Probably the longest, richest, most epic descriptions are those of jousting.
These are small parts from much larger descriptive passages :
"In fair Damascus thus the list appears
All bright with breast-plates, helms and bristled spears.
Soft blooming damsels on the champions shower
From roofs and windows every vernal flower;
Each knightly rival to the trumpet's sound
His courser spurs with many a sprightly bound,
All prove their best - some merit gifts and praise,
And some loud peals of scorn and laughter raise.
A suit of armour doom'd the victor's prize,
For that days jousts the Syrian king supplies:
Who late receiv'd it at a merchant's hand,
A merchant journeying from Armenia's land (...)
But let us now (this tale a while dismiss'd)
To Gryphon turn, who when he reach'd the list,
Already found the manly jousts begun,
Spears broke, and falchions flashing in the sun.
Eight youthful knights by Norandino held
Near to his person, who in arms excell'd,
In friendly league 'gainst all opponents stood,
Nobles themselves, and sprung of noble blood:
These in the martial square that day had run
With all the listed warriors, one by one:
With lance, with sword or mace they wag'd the fight,
While the king view'd, and view'd them with delight.
Oft through the cuirass, in th' unpleasant strife,
The weapon pass'd endangering either's life:
Like foes they fought, but that the king could stay
At will their rage and bid surcease the fray."
(The tourney in Damascus in Book XVII of Orlando Furioso, here translated by John Hoole)
"They all agreed: so turning all to game,
And pleasaunt bord, they past forth on their way,
And all that while, where so they rode or came,
That masked Mock-knight was their sport and play.
Till that at length vpon th'appointed day,
Vnto the place of turneyment they came;
Where they before them found in fresh aray
Manie a braue knight, and manie a daintie dame
Assembled, for to get the honour of that game.
(...)
Then tooke the bold Sir Satyrane in hand
An huge great speare, such as he wont to wield,
And vauncing forth from all the other band
Of knights, addrest his maiden-headed shield,
Shewing him selfe all ready for the field.
Gainst whom there singled from the other side
A Painim knight, that well in armes was skild,
And had in many a battell oft bene tride,
Hight Bruncheual the bold, who fiersly forth did ride.
So furiously they both together met,
That neither could the others force sustaine;
As two fierce Buls, that striue the rule to get
Of all the heard, meete with so hideous maine,
That both rebutted, tumble on the plaine:
So these two champions to the ground were feld,
Where in a maze they both did long remaine,
And in their hands their idle troncheons held,
Which neither able were to wag, or once to weld."
(Satyrane's tournament in Book IV of The Faerie Queene.)
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