'gainst its clearest Fame False men behold it and their Crimes not shame And if t' appall the headstrong rout he sought Stones it to dust transform'd and dust to nought But when he 'd prouder gazing Eyes subdue Its Rays them blind or turn their Person 's Hew Nor are these Deeds surpassing all belief Since this stupendious Shield of Artist's Chief Great Merlin did from Magick Skill produce And by his Spells inspir'd its wondrous use Which mighty Present to this Prince he brought When first his youthful Courage Battels sought After whose brave decease the Fairy Queen Within her Mansion kept it to be seen A gracious Youth whom he entirely lov'd Carrying his Heben Spear behind him mov'd Grac'd to attend as this brave Prince's Squire And bear his Steel thrice season'd by the Fire Whose gallant Person on a war-like Steed Sate and by comely Manage check'd his speed Whilst foaming he the Reins and Rowels bit As if he scorn'd best Man should on him sit This Knight unto fair Una thus arriv'd By Meen and Speech his best Address contriv'd But when he found her Accents few and slow He judg'd the cause arose from secret woe Which to appease or banish from her mind He does Pathetick Words on purpose find And kindly begs that she 'd to him relate By what means her fair worth endur'd this Fate This Speech so touching was it found a way To move her Sorrows where they deepest lay And now she sadly sighing yields to speak Then stays her Lips till Tears her Eyes forsake Letting him know how endless 't were to tell The Troubles in her Soul's discomfits dwell Each thought of which like Death's-cold seem'd to creep Into her Breast and there his pale Dart steep And could but entertain the kindest Ear With things that Pity would not wish to hear Better redresless Harms 't is to conceal Than with fresh bitter Pangs deeds past bewail Think not best Lady said this Hero bold That unto me your Story 's fruitless told Since for your sake my Soul 's with anguish struck As on the Person and Complaints I look But when particularly you shall impart Your Case and Suffrings to my ready Heart My Arms or Counsel happily may sind Some means to ease th' afflictions of your mind But Noblest Knight saies she the greatest Grief Not harder is to tell than find relief And when express'd does worse Intrigue despair If found surpassing humane Aid or Care. But Madam where choice worth refines the Soul Doubt like a flaw does then its mirrour foul And tho our outward Strength impar'd may seem Reason our inward Prop can that redeem His goodly words and well deliver'd Speech So graciously did her Afflictions reach As she resolves the bottom to disclose Where Love and Fate did complicate her VVoes Letting him know succinctly as she might How Stars design'd her Fortunes mock and spight Tho only Daughter of a King and Queen Whose Rule more far than Euphrates was seen Or Gebon's waves through mighty Regions glide And Sands enrich as flows their Golden Tide Thus great my Parent 's Scepter did command Till from loath'd Lakes in vilde Tartarian Land A mighty Dragon with a murderous hate Despoil'd by rav'nous power their Royal State. Whilst to their strongest Fortress they took flight And guarded its huge Towers against his might Where round the place he brazen out-works drew And by four years strict Siege afflicts them now Endless 't were to rehearse th' adventures great Or Armies led by Hero's to defeat This wondrous Monster whom no human Power Could ere attack but it Piece-meal he tore And by continual Victories was known Stronger than all the neighbouring World alone Whether from Unbelief or tim'rous Sin His vanquish'd Prey so many Great have been At last induc'd by full assured Praise Of war-like Knights whom Fairy Land does blaze The Virgin Queen's Gloriana's Court I found For her great Deeds and Beauty far renown'd When circling round her Throne I did behold Knights that from figur'd Stars did Honour hold Their Orders stately Cognizance which rose From Ladies Garter found as Story goes And here of Knighthoods I hop'd some to find Who would from brave adventures be inclin'd My Royal Parents valiantly to aid And kill the Dragon where his Leaguer's made At this fam'd Court I found a youthful Knight Whose early Vertue sought for hardy Fight Clean was his Heart and like his Heart his Arms Had ne're been stain'd by forcing guilty Harms Yet unto him was such high Prowess given As he seem'd for Truth 's Champion rais'd by Heav'n And I tho his sad Witness have beheld How his strength more than human Foes had quell'd Let these without all Episode assure The hardy Battels he did oft endure As here you from his piercing Sword and Spear Behold the Marks of Honour which they bear And which none like his Valour ere could weild Tho since his saddest Relicks left in field O! how