With that he drew his flaming sword, and strooke vi At him so fiercely, that the vpper marge Of his seuenfolded shield away it tooke, And glauncing on his helmet, made a large And open gash therein: were not his targe, That broke the violence of his intent, The weary soule from thence it would discharge; Nathelesse so sore a buff to him it lent, That made him reele, and to his brest his beuer bent. Exceeding wroth was _Guyon_ at that blow, vii And much ashamd, that stroke of liuing arme Should him dismay, and make him stoup so low, Though otherwise it did him litle harme: Tho hurling high his yron braced arme, He smote so manly on his shoulder plate, That all his left side it did quite disarme; Yet there the steele stayd not, but inly bate Deepe in his flesh, and opened wide a red floodgate. Deadly dismayd, with horrour of that dint viii _Pyrochles_ was, and grieued eke entyre; Yet nathemore did it his fury stint, But added flame vnto his former fire, That welnigh molt his hart in raging yre, Ne thenceforth his approued skill, to ward, Or strike, or hurtle[585] round in warlike[586] gyre, Remembred he, ne car’d for his saufgard, But rudely rag’d, and like a cruell Tygre far’d. He hewd, and lasht, and foynd, and thundred blowes, ix And euery way did seeke into his life, Ne plate, ne male could ward so mighty throwes, But yielded passage to his cruell knife. But _Guyon_, in the heat of all his strife, Was warie wise, and closely did awayt Auauntage, whilest his foe did rage most rife; Sometimes a thwart, sometimes he strooke him strayt, And falsed oft his blowes, t’illude him with such bayt. Like as a Lyon, whose imperiall powre x A prowd rebellious Vnicorne defies, T’auoide the rash assault and wrathfull stowre Of his fiers foe, him to a tree applies, And when him running in full course he spies, He slips aside; the whiles that furious beast His precious horne, sought of his enimies[587], Strikes in the stocke, ne thence can be releast[588], But to the mighty victour yields a bounteous feast. With such faire slight him _Guyon_ often faild, xi Till at the last all breathlesse, wearie, faint Him spying, with fresh onset he assaild, And kindling new his courage seeming queint, Strooke him so hugely, that through great constraint He made him stoup perforce vnto his knee, And do vnwilling worship to the Saint, That on his shield depainted he did see; Such homage till that instant neuer learned hee.