The Faerie Queene ( Book 5.4) Edmund Spenser

CANTO IIII

Artegall dealeth right betwixt
two brethren that doe strive,
Saues Terpine from the gallow tree,
and doth from death repriue.

VV Ho so vpon him selfe will take the skill
True Iustice vnto people to diuide,
Had neede haue mightie hands, for to fulfill
That, which he doth with righteous doome decide,
And for to maister wrong and puissant pride,
For vaine it is to deeme of things aright,
And makes wrong doers iustice to deride,
Vnlesse it be perform’d with dreadlesse might.
For powre is the right hand of Iustice truely hight.

Therefore whylome to knights of great emprise
The charge of Iustice giuen was in trust,
That they might execute her iudgements wise,
And with their might beat downe licentious lust,
Which proudly did impugne her sentence iust.
Whereof no brauer president this day
Remaines on earth, preseru’d from yron rust
Of rude obliuion, and long times decay,
Then this of Artegall, which here we haue to say.