is now my Red-Cross Knight distress'd That has lost these whose Valour us'd them best His Love I prov'd by fair beginnings had When nought mistrusting an Enchanter bad His Sense abus'd and vildly made him deem My Faith unworthy of his great esteem But judge you Heavens that all things know aright If I less lov'd him than with all my Might Death I oft wish'd tho Death I could not find As my Soul ponder'd on his deeds unkind And by wild wandrings as my Fortune led I Footsteps left where none before did tread Whilst his irregular Flight us more disjoyns As from one Point shew far extended Lines Thus too too long he weariless did stray Till meeting Witch Duessa in his way The Sorc'ress that against my Truth conspir'd And with her seeming Beauty his heart fir'd And next by subtle Charms his worth betray'd To Giant vaster than of old earth made Who having him disarm'd with his huge Mall Or stunn'd or dead compell'd his mighty fall Tho never Man or Monster could before Boast the success which sadly I deplore Not all she tells before her Spirits faint Whilst with apt words he softens her Complaint Letting her know tho great 's her cause of Grief That he 'd not rest till given her Knight Relief Which chearful words her drooping vitals raise And moving on the Dwarf well guides their wayes CANTO VIII The Argument Fair Una seeks her Lover still And Arthur brings to fight Who doth strange Beast and Giant kill And strips Duessa quite HOw from the World would best men harms receive Did not Celestial succours them relieve And by the Influence of divinest Grace Assist their weakness in each suff'ring Case When oft through human frailty they least see The Steps they take unto their Misery All which the captive Red-Cross Knight did feel Till this great Prince attempts his aid with Steel Who trav'ling with fair Una had arriv'd Unto a Castle high and strong contriv'd When saies the Dwarf see yonder is the place To which my Lord was carry'd
they wou'd her obey Their rough Knees bend and her soft duty pay The doubtful Lady dares not yet commit Her person to their barbarous Truth or Wit Nor does forget her too late hasty Trust Or what she'ad heard of Satyrs and their Lust. Whilst they more Signs to her of sorrow show And to her as some rural Goddess bow Next prostrate lie and humbly kiss her Feet To shew they 'd her with gentlest Service greet Their speechless meaning she begins to guess And thinks 'em kind from Tokens they express When from the ground she fearless does arise And with calm looks beholds their wildest Eyes They glad as Birds that do perceive the Spring About her dance and their best measures sing Then shouting strow green Branches on the ground And own her Queen with Olive Garlands crown'd Thus they in joyful Triumph forward move Enforcing Eccho's from each Stream and Grove And with their horned Feet the earth do wear Leaping like wanton Kids when Summer's near So they her towards their old Sylvanus bring Who wak'd with noise and tunes they shrilly sing To know the cause in haste he does arise And round his VVaste his Ivy Girdle ties A Cyprus staff his aged Limbs supports And walks in fear lest some licentious Sports Or Juice of Vines his Sylvan Nation fir'd And them without his leave to Mirth inspir'd Being near approach'd they her to him present For Truth and Beauty more than excellent Their ancient God admiring stood a space As he beheld the wonders of her Face His Cyparissus and most lovely Boy Whom oft he'ad pleas'd with Tales more old than Troy. And for his long lost life had Ages pin'd Her blooming looks him of that youth remind The rural Nymphs invited by the noise In leafy Mantles came to mingle Joys But having well beheld her comely Face Like Rivals fear'd lest hers wou'd theirs disgrace And flying from her sight with nimblest speed No footsteps left on Grass or yielding Reed Whilst Herds of Satyrs of the ruffest kind Hop'd that instead of them she 'd stay behind And so devoted did around her stand As they watch'd Precepts from her Eye or Hand Confirmed thus this most distressed Maid To please their rustick Eyes long time here staid Judging it gave her Sorrows some redress To live where human kind had least access And to requite their kindness to her shown She full declares best Truth to them unknown Teaching how vain their Worship to her seem'd That had her person for their Idol deem'd But when she would this Zeal of theirs restrain Her Ass instead of her they 'd worship fain Whilst she their brutish Ignorance does oppose And to immortal things their Minds dispose In which conjuncture to this Forrest came A war-like Knight of far reputed Fame Who here by bold Adventure hop'd to see The strange Allyance of his Pedigree Plain just and brave was he howe're begot And without Lust sometimes the Hero's Spot