Part 4 (1/2)

[8] 'The book:' the French romance.

[9] 'Peytrel:' the breast-plate or breast-band of a horse.

[10] 'Arsowne:' saddle-bow.

[11] 'falcon brode:' F. bird.

[12] 'Sheltrou:' 'schiltron:' soldiers drawn up in a circle.

From 'Sir Degore' we quote the description of a dragon, which Warton thinks drawn by a master:--

DEGORE AND THE DRAGON.

Degore went forth his way, Through a forest half a day: He heard no man, nor sawe none, Till it past the high none, Then heard he great strokes fall, That it made greate noise withal, Full soone he thought that to see, To weete what the strokes might be: There was an earl, both stout and gay, He was come there that same day, For to hunt for a deer or a doe, But his houndes were gone him fro.

Then was there a dragon great and grim, Full of fire and also venim, With a wide throat and tuskes great, Upon that knight fast 'gan he beat.

And as a lion then was his feet, His tail was long, and full unmeet: Between his head and his tail Was twenty-two foot withouten fail; His body was like a wine tun, He shone full bright against the sun: His eyes were bright as any gla.s.s, His scales were hard as any bra.s.s; And thereto he was necked like a horse, He bare his head up with great force: The breath of his mouth that did out blow As it had been a fire on lowe[1].

He was to look on, as I you tell, As it had been a fiend of h.e.l.l.

Many a man he had shent, And many a horse he had rent.

[1] 'On lowe:' in flame.

From Davie's supposed 'Life of Alexander' we extract a description of a battle, which shews some energy of genius:--

A BATTLE

Alisander before is ryde, And many gentle a knight him myde;[1]

As for to gather his meinie free, He abideth under a tree: Forty thousand of chivalry He taketh in his company, He dasheth him then fast forthward, And the other cometh afterward.

He seeth his knightes in mischief, He taketh it greatly a grief, He takes Bultyphal[2] by the side, So as a swallow he 'ginneth forth glide.

A duke of Persia soon he met, And with his lance he him grett.

He pierceth his breny, cleaveth his s.h.i.+elde, The hearte tokeneth the yrne; The duke fell downe to the ground, And starf[3] quickly in that stound: Alisander aloud then said, Other toll never I ne paid, Yet ye shallen of mine pay, Ere I go more a.s.say.

Another lance in hand he hent, Against the prince of Tyre he went He ... him thorough the breast and thare And out of saddle and crouthe him bare, And I say for soothe thing He brake his neck in the falling.

... with muchel wonder, Antiochus hadde him under, And with sword would his heved[4]

From his body have yreaved: He saw Alisander the goode gome, Towards him swithe come, He lete[5] his prey, and flew on horse, For to save his owen corse: Antiochus on steed leap, Of none woundes ne took he keep, And eke he had foure forde All ymade with speares' ord.[6]

Tholomeus and all his felawen[7]

Of this succour so weren welfawen, Alysander made a cry hardy, 'Ore tost aby aby.'

Then the knightes of Acha Jousted with them of Araby, They of Rome with them of Mede, Many land....

Egypt jousted with them of Tyre, Simple knights with riche sire: There n'as foregift ne forbearing Betweene vavasour[8] ne king; Before men mighten and behind c.u.n.teck[9] seek and c.u.n.teck find.

With Persians foughten the Gregeys,[10]

There was cry and great honteys.[11]

They kidden[12] that they weren mice, They broken speares all to slice.

There might knight find his pere, There lost many his distrere:[13]

There was quick in little thraw,[14]

Many gentle knight yslaw: Many arme, many heved[15]

Some from the body reaved: Many gentle lavedy[16]

There lost quick her amy.[17]

There was many maim yled,[18]

Many fair pensel bebled:[19]

There was swordes liklaking,[20]

There was speares bathing, Both kinges there sans doute Be in dash'd with all their route, &c.

[1] 'Myde:' with.