The Faerie Queene · Book II · Canto 2 4 (2/2)

Behind his backe he bore a brasen shield,

On which was drawen faire, in colours fit,

A flaming fire in midst of bloody field,

And round about the wreath this word was writ,

Burnt I doe burne. Right well beseemed it

To be the shield of some redoubted knight;

And in his hand two dartes, exceeding flit

And deadly sharp, he held, whose heads were dight

In poyson and in blood of malice and despight.

When he in presence came, to Guyon first

He boldly spake; “Sir knight, if knight thou bee,

Abandon this forestalled place at erst,

For feare of further harme, I counsell thee;

Or bide the chaunce at thine own jeopardee.”

The knight at his great boldnesse wondered;

And, though he scornd his ydle vanitee,

Yet mildly him to purpose answered;

For not to grow of nought he it conjectured.

“Varlet, this place most dew to me I deeme,

Yielded by him that held it forcibly:

But whence should come that harme, which thou dost seeme

To threat to him that mindes his chaunce t’abye?”

“Perdy,” (sayd he) “here comes, and is hard by,

A knight of wondrous powre and great assay,

That never yet encountred enemy

But did him deadly daunt, or fowle dismay;

Ne thou for better hope, if thou his presence stay.”

“How hight he then,” (sayd Guyon) “and from whence?”

“Pyrochles is his name, renowmed farre

For his bold feates and hardy confidence,

Full oft approvd in many a cruell warre;

The brother of Cymochles, both which arre

The sonnes of old Acrates and Despight;

Acrates, sonne of Phlegeton and Jarre;

But Phlegeton is sonne of Herebus and Night;

But Herebus sonne of Aeternitie is hight.

“So from immortall race he does proceede,

That mortall hands may not withstand his might,

Drad for his derring doe and bloody deed;

For all in blood and spoile is his delight.

His am I Atin, his in wrong and right,

That matter make for him to worke upon,

And stirre him up to strife and cruell fight.

Fly therefore, fly this fearefull stead anon,

Least thy foolhardize worke thy sad confusion.”

“His be that care, whom most it doth concerne,”

(Sayd he) “but whither with such hasty flight

Art thou now bownd? for well mote I discerne

Great cause, that carries thee so swifte and light.”

“My Lord,” (quoth he) “me sent, and streight behight

To seeke Occasion, where so she bee:

For he is all disposd to bloody fight,

And breathes out wrath and hainous crueltee:

Hard is his hap that first fals in his jeopardee.”

“Mad man,” (said then the Palmer) “that does seeke

Occasion to wrath, and cause of strife:

Shee comes unsought, and shonned followes eke.

Happy! who can abstaine, when Rancor rife

Kindles Revenge, and threats his rusty knife.

Woe never wants where every cause is caught;

And rash Occasion makes unquiet life!”

“Then loe! wher bound she sits, whom thou hast sought,”

Said Guyon: “let that message to thy Lord be brought.”

That when the varlett heard and saw, streight way

He wexed wondrous wroth, and said; “Vile knight,

That knights and knighthood doest with shame upbray,

And shewst th’ensample of thy childishe might,

With silly weake old woman that did fight!

Great glory and gay spoile, sure hast thou gott,

And stoutly prov’d thy puissance here in sight.

That shall Pyrochles well requite, I wott,

And with thy blood abolish so reprochfull blott.”

With that one of his thrillant darts he threw,

Headed with yre, and vengeable despight.

The quivering steele his aymed end wel knew,

And to his brest it selfe intended right.

But he was wary, and, ere it empight

In the meant marke, advaunst his shield atweene,

On which it seizing no way enter might,

But backe rebownding left the forckhead keene:

Eftsoones he fled away, and might no where be seene.