In no vain-glorious Lists did he delight Yet fiercest wou'd for injur'd Woman fight 'T was said his Sire prodigious was by Blood And him begot on Lady in this Wood. Who for some Enterprize unknown to Fame A lovely Wand'rer to these Wood-lands came Where on a Swain instead of Guide she lights And by constraint to him her Beauty plights He rudely bred and fill'd with her embrace Delights her softness less than hardy chace Of Boar or Wolf and thus both night and day Too long presum'd from her smooth Lips to stay The forlorn Lady burning with desire To find her Swain and quench Love's earnest Fire Through vastest Coverts like a Wood-Nymph flies And where the tread of Dog or Beast she spies With utmost speed she that way next does run Hoping to find him e're his Chase was done When a brisk Satyr chanc'd his Horn to wind Who in that Art excell'd above his kind The amorous Lady hearken'd to the sound And hop'd by it her lov'd Swain to have found Panting with haste she towards the Goblin flies Scarce hiding by her loose Attire her Thighs The inflam'd Satyr glad of her mistake Within his lustful Clutches her does take And captive in a secret Cabin held Till Time a Boy whom he begot compell'd To quit her Womb then lets the Mother know That leaving him the Child she home might go This Ransom left she quits his wild abode And in Groves wanders far from beaten Road. The Boy he careful kept and as he grew Taught him his Nation 's Manners well to know But most instructed him to banish fear Whether the Lyon he assail'd or Bear. Wild roaring Bulls he learnt him how to tame Or kill them baited as his furious Game And that his heels the nimblest haste might make He shew'd him how swift Roes to overtake Or fiercest Beast from him would yield to flie Whether his Face by day or night they spie So terrible to Creatures he appear'd As his fierce Sire at last his Visage fear'd And trembling wish'd he'ad ne're him shown his Art Or in his fierce begetting had a part Advising him not to slight Beasts of prey Nor rashly to engage them to obey VVhilst Panthers Libbards he wou'd often yoak And drive them in a Team like Colts new broke And had their stubborn Hearts so fearless quell'd That they him as their Nature's Tyrant held His lovely Mother found him on a day As he from Dens of Beasts return'd that way VVhen after him a Lyoness did roar For her curst Whelps which in his Arms he bore The fearful Dame amazed at this sight From him had fled had not Love staid her flight Yet did from highest horror doubt a while VVhether 't was safe for her to blame his Toil. At last she these indulgent words did say Ah Satyran if thou lov'st me find Play Far gentler for thy youthful years than this And mildly look if thou'dst thy Mother kiss More she had said but found no words cou'd bend His hardy mind inured to contend VVith fiercest Creatures VVoods or Desarts range Till manly years and Glory wrought his change VVhen 't was his manner still as Fortune's smiles VVon by Atchievements had indulg'd his Toils Unto this Forrest calmly to retire And there pay duty to his wondrous Sire And now on like intent was thither come Pleas'd to behold his native VVood-land home Remembring there each Den and covert Place VVhence his wild Courage forc'd the fiercest Chace But when accomplished his Manhood year He soon resolv'd that him bad men shou'd fear Passing thus on he saw a Plain's wide Green In which by him around were Satyrs seen Amidst whose numbers beauteous Una stood Divinely teaching everlasting Good. Much he admir'd her Features VVit and Meen Like which in VVoman he had never seen Nor wonders less by what Fate she arriv'd To Woods where cruel Beasts and Satyrs liv'd And more than wonderful had there reclaim'd Creatures by Lust most sensually inslam'd And next to her his Courtship does apply Vowing to serve her
just to die Yet for his latest Torment grants him leave To eye her well ere his Sword him shall cleave Which heard the stubborn Sarazen paws'd a space And thus with him expostulates his case Saying Thou Son of Mars what makes thee strive 'Gainst my hot blood this Beauty to reprieve How much 't were better for thy safer life To yield her mine and cease this bloody strife Least when subdu'd thou shouldst repent too late That any blushing Girl provok'd thy Fate Howe're to forward surer my design This blow for earnest take that she is mine And now like intermitting Lightnings flash Their hardy Spears as 'gainst their Shields they clash Whilst fiercer than before they fight renew VVhich seen the Royal Virgin from 'em flew And tim'rously through Desarts takes her way When the false Pilgrim that provok'd this Fray Being the Magician Archimago old Had near them hid and subt'ly did behold The Passage which the des'late Lady took Whom he resolves for vilest ends