If thou be Lancelot du Lake,105
Then welcome shalt thou bee:
Wherfore see thou thyself defend,
For now defye I thee.
They buckled then together so,
Like unto wild boares rashing;[865]110
And with their swords and shields they ran
At one another slashing:
The ground besprinkled was with blood:
Tarquin began to yield;
For he gave backe for wearinesse,115
And lowe did beare his shield.
This soone Sir Lancelot espyde,
He leapt upon him then,
He pull'd him downe upon his knee,
And rushing off his helm,120
Forthwith he strucke his necke in two,
And, when he had soe done,
From prison threescore knights and four
Delivered everye one.
FOOTNOTES:
[857] [ready.]
[858] Ver. 18. to sportt, MS.
[859] Ver. 29. Where is often used by our old writers for whereas: here it is just the contrary.
[860] [then.]