The Faerie Queene · Book V · Canto 5 6 (2/2)

Strange were the words in Britomartis eare,

Yet stayd she not for them, but forward fared,

Till to the perillous Bridge she came; and there

Talus desir’d that he might have prepared

The way to her, and those two losels scared;

But she thereat was wroth, that for despight

The glauncing sparkles through her bever glared,

And from her eies did flash out fiery light,

Like coles that through a silver Censer sparkle bright.

She stayd not to advise which way to take,

But putting spurres unto her fiery beast,

Thorough the midst of them she way did make.

The one of them, which most her wrath increast,

Uppon her speare she bore before her breast,

Till to the Bridges further end she past;

Where falling downe his challenge he releast:

The other over side the Bridge she cast

Into the river, where he drunke his deadly last.

As when the flashing Levin haps to light

Uppon two stubborne oakes, which stand so neare

That way betwixt them none appeares in sight;

The Engin, fiercely flying forth, doth teare

Th’one from the earth, and through the aire doth beare;

The other it with force doth overthrow

Uppon one side, and from his rootes doth reare:

So did the Championesse those two there strow,

And to their sire their carcasses left to bestow.