to look But what the Progress was she after makes Or how an end this bloody Combat takes Requires a larger compass to rehearse Then here our Muse thinks fit to give her Verse CANTO VII The Argument The Red-Cross Knight by Giant stern Is fatally subdu'd Which Arthur does from Una learn And to aid him is mov'd WHat human Prudence always can evade Th' attempts that by the faithless heart are made Or wont less specious Woman's truth explore When witness'd by the Lips he does adore Propense to judge from Beauty's outward Grace That Nature did the mind as comely place VVhich Supposition caus'd the impious Snare That false Duessa laid in seeming fair As her vile Person represents the Name Of chast Fidessa and her beauteous flame And now return'd from Hell's infernal sight Where she for Cure had left her wounded Knight Imploring there great Aesculapius Ghost T' repair the life her Champion had near lost Seeks for the Red-Cross Hero at Pride's Court Whither by her deceits he did resort Whom there not finding for her hop'd design To seek him howe're mov'd her thoughts combine Nor was it long before the weary Knight She found reposed in a mournful plight Under a blooming Shade to which adjoyn'd A Stream that seem'd to sob for his griev'd mind And fearing no surprize had disarray'd Himself of Arms which by him there he lay'd Permitting of his Steed for want of Fare To branch on Boughs and cool his heat with Air. No sooner did the Birds within this Grove Sing chearful Notes his Sorrows to remove But the Enchantress vile Duessa came And with reproach assaults his slack'ned flame Telling that he ingratefully her left In dangerous Mansions of his aid berest Yet could her crafty Language mingle so As her sharp words did with some sweeter go Unkindness past they of new solace treat Whilst in this shade they shelter'd lie from heat Where with green Boughs they deck'd a gloomy place That like a Garland did this Fountain grace Nor ever could the Summers fervent flame Lessen the bubbling Springs which thither came Altho the Cristal Nymph therein did dwell Was by Diana much dislik'd some tell The Cause as 't is allow'd from Fame's report Was from this Goddess displeas'd at her Sport. When with her quiver'd Nymphs she chas'd a Roe And saw this one of all first faintness show For which the angry Deity decreed That like her Temper she faint streams should breed And should for ever such an Influence take As their chill Liquor shou'd men feeble make Of this the Red-Cross Knight could little think And thirsty lying of these Springs did drink VVhich tho they purest seem'd unto the Eye Diffus'd in him their weakning Malady Whose mighty strength soon felt a feeble change As through his Veins his heavy Blood did range Whilst from his chearful Cheeks the Red impairs Like one the coldest shaking Ague bears Yet still he made Addresses to this Dame Hoping her soft embrace would raise his flame As both supinely on the Surface lay And did their gentlest Beams of Love display At once neglectful of his Health and Fame Till from the Wood a blustring Terror came That Trees and Earth affrighted seem'd to shake When up he starts and does his VVeapon take But ere his Armour he could fitly place A Giant more than monstrous him does face No Eye shall one so huge ere view agen And three times higher was than tallest Men. 'T is told this mighty Issue did proceed From Earth's wide Womb begotten by the Seed Of stormy Aeolus who within a Cave Of wondrous depth to her Conception gave From whence this slimy Mass in future time Grew as Sin 's Figure vast in bulk and crime And 'gainst best Knighthood furiously was bent Proud of his matchless strength and high descent A snaggy Oak he on his Shoulder bore VVhich from his Mother's Entrals he had tore And had with that fam'd Giants lately kill'd And now for like Adventure took the Field Stalking along he sternly gaz'd around And with his surly Eye the Hero found When steps he takes were more than Acre wide Till unto him with furious hast arriv'd The Knight not arm'd and from the baneful draught He at this Fountain took to weakness brought Attempts in vain his single Sword to weild And stands like one that impotent must yield When blows at him the rageful Monster made That level might a Tower of Stone have laid Yet fell'd him not with all his mighty power So strangely Heaven supported him that hour Some Strength he'ad left and but enough to try If in his Fate was such Dexterity That could avoid the Giants mighty stroak Which duely watch'd a leap aside he took VVhen missing him the monstrous blow did fall Upon the Turf and it to pieces maull Yet so exceeding was the force he shunn'd That the Air mov'd by it his Senses stunn'd As when some Man unhappily does hear The Canon's Thunder with astonish'd ear And falls to earth