Thus was Sir Satyrane with all his band
That by their many wounds, and carelesse By his sole manhood and atchieuement stout
By shiuered speares, and swords all vnder Dismay d, that none of them m field durst stand,
strowen,
But beaten were, and chased all about
By scattered shields was easie to be showen So he continued all that day throughout,
There might yesee loosesteeds at random ronne, Tilleuenmg, that the Sunne gan downwardbend
Whose .luckelesse riders late were ouerthrowen, Then rushed forth out of the thickest rout
And squiers make hast to helpe their Lords A stranger knight, that did his glone shend
fordonne,
So nought may be esteemed happie till the end
But still the Knights of Maidenhead the better
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wonne.
He at his entrance charg'd his powrefull speare
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At Artegall in middest of his pryde,
Till that there entred on the other side, [reed, And therewith smote him on his Vmbnere
A straunger knight, from whence no man could So sore, that tombhng backe, he downe did
In quyent disguise, full hard to be descride slyde
For all his armour was like saluage weed, Ouer his horses taile aboue a stryde ,
With woody mosse bedight, and all his steed Whence litle lust he had to rise againe
With oaken leaues attrapt, that seemed fit Which Cambell seeing, much the same enuyde,
For saluage wight, and thereto well agreed And ran at him with all his might and maine ,
His word, which on his ragged shield was writ, But shortly was likewise seene lying on the
Saluagesse sans finesse, shewing secret wit plaine