Whom when the damned feend so fresh The mortall sting his angry needle shott Quite through his shield, and in his shoulder seasd,7 Where fast it stucke, ne would thereout be His trusty sword he cald to his last aid, Wherewith he fiersly did his foe assaile, And double blowes about him stoutly laid, The heate whereof, and harmefull pestilence, So sore him noyd,13 that forst him to retire A little backeward for his best defence, To save his body from the scorching fire, 400 Which he from hellish entrailes did expire. That glauncing fire out of the yron plaid, It chaunst, (Eternall God that chaunce As sparkles from the andvile use to fly, 375 When heavy hammers on the wedge are swaid; Therewith at last he forst him to unty One of his grasping feete, him to defend thereby. 1 raised. ' planned. did guide) As he recoiled backeward, in the mire 2 black as a thunderbolt. knew. 405 10 placed. 12 hot room. 14 wearied out. With dreadfull poyse is from the mayneland rift,7 And, rolling downe, great Neptune doth dismay; 485 Fit to decke maydens bowres, Sweete Themmes, runne softly, till I end my song. So downe he fell, and like an heaped There, in a meadow, by the rivers side, mountaine lay. A flocke of nymphes I chaunced to espy, 20 All lovely daughters of the flood thereby, With goodly greenish locks all loose untyde, As each had bene a bryde: And each one had a little wicker basket, Made of fine twigs entrayled curiously, 25 In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket; But yet at last, whenas the direfull feend And with fine fingers cropt full feateously10 The tender stalkes on hye. |