XI

But now seemde best the person to put on
  Of that good knight, his late beguiled guest: 
  In mighty armes he was yclad anon: 
  And silver shield, upon his coward brest
  A bloudy crosse, and on his craven crest 95
  A bounch of haires discolourd diversly: 
  Full jolly knight he seemde, and well addrest,
  And when he sate upon his courser free,
Saint George himself ye would have deemed him to be.

XII

But he the knight, whose semblaunt he did beare, 100
  The true Saint George, was wandred far away,
  Still flying from his thoughts and gealous feare;
  Will was his guide, and griefe led him astray. 
  At last him chaunst to meete upon the way
  A faithless Sarazin[*] all arm’d to point, 105
  In whose great shield was writ with letters gay
  Sans foy: full large of limbe and every joint
He was, and cared not for God or man a point.

XIII

He had a faire companion[*] of his way,
  A goodly Lady clad in scarlot red, 110
  Purfled with gold and pearle of rich assay,
  And like a Persian mitre on her hed
  She wore, with crowns and owches garnished,
  The which her lavish lovers to her gave;
  Her wanton palfrey all was overspred 115
  With tinsell trappings, woven like a wave,
Whose bridle rung with golden bels and bosses brave.

XIV

With faire disport and courting dalliaunce
  She intertainde her lover all the way: 
  But when she saw the knight his speare advaunce, 120
  She soone left off her mirth and wanton play,
  And bade her knight addresse him to the fray: 
  His foe was nigh at hand.  He prickt with pride
  And hope to winne his Ladies heart that day,
  Forth spurred fast:  adowne his coursers side 125
The red bloud trickling staind the way, as he did ride.

XV

The knight of the Redcrosse when him he spide,
  Spurring so hote with rage dispiteous,
  Gan fairely couch his speare, and towards ride: 
  Soone meete they both, both fell and furious, 130
  That daunted with their forces hideous,
  Their steeds do stagger, and amazed stand,
  And eke themselves, too rudely rigorous,
  Astonied with the stroke of their owne hand
Doe backe rebut, and each to other yeeldeth land. 135

XVI

As when two rams[*] stird with ambitious pride,
  Fight for the rule of the rich fleeced flocke,
  Their horned fronts so fierce on either side
  Do meete, that with the terrour of the shocke
  Astonied both, stand sencelesse as a blocke, 140
  Forgetfull of the hanging victory:[*]
  So stood these twaine, unmoved as a rocke,
  Both staring fierce, and holding idely
The broken reliques[*] of their former cruelty.