XVIII

The force which wont in two to be disperst,
  In one alone left hand[*] he now unites, 155
  Which is through rage more strong than both were erst;
  With which his hideous club aloft he dites,
  And at his foe with furious rigour smites,
  That strongest Oake might seeme to overthrow: 
  The stroke upon his shield so heavie lites, 160
  That to the ground it doubleth him full low: 
What mortall wight could ever beare so monstrous blow?

XIX

And in his fall his shield,[*] that covered was,
  Did loose his vele by chaunce, and open flew: 
  The light whereof, that heavens light did pas, 165
  Such blazing brightnesse through the aier threw,
  That eye mote not the same endure to vew. 
  Which when the Gyaunt spyde with staring eye,
  He downe let fall his arme, and soft withdrew
  His weapon huge, that heaved was on hye 170
For to have slaine the man, that on the ground did lye.

XX

And eke the fruitfull-headed beast, amazd
  At flashing beames of that sunshiny shield,
  Became starke blind, and all his sences daz’d,
  That downe he tumbled on the durtie field, 175
  And seem’d himselfe as conquered to yield. 
  Whom when his maistresse proud perceiv’d to fall,
  Whiles yet his feeble feet for faintnesse reeld,
  Unto the Gyant loudly she gan call,
O helpe Orgoglio, helpe, or else we perish all. 180

XXI

At her so pitteous cry was much amoov’d
  Her champion stout, and for to ayde his frend,
  Againe his wonted angry weapon proov’d: 
  But all in vaine:  for he has read his end
  In that bright shield, and all their forces spend 185
  Themselves in vaine:  for since that glauncing sight,
  He had no powre to hurt, nor to defend;
  As where th’ Almighties lightning brond does light,
It dimmes the dazed eyen, and daunts the senses quight.

XXII

Whom when the Prince, to battell new addrest, 190
  And threatning high his dreadfull stroke did see,
  His sparkling blade about his head he blest,
  And smote off quite his right leg by the knee,
  That downe he tombled; as an aged tree,
  High growing on the top of rocky clift, 195
  Whose hartstrings with keene steele nigh hewen be,
  The mightie trunck halfe rent, with ragged rift
Doth roll adowne the rocks, and fall with fearefull drift.

XXIII

Or as a Castle reared high and round,
  By subtile engins and malitious slight 200
  Is undermined from the lowest ground,
  And her foundation forst, and feebled quight,
  At last downe falles, and with her heaped hight
  Her hastie ruine does more heavie make,
  And yields it selfe unto the victours might; 205
  Such was this Gyants fall, that seemd to shake
The stedfast globe of earth, as it for feare did quake.