as does the Tree that 's cast By the impetuous VVind's unlook'd-for blast So prostrate had this Giant 's strength compell'd The valiant Knight whom as he thus beheld To crush him unto Powder at next blow His heavy Arm he lifting high does show Until Duessa with a loud voice cries Refrain Orgoglio greatest under Skies If thou 't for VVoman's sake this mortal save And let him still remain thy conquer'd Slave For which Obligements I 'le thy Mistress live And in thy Bed my soft Embraces give No sooner her allurements he had heard And view'd her beauteous looks but he appear'd Softned in Soul and to assure her Charms Gently receiv'd her coming to his Arms. And pronely bowing of his mighty height Kisses her once and talks of more at Night Then up the slumb'ring Hero he does take And seeing his sounding Sense did not awake This Monster on his Shoulder him does bear And hands the Lady on with kindest Care. Swell'd like some lustful Victor by whose Toil The Foe 's
his help own Who for them oft in highest Courts would plead And there no Power of greatest Mortals dread With Pains and Purse he each just Cause did aid And where want was their total Charges pay'd When hither was the famous Knight arriv'd The first his welcome of the seven contriv'd And seeing that Dame Mercy him did guide With lowest Reverence he to her apply'd And for her fit Reception did prepare As one they held their Patroness most dear And next Charissa whom they Founder deem'd Was by this holy Order best esteem'd Here kindly she the Knight refresh'd awhile Enabling him for further pious Toil Till when she him instructs in gracious Deeds And Mercy which serenest thence proceeds Whilst by degrees he felt such inward Bliss As nothing in his Soul was found amiss When painfully unto a Hill they pass On whose high top a sacred Chappel was Next which a little Hermitage was rais'd Wherein an aged Man his Maker prais'd Inspir'd to wonder by divinest Flame Who then had Contemplation for his Name And tho through Age his Eyes had lost their sight In mind he oft saw God's sublimest height And what past present future time could shew By his prophetick Soul he fully knew To him the Hero with his Guide ascends But weary grows before his Journey ends Which when his Conduct Mercy had perceiv'd She him supports till to the top arriv'd VVhere they this holy person do behold VVho look'd than longest living man more old His hoary Locks beneath his Shoulders hung Like Frosty Curls on Trees when VVinter's long Each Bone and Sinew of his Body seen A perfect Skeliton excepting Skin Food he ne're sought when tedious was his Fast VVho had from spirit'al Comforts full Repast VVhen these approaching him he did discern He them beheld at first with some concern Admiring whence this Man of Arms should come In hope to find where he resided room And had it not been for kind Mercy 's Dame He ' twards the Knight had neither look'd or came But when he judg'd that she was his Support He ask'd for what to him they did resort No end saies she did on our Souls prevail This wondrous Hill by painful Steps to scale But from thy grave direction to arise VVhere Heaven is seated far above all Skies Nor can we doubt to pass each Door or VVay Since wise Fidelia has given thee her Key Happy thou Man this aged Father say'd That to assist thy Steps couldst gain her aid VVhat better than her Genius can define The Path to Heaven where num'rous Angels shine Yet since 't is ask'd to thee I will make known VVhat I ne're yet reveal'd to Fairy's Son And soon direct thee into such a way From whence the careful Soul can never stray But first some time to Prayer and Fasting give That thou mayst spiritual cleansing thence receive VVhich done he leads him to the highest Mount Like that where God his Laws to Man did count Or that fam'd Hill of Olives all around On which the godly oft their Saviour found Or like that pleasant Mount from whence some say The heavenly Nine their inspir'd Verse convey Next he a distant little Path doth shew VVhich steep and long appear'd unto their View And to a goodly City led along VVhose VValls and Towers were built with precious Stone The blest abode of God's elected Tribe Too excellent for Mortal to describe As here they gaz'd they Angels did behold That every way took flight on VVings of Gold And did in passing one another greet Like Friend and Friend that most obliging meet This new Ierusalem is the old Man said That God hath for his Saints bright dwelling made VVho are more dearly welcome to his sight Than Younglings which their Dams do most delight Till now reply'd the Knight I judg'd amiss In thinking Fairy Land's Cleopolis Did no less Cities far renown'd exceed Than its Queen does all other Queens precede I grant then said the aged holy Man That no Abodes of mortal Beings