The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5 by Edmund Spenser
page 175 of 440 (39%)
page 175 of 440 (39%)
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Achilles life from fate of Troyan field.
[* _Bit_, bite.] [** _Stownd_, hour.] And then about his shoulders broad he threw 65 An hairie hide of some wilde beast, whom hee In salvage forrest by adventure slew, And reft the spoyle his ornament to bee; Which, spredding all his backe with dreadfull vew, Made all that him so horrible did see 70 Thinke him Alcides with the lyons skin, When the Naeméan conquest he did win. Upon his head, his glistering burganet*, The which was wrought by wonderous device And curiously engraven, he did set: 75 The mettall was of rare and passing price; Not Bilbo** steele, nor brasse from Corinth fet, Nor costly oricalche from strange Phoenice; But such as could both Phoebus arrowes ward, And th'hayling darts of heaven beating hard. 80 [* _Burganet_, helmet.] [** _Bilbo_, Bilboa.] Therein two deadly weapons fixt he bore, Strongly outlaunced towards either side, Like two sharpe speares, his enemies to gore: Like as a warlike brigandine, applyde To fight, layes forth her threatfull pikes afore, 85 The engines which in them sad death doo hyde, |
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