Edmund Spenser

“ The lesser pangs can beare, who hath endur'd the chiefe.
XXXVIII
Then gan the Pilgrim thus, I chaunst this day,
⁠This fatall day, that shall I ever rew,
⁠To see two knights in travell on my way
⁠ (A sory sight) arraung'd in battell new,
⁠Both breathing vengeaunce, both of wrathfull hew:
⁠My fearefull flesh did tremble at their strife,
⁠To see their blades so greedily imbrew,
⁠That drunke with bloud, yet thristed after life:
What more? the Redcrosse knight was slaine with Paynim knife. ”

“ The better part now of the lingring day,
⁠They traveild had, whenas they farre espide
⁠A weary wight forwandring by the way,
⁠And towards him they gan in haste to ride,
⁠To weete of newes, that did abroad betide,
⁠Or tydings of her knight of the Redcrosse.
⁠But he them spying, gan to turne aside,
⁠For feare as seemd, or for some feigned losse;
More greedy they of newes, fast towards him do crosse.
XXXV
A silly man, in simple weedes forworne,
⁠And soild with dust of the long dried way ”

“ So long they fight, and fell revenge pursue,
⁠That fainting each, themselves to breathen let,
⁠And oft refreshed, battell oft renue:
⁠As when two Bores with rancling malice met,^
⁠Their gory sides fresh bleeding fiercely fret,
⁠Til breathlesse both them selves aside retire,
⁠Where foming wrath, their cruell tuskes they whet,
⁠And trample th' earth, the whiles they may respire ”