can In Fame's account Cleopolis excel Or its fair Princess there who rules so well Nor shall e're Hero more exalt his Name Than by brave Deeds to serve that Royal Dame. And thou best Youth of noble English Blood How e're for Fairy Son yet understood Let thy Arms still the desolate Una aid But when thy Deeds have well her Merit pay'd High amongst famous Reliques place thy Shield And never more engage in bloody Field For War can nought but Sin and Sorrow bring As the unruly Ocean whence they spring But peaceably this Path seek I have shown Till by degrees Heaven's Blessings thee shall own For thou amongst the holy seen by thee As I presage in future time shalt be And from fair England's Value of thy Fame Be call'd brave George and sainted by that Name Think not thy self unworthy of this Grace â—ince yours is now th' amended Sinner's Case But godly Patron must my Soul decline Woman's fair Sex so much esteem'd by mine Or ceas'd soft Wishes shall I next restrain All further Glory which my Sword might gain Son I perceive thou fondly dost mistake The future Prospect which thy Soul shall take For Battels never can by thee be fought Where everlasting Peace by all is sought When all impure Desires and human Ill Shall vanish with man's unrefined Will. O might I Father not return again Unto low Earth where Sin was late my Stain But let me with thee still continue here That nothing may my present Hope impair What thou requir'st dear Knight I can't concede Since for bless'd Una Heaven requires thy aid She did unto thy Trust her Cause commit And from her Foes thy Arms should her acquit Then will I aided by Heaven's strengthning Grace Assist this Virgin and her Royal Race Which done a Pilgrim's Habit next I 'le take And back return'd will here my Off'rings make Mean while thou blessed Man to me relate Whom all a Fairy's Son do nominate How 't was reveal'd to thee or understood That I 'm deriv'd from valiant English Blood. The Story soon I 'le make thee understand And by what means thou cam'st to Fairy Land For well I know that thy great Lineage springs From the most fam'd of England's Saxon Kings And whence a Fairy you not knowing took As you a Babe your sleeping Nurse did suck And in your Room another Infant left Like those call'd Changelings from such wondrous Theft This subtle Creature or some Elfish Spright With you a Babe to Fairy Land took flight Where in a Furrow you she hid a while Until discover'd by the Plough-man's Toil. The hardy Swain admiring did behold Looks in your Visage more than Infant bold For which he soon you sprightly George did name And taught you young the ruffest rural Game When after ripen'd your Souls brave effort You gain'd a Hero's Praise at Fairy Court. O sacred Man how shall I you requite That my obscured Birth have told aright And by your boundless Science
me have shown The way that leads to blessed Seats alone Which said he look'd toward the lower ground That passage back might heedfully be found But prov'd his piercing Eyes were yet amaz'd In having here on Heaven's bright Objects gaz'd At last his Senses better did conspire How he to his lov'd Una might retire To whom when found he gladly did declare That for her Service he 'd soon arm'd appear And next to take their kindest leave agree Of reverend Caelia and her Daughters three CANTO XI The Argument The Hero and the Dragon old Two days their Battels fight The third he does him slain behold By his surpassing Might Time's winged hours by Una slow were thought Till Aid was to her Royal Parents brought And from the Dragon 's monstrous Siege reliev'd By which their Rule and Persons long was griev'd And now arriv'd unto this Martial Sphere Her Heroin Vertue soon dispels all fear Joyning such Motives to her beauteous Charms As most oblig'd her Hero's haste to Arms. Then bids him well observe her native Soil And how the hated Fiend does it despoil The wicked Cause whence all their Suff'rings came And which remov'd must far exalt his Name Yonder behold the famous Brazen Tower Still strait besieged by the Monster 's Power Whilst my dear Parents yet from Bondage free Appearing on its top I joyful see Their careful Watchman likewise on the VVall T' inform 'em gladly when good Tydings call And now was heard a strange out-ragious sound That seem'd to shake Earth's firmest center'd ground When they a horrid Dragon had espy'd That lay far stretch'd on a Hill's Sunny-side Or like a Mountain on a Mountain lay'd Had unto wonder his vast Bulk display'd But as he saw the glistring armed Knight He rouz'd himself like Beast dispos'd to fight Which seen this Chief his Lady does desire Unto a Mount adjacent to retire Whence she aloft this Battel 's proof might view And what his Prowess for her sake durst do Now sacred Muse to Phoebus brightest Dame The Nurse of