Elizabethan English Poetry
Edmund Spenser: The Faerie Qveene
16th century, Elizabethan English. Numerous printed copies.
Angered, the dragon sends a stream of flames towards the Red Cross Knight.
The Red Cross Knight makes a rush at the dragon but his lance makes not a mark on its scaly hide. The dragon lifts him, still seated upon his horse, high into the air. But horse and man manage to break free when the dragon lands again and, catching the beast a blow beneath the wing, the Red Cross Knight manages to wound it. The dragon cries out with pain, and with redoubled effort it casts the knight from his steed. But the Red Cross Knight is immediately back onto his feet, with his sword drawn. The dragon tries to fly above the ground, fending off blows to its head, but cannot because of its injured wing.
Angered, the dragon sends a stream of flames towards the knight, whose armour, absorbing the heat, suddenly turns from friend to deadly enemy. In panic, the knight tries to remove the hot steel and the dragon, seeing his difficulty, whips its tail and knocks the Red Cross Knight backwards where, luckily, there lies an ancient pool: the Spring of Life, that can revive the dead. For unto life the dead it could restore, and guilt of sinfull crimes cleane wash away, those that with sicknesse were infected sore, it could recure, and aged long decay renew, as one were born that very day.