XVII

Such one it was, as that renowmed Snake[*] 140
  Which great Alcides in Stremona slew,
  Long fostred in the filth of Lerna lake,
  Whose many heads out budding ever new
  Did breed him endlesse labour to subdew: 
  But this same Monster much more ugly was; 145
  For seven great heads out of his body grew,
  An yron brest, and back of scaly bras,[*]
And all embrewd in bloud, his eyes did shine as glas.

XVIII

His tayle was stretched out in wondrous length,
  That to the house of heavenly gods it raught,[*] 150
  And with extorted powre, and borrow’d strength,
  The ever-burning lamps from thence it braught,
  And prowdly threw to ground, as things of naught;
  And underneath his filthy feet did tread
  The sacred things, and holy heasts foretaught.[*] 155
  Upon this dreadfull Beast with sevenfold head
He sett the false Duessa, for more aw and dread.

XIX

The wofull Dwarfe, which saw his maisters fall,
  Whiles he had keeping of his grasing steed,
  And valiant knight become a caytive thrall, 160
  When all was past, tooke up his forlorne weed,[*]
  His mightie armour, missing most at need;
  His silver shield, now idle maisterlesse;
  His poynant speare, that many made to bleed,
  The rueful moniments[*] of heavinesse, 165
And with them all departes, to tell his great distresse.

XX

He had not travaild long, when on the way
  He wofull Ladie, wofull Una met,
  Fast flying from that Paynims greedy pray,
  Whilest Satyrane him from pursuit did let:  170
  Who when her eyes she on the Dwarfe had set,
  And saw the signes, that deadly tydings spake,
  She fell to ground for sorrowfull regret,
  And lively breath her sad brest did forsake,
Yet might her pitteous hart be seene to pant and quake. 175

XXI

The messenger of so unhappie newes,
  Would faine have dyde:  dead was his hart within,
  Yet outwardly some little comfort shewes: 
  At last recovering hart, he does begin
  To rub her temples, and to chaufe her chin, 180
  And everie tender part does tosse and turne. 
  So hardly[*] he the flitted life does win,
  Unto her native prison to retourne: 
Then gins her grieved ghost thus to lament and mourne.

XXII

Ye dreary instruments of dolefull sight, 185
  That doe this deadly spectacle behold,
  Why do ye lenger feed on loathed light,
  Or liking find to gaze on earthly mould,
  Sith cruell fates the carefull threeds unfould,
  The which my life and love together tyde? 190
  Now let the stony dart of senselesse cold
  Perce to my hart, and pas through every side,
And let eternall night so sad sight fro me hide.