Time and long conspicuous Fame Kindly instil into my feeble Breast Flames without Rage which thy Wit suiteth best Whose Song can smoothly Martial Hearts excite And unconstrain'd compel their fierce delight Let Verse so here the God of VVar awake Whilst Nations far his stern Alarums take Now towards the Knight was mov'd this mighty Beast Using at once his Wings and Feet for haste Who from his hideous Shape and Shade's extent To distant Eyes preceding Terror sent Approaching near his matchless Bulk he rais'd And full erected on the Hero gaz'd With Brazen Scales his mighty Corps was arm'd That from no Weapon's force he might be harm'd And like a Vultur seeing her wish'd-for Prey Rouzeth with joy his Plumes and speeds that away Whose mighty Wings larger than Sails appear'd When winds that spread their length on Seas are heard Or as the sound of clashed Armour rings A noise he made with his hard Scales and Wings In wreathed folds his Tail o'respreads his Back Bespotted all with Colours Red and Black. Which when stretch'd out three Furlongs was in length And had two pointed ends of sharpest Strength Whose Stings were far exceeded by his Paws And these as much by his most ravenous Jaws Which gap'd like the devouring Mouth of Hell That none knew how deep what he swallow'd fell Three ranks of Iron Teeth each Jaw had fill'd Whence trickl'd Blood of Creatures by him kill'd VVhilst his polluted Bosom did disperse A smoaky Stench too foul to name by Verse His angry Eyes more blazing Flames did yield Than Beacons burning on the lofty Field But far within to cast a dismal Shade These Lamps were set as in a hollow glade And now exalting of his speckled Breast To meet the Knight he terribly addrest And with an eager joy does often bound Like playful Kids upon the grassy Ground When the bold Hero couching of his Spear To combat him undaunted does appear But could not with his powerful Strength or Steel Cause this hard Monster any VVound to feel Yet so puissant did his sorce prevail As it the Dragon felt and bent his Tail. VVhich in high Rage he swiftly circled round And with it brush'd both Man and Horse to ground But soon the Knight and Steed were up again And next this direful Beast assault amain Far closer charg'd than e're by human Power He'ad been attack'd unto that fatal hour VVhich felt his lapping VVings he does display And like a moving Cloud mounts high away Whilst as the Air his boistrous Pinnions beat Rough winds they rais'd aloft to bear his weight And having thus some time took slight around He stooping snatch'd the mounted Knight from ground When grasping Man and Horse he soar'd more high Than Arrow from the strongest Bow can fly Till struggling long they him at last constrain'd Like Hawk that has a Fowl too hardy gain'd VVith weary Pounces to decline his height And low as Earth engag'd his Prey to fight The Man and Dragon buckling thus had fell Nor could the Monster 's Gripes or Strength compel The war-like Hero his Steed's seat to quit Or the brave manage of his foaming Bit. VVhen giving Spurs unto his eager Force At one bold blow plunge the wondrous Knight and Horse Themselves from this vast Dragon's Clutches free And charge him fiercely now at liberty VVhen this great VVarriour guides his fierce Career And 'gainst the Dragon's Breast applies his Spear VVhich glancing under his lift VVing did find A passage where his Heart was nearly joyn'd VVhich wound receiv'd the Monster louder roars Than waves that loudest sound on Northern shores VVhen earth they strive to shoulder from her seat Or as the blustring Breed of Aeolus threat To toss Earth's Globe like to a sported Ball Or for Revenge on one another fall Fast stuck embru'd in gore the pointed Steel VVhich as this Beast did sticking in him feel VVith his strong Claws he tore the wood in vain VVhilst in the wound its Point does still remain VVhen from the Orifice his cursed Blood O'reflows the Surface like an Inland Flood His hideous Tail around him then he plies And with it wraps the Knight's Steed's nimble thighs Whose Courage strives this wondrous Knot to rend But finds he doth more hamper'd still contend That to the ground by force he is constrain'd To fling his Knight where foulest blood him stain'd Whilst he on foot soon weilds his shining Blade And with thick blows does this vast Fiend invade Which as he feels his Station he declin'd Like one afraid when Battel close is joyn'd Yet as he wheel'd the Knight does him attack But could not pierce his Brazen Scales or Back Tho now he irksome felt his former wound And strives with his hurt Wing to fly from ground VVhen feeling his huge Pinnion's strength decay'd More loud than Dragon e're was heard he bray'd And full enrag'd he gaping wide does vent Far fiercer Flames than if from Ovens sent Which flashing on