That night Britomart spent in the great Temple of Isis, which was
dedicated in days of old to the worship of Justice. Here in her sleep
she had a wondrous vision, which at first filled her with dread. But
when she described it next morning to the priests in the Temple, they
told her that her dream had a good meaning, and that everything would
end well. Greatly relieved to hear this, she bestowed rich rewards on
the priests, and made royal gifts of gold and silver to the Temple. Then
taking leave of them, she went forward to seek her love, never resting
and never relenting till she came to the land of the Amazons.
When news of her approach was brought to Radigund she was filled with
courage and glee instead of being dismayed. Glad to hear of fighting, of
which she had now had none for a long time, she bade them open the gates
boldly, so that she might see the face of her new foe; but when they
told her of the Iron Man who had lately slain her people, she bade them
hold them shut.
So there outside the gate, as seemed best, her pavilion was pitched, in
which brave Britomart rested herself, while Talus watched at her door
all night. All night, likewise, those of the town, in terror, kept good
watch and ward upon their wall.
The next morning, as soon as it was dawn, the warlike Amazon peeped out
of her bower, and caused a shrill trumpet to sound to warn her foe to
hasten to the battle. Britomart, who had long been awake and arrayed for
contest, immediately stepped haughtily from the pavilion, ready for the
fight, and on the other side her foe soon appeared.
But before they lifted hand, Radigund began to propound the strict
conditions with which she always fettered her foes—that Britomart should
serve her as she had bound the rest to do. At this, Britomart frowned
sternly, in disdain of such indignity, and would no longer parley, but
bade them sound the advance, for she would be tied by no other terms
than those prescribed by the laws of chivalry.
The trumpets sounded, and they rushed together with greedy rage, smiting
with their falchions; neither sought to shun the other’s stroke, but
both savagely hacked and hewed, furious as a tiger and a lioness
fighting over the same prey. So long they fought that all the grassy
floor was trampled with blood. At last Radigund, having espied some near
advantage, let drive at Britomart with all her might, thus taunting her
with savage scorn—
“Bear this token to the man whom you love so dearly, and tell him you
gave your life for his sake!”
The cruel stroke glanced on Britomart’s shoulder plate, and bit to the
bone, so that she could hardly hold up her shield for the smart of it.
Yet she soon avenged it, for the furious pain gave her fresh force, and
she smote Radigund so rudely on the helmet that it pierced to the very
brain, and felled her to the ground, where with one stroke Britomart
killed her.
[Illustration:
“=Thence forth unto the Idole they her brought=;
* * * * *
=To which the Idole, as it were inclining,
Her wand did move with amiable looke,
By outward shew her inward sense designing.=”
]
When Radigund’s warrior band saw this dreadful sight they all fled into
the town, and left Britomart sole victor. But they could not retreat so
fast but that Talus could overtake the foremost. Pressing through the
mob to the gate, he entered in with them, and then began a piteous
slaughter; for all who came within reach of his iron flail were soon
beyond the skill of any doctor.
Then the noble Conqueror herself came in, and though she had sworn a vow
of revenge, yet when she saw the heaps of dead bodies slain by Talus,
her heart was torn with pity, and she bade him slack his fury. Having
thus stayed the massacre, she inquired for the iron prison where her
love lay captive. Breaking it open with indignant rage, she entered, and
went all over it; when she saw the strange and horrible sight of the men
dressed up in womanish garb, her heart groaned with compassion for such
unmanly and disgraceful misery.
When at last she came to her own Knight, whom the like disguise had no
less disfigured, abashed with shame she turned aside her head, and then
with pity and tender words she tried to comfort him. She caused the
unsightly garments to be immediately taken off, and in their stead
sought for other raiment, of which there was great store, as well as
bright armour reft from many a noble knight whom the proud Amazon had
subdued. When Sir Artegall was clad anew in this apparel Britomart’s
spirits revived, and she rejoiced in his gallant appearance.
They remained for awhile in the city of Queen Radigund, so that Sir
Artegall might recover his strength, and Britomart be healed of her
wounds. During this time Britomart reigned as a Princess, and changed
all the order of government. The women were deposed from the rule which
they had usurped, and true justice was dealt them, so that, worshipping
Britomart as a goddess, they all admired her wisdom and listened to her
teaching. All those knights who had long been hidden in captivity, she
freed from their thraldom, and made magistrates of the city, giving them
great wealth and authority. And in order that they should always remain
faithful, she made them swear fealty to Artegall.
As the latter Knight was now fully recovered, he proposed to proceed
upon the first adventure which had called him forth, the release of the
Lady Irene from the villain Grantorto. Very sad and sorrowful was
Britomart at his departure, yet wisely moderated her own grief, seeing
that his honour, which she put above all things, was much concerned in
carrying out that adventure. For a little while after he had gone she
remained there in the city, but finding her misery increase with his
absence, and hoping that change of air and place would somewhat ease her
sorrow, she too departed, to appease her anguish in travel.