What is "battell"

Usage examples of "battell".

Thus when I had well replenished my self with wine, and was now ready unto Venery not onely in minde but also in body, I removed my cloathes, and shewing to Fotis my great impatiencie I sayd, O my sweet heart take pitty upon me and helpe me, for as you see I am now prepared unto the battell, which you your selfe did appoint : for after that I felt the first Arrow of cruell Cupid within my breast, I bent my bow very strong, and now feare, (because it is bended so hard) lest my string should breake : but that thou mayst the better please me, undresse thy haire and come and embrace me lovingly : whereupon shee made no long delay, but set aside all the meat and wine, and then she unapparelled her selfe, and unattyred her haire, presenting her amiable body unto me in manner of faire Venus, when shee goeth under the waves of the sea.

But that lame Hag, still as abroad he strewHis wicked arrowes, gathered them againe,And to him brought, fresh battell to renew:Which he espying, cast her to restraineFrom yielding succour to that cursed Swaine,And her attaching, thought her hands to tye.

He them encountred, a confused rout,Foreby the Riuer, that whylome was hightThe auncient Abus, where with courage stoutHe them defeated in victorious fight,And chaste so fiercely after fearfull flight,That forst their Chieftaine, for his safeties sake,(Their Chieftaine Humber named was aright)Vnto the mightie streame him to betake,Where he an end of battell, and of life did make.

At length they came, whereas a troupe of KnightsThey saw together skirmishing, as seemed:Sixe they were all, all full of fell despight,But foure of them the battell best beseemed,That which of them was best, mote not be deemed.

For thy, he thus to Paridel bespake,Faire Sir, of friendship let me now you pray,That as I late aduentured for your sake,The hurts whereof me now from battell stay,Ye will me now with like good turne repay,And iustifie my cause on yonder knight.

Thenceforth they much more furiously gan fare,As if but then the battell had begonne,Ne helmets bright, ne hawberks strong did spare,That through the clifts the vermeil bloud out sponne,And all adowne their riuen sides did ronne.

At which his vaine excuse they all gan smile,As scorning his vnmanly cowardize:And Florimell him fowly gan reuile,That for her sake refus'd to enterprizeThe battell, offred in so knightly wize.

T Ho when as chearelesse Night ycouered hadFaire heauen with an vniuersall cloud,That euery wight dismayd with darknesse sad,In silence and in sleepe themselues did shroud,She heard a shrilling Trompet sound aloud,Signe of nigh battell, or got victory.

There he this knight of her begot, whom borneShe of his father Marinell did name,And in a rocky caue as wight forlorne,Long time she fostred vp, till he becameA mightie man at armes, and mickle fameDid get through great aduentures by him donne:For neuer man he suffred by that sameRich strond to trauell, whereas he did wonne,But that he must do battell with the Sea-nymphes sonne.

And in the way he with Sir Guyon met,Accompanyde with Phædria the faire,Eftsoones he gan to rage, and inly fret,Crying, Let be that Ladie debonaire,Thou recreant knight, and soone thy selfe prepaireTo battell, if thou meane her loue to gaine:Loe, loe alreadie, how the fowles in aireDoe flocke, awaiting shortly to obtaineThy carcasse for their pray, the guerdon of thy paine.

And in sedition, men being always in the procincts of battell, to hold together, and use all advantages of force, is a better stratagem, than any that can proceed from any subtilty of Wit.