LXXXVI
This tells how Fear ’gainst Surety fought,
And each the other’s ruin sought,
While many a champion interwove
Fierce combat, and for mastery strove.
The Fight renewed
What think you was by Surety done,
When that the fight had thuswise gone,
To give example? Fear she grasped
By both her ears, while Fear tight clasped16350
Her enemy, and thus the two,
With others, tried who best could do,
And never yet in combat were,
I trow, beseen an angrier pair,
Nor e’er before in tourney fierce
Such play was made of thrust and tierce.
Hither and thither leapt they then,
Till both sides summoned up their men,
Who towards them hasting came pell mell,
And round about the sword-strokes fell,16360
As thick and sharp as April hail,
While each doth murderously assail
His neighbour. Ne’er before that hour,
Or since, hath been more deadly stour.
Abhorring lies, I’m bound to say,
That those who ’gainst the castle lay
Their siege, had little of success,
And Love’s fair god, in deep distress,
Seeing his warriors doomed to death
Unto his mother, in a breath,16370
Sweet-Looks dispatches, with Franchise,
Begging that she, despising ease,
Will haste her straightway to his aid.
But in the meantime have they made
Love’s truce
A truce, which shall for eight days dure,
Or more or less, by no means sure
Am I which ’twas. Indeed, for ever
It well might hold, should none endeavour
To force or break it. Truth to tell,
If only had the war gone well16380
With Love, he surely ne’er had made
The armistice his plans to aid;
And if the guardians had supposed
That Love was purposed and disposed
To break the truce, they had agreed
By no means to their foeman’s need,
Nor had they willingly excused
The treachery wherewith Love abused
Their confidence. They had denied
All truce, knew they that Venus tried16390
To join therein, but now ’twas done,
And articles agreed upon.
And then the host retired somewhat,
As doth an army which hath not
Scattered the foe, but draws aback
To gather force for fresh attack.