Goe caytive Elfe, him quickly overtake, And soone redeeme from his long wandring woe; Goe guiltie ghost, to him my message make, That I his shield have quit from dying foe. Therewith upon his crest he stroke him so, 95 That twise he reeled, readie twise to fall; End of the doubtfull battell deemed tho The lookers on, and lowd to him gan call The false Duessa, Thine the shield, and I, and all.
Soone as the Faerie heard his Ladie speake,° 100 Out of his swowning dreame he gan awake, And quickning faith, that earst was woxen weake, The creeping deadly cold away did shake: Tho mov'd with wrath, and shame, and Ladies sake, Of all attonce he cast avengd to bee, 105 And with so' exceeding furie at him strake, That forced him to stoupe upon his knee; Had he not stouped so, he should have cloven bee.
And to him said, Goe now proud Miscreant, Thy selfe thy message do to german deare; 110 Alone he wandring thee too long doth want: Goe say, his foe thy shield with his doth beare. Therewith his heavie hand he high gan reare, Him to have slaine; when loe a darkesome clowd° Upon him fell: he no where doth appeare, 115 But vanisht is. The Elfe him calls alowd, But answer none receives: the darkness him does shrowd.
In haste Duessa from her place arose, And to him running said, O prowest knight, That ever Ladie to her love did chose, 120 Let now abate the terror of your might, And quench the flame of furious despight, And bloudie vengeance; lo th' infernall powres, Covering your foe with cloud of deadly night, Have borne him hence to Plutoes balefull bowres. 125 The conquest yours, I yours, the shield, the glory yours.
Not all so satisfide, with greedie eye He sought all round about, his thristie blade To bath in bloud of faithlesse enemy; Who all that while lay hid in secret shade: 130 He standes amazed, how he thence should fade. At last the trumpets Triumph sound on hie, And running Heralds humble homage made, Greeting him goodly with new victorie, And to him brought the shield, the cause of enmitie. 135
Wherewith he goeth to that soveraine Queene, And falling her before on lowly knee, To her makes present of his service seene: Which she accepts, with thankes, and goodly gree, Greatly advauncing his gay chevalree. 140 So marcheth home, and by her takes the knight, Whom all the people follow with great glee, Shouting, and clapping all their hands on hight, That all the aire it fils, and flyes to heaven bright.