The lyoncel, fromme sweltrie[63]
countries braughte,
Coucheynge binethe the sheltre
of the brierr,
Att commyng dynn[64] doth
rayse hymselfe distraughte[65],
He loketh wythe an eie of
flames of fyre.
Goe, sticke the lyonn to hys
hyltren denne. 65
Lette thie floes[66] drenche the blood
of anie thynge botte menn.
Wythe passent[67] steppe the
lyonn mov’th alonge;
Wyllyamm hys ironne-woven
bowe hee bendes,
Wythe myghte alyche the roghlynge[68]
thonderr stronge;
The lyonn ynn a roare hys
spryte foorthe sendes. 70
Goe, slea the lyonn ynn hys
blodde-steyn’d denne,
Botte bee thie takelle[69] drie fromm
blodde of odherr menne.
Swefte fromm the thyckett
starks the stagge awaie;
The couraciers[70] as swefte
doe afterr flie.
Hee lepethe hie, hee stondes,
hee kepes att baie, 75
Botte metes the arrowe, and
eftsoones[71] doth die.
Forslagenn atte thie fote
lette wylde beastes bee,
Lett thie floes drenche yer blodde, yett
do ne bredrenn slee.
Wythe murtherr tyredd, hee
sleynges hys bowe alyne[72].
The stagge ys ouch’d[73]
wythe crownes of lillie flowerrs. 80
Arounde theire heaulmes theie
greene verte doe entwyne;
Joying and rev’lous
ynn the grene wode bowerrs.
Forslagenn wyth thie floe
lette wylde beastes bee,
Feeste thee upponne theire fleshe, doe
ne thie bredrenn flee.
KYNGE.
Nowe to the Tourneie[74]; who wylle fyrste affraie[75]? 85
HERAULDE.
Nevylle, a baronne, bee yatte[76] honnoure thyne.
BOURTONNE.
I clayme the passage.
NEVYLLE.
I contake[77] thie waie.
BOURTONNE.
Thenn there’s mie gauntlette[78] onn mie gaberdyne[79].
HEREHAULDE.
A leegefull[80] challenge, knyghtes
& champyonns dygne[81],
A leegefull challenge, lette the flugghorne sounde.
90
[Syrr Symonne and
Nevylle tylte.
Nevylle ys goeynge, manne and horse, toe grounde.
[Nevylle
falls.
Loverdes, how doughtilie[82] the tylterrs joyne!
Yee champyonnes, heere Symonne de Bourtonne fyghtes,
Onne hee hathe quacedd[83], assayle[84] hymm, yee
knyghtes.
FERRARIS.
I wylle anente[85] hymm goe; mie squierr, mie shielde; 95
Orr onne orr odherr wyll doe myckle[86] scethe[87]
Before I doe departe the lissedd[88] fielde,
Mieselfe orr Bourtonne hereupponn wyll blethe[89].
Mie shielde.
BOURTONNE.
Comme onne, &
fitte thie tylte-launce ethe[90].
Whanne Bourtonn fyghtes, hee
metes a doughtie foe. 100
[Theie
tylte. Ferraris falleth.
Hee falleth; nowe bie heavenne
thie woundes doe smethe[91];
I feere mee, I have wroughte
thee myckle woe[92].