Cant. VII.
the Faery Queene.
93
The goddesse wroth gan fowly her disgrace,And badd the waters, which from her did flow,Be such as she her selfe was then in place.Thenceforth her waters wexed dull and slow,And all that drinke thereof, do faint and feeble grow.
Hereof this gentle knight vnweeting was,And lying downe vpon the sandie graile,Dronke of the streame, as cleare as christall glas;Eftsoones his manly forces gan to fayle,And mightie strong was turnd to feeble frayle:His chaunged powres at first them selues not felt,Till crudled cold his corage gan assayle,And chearefull blood in fayntnes chill did melt,Which like a feuer fit through all his body swelt.
Yet goodly court he made still to his Dame,Pourd out in loosnesse on the grassy grownd,Both carelesse of his health, and of his fame:Till at the last he heard a dreadfull sownd,Which through the wood loud bellowing, did rebownd,That all the earth for terror seemd to shake,And trees did tremble. Th'Elfe therewith astownd,Vpstarted lightly from his looser make,And his vnready weapons gan in hand to take.
But ere he could his armour on him dight,Or gett his shield, his monstrous enimyWith sturdie steps came stalking in his sight,An hideous Geaunt horrible and hye,That with his tallnesse seemd to threat the skye,The ground eke groned vnder him for dreed;His liuing like saw neuer liuing eye,Ne durst behold: his stature did exceedThe hight of three the tallest sonnes of mortall seed.
The
