Equipment

Beowulf

Lines 1557-1562

"Then he saw a blade that boded well,

A sword in her armory, an ancient heirloom

From the days of the giants, an ideal weapon,

One that any warrior would envy,

But so huge and heavy of itself

Only Beowulf could wield it in battle."

Lines 2678-2687

"Inspired again

By the thought of glory, the war-king threw

His whole strength behind a sword stroke

And connected with the skull. And Naegling snapped.

Beowulf’s ancient iron-gray sword

Let him down in the fight. It was never his fortune

To be helped in combat by the cutting edge

Of weapons made of iron. When he wielded a sword,

No matter how blooded and hard-edged the blade,

His hand was too strong, the stroke he eadlt

(I have heard) would ruin it. He would reap no advantage"

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Lines 161-167

"In all vestments he revealed himself veritably verdant!

From his belt hooks and buckle to the baubles and gems

Arrayed so richly around his costume

And donning the saddle, stitched onto silk.

All the details of his dress are difficult to describe,

Embroidered as it was with butterflies and birds,

Green beads emblazoned on a background of gold.”

Lines 1851-1854

"For the body that is bound within this green belt,

As long as it is buckled robustly about him,

Will be safe against anyone who seeks to strike him,

And all the slyness on earth wouldn’t see him slain."

Canterbury Tales

Lines 103-107

"And He was clad in cote and hood of greene.

A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and keene,

Under his belt he barful thriftility;

Wel coude he dresse his takel yemanly;

His arwes drouped nought with fethres lowe"

Lines 158-162

"Of small coral aboute hir arm she bar

A paire of bedes, gauded all with greene,

And Theron heeng a brooch of gold ful sheene,

On which there was first written a crowned A,

And after, Amor vincit omnia."

The Fairie Queen, Book 2, Canto 12, Section 49

"With diverse flowres he daintily was deckt,

And strowed round about, and by his side

A mighty Mazer bowle of wine was set,

As if it had to him bene sacrifide;

Wherewith all new-come guests he gratifide:

So did he eke Sir Guyon passing by:

But he his hidle curtesie defied,

And overthrew his bowle disdainfully;

And broke his staffe, with which he charmed semblants sly."

The Tempest

Act 1, Scene 1

PROSPERO

"Master of this design, did give us, with

Rich garments, linens, stuffs and necessaries,

Which since have steaded much; so, of his gentleness,

Knowing I loved my books, he furnish'd me

From mine own library with volumes that

I prize above my dukedom."

Act 2, Scene 1

GONZALO

That our garments, being, as they were, drenched in

the sea, hold notwithstanding their freshness and

glosses, being rather new-dyed than stained with

salt water.

ANTONIO

If but one of his pockets could speak, would it not

say he lies?

SEBASTIAN

Ay, or very falsely pocket up his report

GONZALO

Methinks our garments are now as fresh as when we

put them on first in Afric, at the marriage of

the king's fair daughter Claribel to the King of Tunis.