Friday 1 December 2017

"It often fals, (as here it earst befell)
That mortall foes doe turne to faithfull frends,
And friends prefest are chaunged to foeman fell:
The cause of both, of both their minds depends;
And th'end of both likewise of both their ends.
For enmitie, that of no ill proceeds,
But of occasion, with th'occasion ends;
And friendship, which a faint affection breeds
Without regard of good, dyes like ill grounded seeds."

And yes I am reading this in light of recent events.

Blandamour and Paridell see Cambell and Triamond in the distance. Blandamour immediately tries his 'vainglorious spright' and nearly starts a fight;

"For evill deedes may better then bad words be bore."

But Cambina calms things down "with perswasions myld" and the two grouped travel together talking of "strange adventures" until they encounter another knight.

Paridell rides out to challenge him, Spenser holds off revealing that its Braggodochio, who recognises False Florimell, who was taken from him in one of her numerous exchanges, and demands her back.

Blandamour mocks him;

"Ye shall her winne, as I have done in fight:
And lo shee shall be placed here in sight,
Together with this Hag beside her set,
That who so winnes her, may her have by right:
But he shal have the Hag that is ybet,
And with her alwaies ride, till he another get."

Everyone laughs and mocks Braggodocio, which is something of a theme for this Canto, dicking him around until Cambell advises they all keep it chill for the big tournament.

"And all that while, where so they rode or came,
That masked Mock-knight was their sport and play"

Eventually they arrive and divide their party;

"But boastfull Braggadocio rather chose,
For glorie vaine their fellowship to lose,
That men on him the more might gaze alone,"

Its just sad as hell for Braggodocio really.

The glorious prize is shown;

"And hearts quite robbed with so glorious sight,
That all men threw out vowes and wishes vaine.
Thise happie Ladie, and thrise happie knight,
Them seemd that could so goodly riches gaine,"

And the Tournament begins;



DAY ONE

Satyrane encounters the panym Sir Brunceval the bold. They take each other down on the first strike and lie their 'mazed'.

Sir Ferramont sees this and rides in the aid of Satyrane. Blandamour sees that, and rides against Ferramont, and is knocked down. Paridell rides against Ferramont, and is knocked down.

Braggodocio is next to ride but

".. had no will
To hasten greatly to his parties ayd,
Albee his turne were next; but stood there still,"

Triamond, 'half wroth' grabs the spear from his hand, enters and knocks down Ferramont.

Sir Devon sees this and enters, Triamond knocks him down too. Then Sir Dougland, then Sir Palumord;

"For either they were left uppon the land,
Or went away sore wounded of his hapless hand."

Finally Satyrane wakes up, realises his side is losing badly and flies at Triamond so fiercely 'Like sparke of fire that from the andvile glode', and with his 'beamlike speare', 'having now misfortune got for guide' nails him with a 'griesley wound'.

Triamond is forced to retire, hiding his pain, and Satyrane wins day one.



DAY TWO

Sir Cambell has a sneaky scheme to get his fiends honour back. Since Tiramond is wounded in bed, he will steal his armour and fight as him, kicking everyones ass. Foolproof.

He finds Satyrane 'Lord of the field', 'Triumphing in great joy and jolity', and comes straight at him.

They break spears and both go down. Then 'up againe them selves can lightly reare,' and come at each other with swords.

They wail on each other 'As two wild Boares' until Satryranes horse stumbles. In a dash Cambell is on him and;

".. forced him to leave his loftie sell,
And rudel tumbling downe under his horse feete fell."

Cambell dismounts to take Satyranes shield and claim victory;

"When all unwares he felt an hideous sway
Of many swords that lode on him did lay.
An hundred knights had him enclosed round,
To rescue Satyrane out of his preay;"

Even Cambell can't take on ONE HUNDRED knights, he is captured and lead off;

"Whereof when newes to Triamond was brought,
There as he lay, his wound he doone forgot,"

He leaps up, can't find his armour, takes Cambells, dashes out and sees his friend being lead away by a bunch of guys;

"Into the thickest of that knightly preasse
He thrust, and mote downe all that was betweene,
Caried with fervent zeale, ne did he ceasse,
Till that he came, where he had Cambell seene,
Like captive thral two other Knights atweene,
There he amongst them cruell havocke makes.
That they which lead him, soone enforced beene
To let him loose, to save their proper stakes,
Who being freed, from one a weapon fiercely takes."

..


"As when two greedy Wolves doe breake by force
Into an heard, farre from the husband farme,
They spoile and ravine without all remorse,
So did these two through all the field their foes enforce."

They kick so much ass that;

".. all with one consent did yield the prize
To Triamond and Cambell as the best.
But Triamond to Cambell it relest.
And Cambell it to Triamond transferd;
Each labouring t'advance the others gest,"

Bros. So ends day two.




DAY THREE

Satyrane is still kicking ass all over day three, shivering speares and shattering sheilds;

"There might ye see loose steeds at randon ronne,
Whose lucklesse riders late were overthrowen;
And squiers make hast to helpe their Lords fordonne,"

When in comes;

"A straunger knight, from whence no man could reed,

This guy is bedecked with woody moss, oaken leaves and his ragged shield reads Salvagess sans finesse, 'shewing secret wit'.



The stranger runs right at Sir Sangliere, and downs him. Smashes Sir Brianore 'so sore, that none him life behote.' Then starts smashing everyone, 'Seven Knights once after otheras they came;'. Breaks his spear and draws his sword to hew and slash so he seems 'No lesse then death hit selfe, in dangerous affright'.

No-one knows who this is but Spenser informs us it is Arthegall. The cut-price Arthur Britomart is obsessed with.

Sir Satyrane and all his knights are beaten and chased about 'Till evening, that the Sunne gan downward bend.', when in comes another strange knight.

This fresh stranger comes straight at Arthegall and downs him.

Cambell sees this and comes at the new stranger (danger stranger), and is also downed. Then comes Triamond, served the same, then Blandamour and 'full many others', all knocked down;

"Ne certes wonder; for no power of man
Could bide the force of that enchaunted speare,
The which this famous Britomart did beare;"

"Like as in sommers day when raging heat
Doth burne the earth, and boyled rivers drie,
That all brute beasts forst to refraine fro meant,
Doe hunt for shade, where shrowded they may lie,
And midding it, faine from themselves to flie,
All travelers tormented are with paine:
A watry cloud doth overcast the skie,
And poureth forth a sudden shoure of raine,
That all the wretched world recomforteth againe.

So did the warlike Britomart restore
The prize, to knights of Maynenhead that day,"


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