# Romance of the Rose (Ellis)/Chapter 85

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LXXXV
This tells how Hide-Well overcame In well-fought field the recreant Shame. And Fear and Courage in like way Show forth their skill in weapon-play.
Hereto could Shame scarce make reply, But Fear upleapt right wrathfully16250 (Though commonly so faint of heart), On whom doth Shame quick glances dart; ​And when Fear saw she in such state Equipped, her sword, keen-edged as fate, She set her hand upon, which hight A Touch-of-Pride (thereof ’twas dight), And when it flew from out the sheath, More bright than beryl-stone beneath The new-born sun’s first rays ’twas seen. Terror-of-Peril, as I ween,16260 Fear had for shield, set round with pain And labour; and she then would fain Cleave Hide-Well through, and thereby take Swift vengeance for her cousin’s sake. With mighty force against his shield She struck, which ’neath the blow did yield, And tottering helplessly, he fell. Courage, with cry like tocsin bell, He called, who ran in great alarm Thither, for if Fear’s potent arm16270 Had once more struck his bruisèd head, For aye had Hide-Well lain stark dead.
Courage combats Fear Courage, alike in deed and word, Was ever bold and true; his sword For gleaming brightness well beseen, Was with the steel of fury keen. Unto his shield, of glorious fame, Scorner-of-Death, he gave the name, And all around its border bright With Joy-in-Danger was it dight.16280 With madness against Fear he rushed, With one stroke deeming to have crushed Her might. But she the stroke let fall, Leaping aside, for knew she all ​The art of fence, and then she gave One stroke unto her foeman brave, That stretched him supine on the field. For suchlike blow no targe could shield. When Courage finds him thus adown, Fear begs he, in God’s name, to crown16290 Triumph with mercy. No reply Fear makes, except—Nay, caitiff, die!
Surety speaks to Fear.
Surety attacks Fear But suddenly doth Surety call, Pardee! ’tis you, O Fear, must fall Whate’er you do. Times past you’d dare Less than a coward trembling hare A hundred times; you brave are now, And to the devil ’tis you owe The spirit that enabled you ’Gainst Courage this bold deed to do,16300 Who tourneying-lists frequenteth much, And knows with skilful hand to clutch The wasting sword, ne’er yet till now Beneath your arm he quailed, I trow. In every fight but this men see You fly, or yield you readily. ’Twas thus that you in days of yore, With thievish Cacus fled before The club of mighty Hercules, Then fled you as the heron flees16310 The falcon, for to Cacus lent You wings, alone on safety bent, When he the sacred heifers stole, And hid them in his cavern hole, ​Dragging them thither by the tail, That thus all clue and trace might fail Of whither went they; then you showed To all the world how little glowed Of daring in your faint-heart breast, A coward base you stood confessed16320 Thenceforth, and since that day you nought Of knowledge in the field have bought Of war, except to run away Whene’er you see the blade-steel grey; Now shall you dearly suffer for Your rashness, venturing thus on war.
The Author.
Fear victorious A precious sword-blade Surety bare. Tempered with diligence and care; Her shield, hight Peace, was bordered round With good accord, and judgment sound.16330 At Fear she struck as fain would she Destroy her, but she suddenly Behind her shield her body hid, And when the sword-stroke fell, it slid From off the targe, and harmless lay Deep buried in earth’s senseless clay. Then Fear did unto Surety deal A blow, that made her senses reel, And little lacked it of that she Had killed outright her enemy. Both shield and sword from out her hands Are dashed—defenceless there she stands.