Thereat he smitten was with great affright, xxxix And trembling terror did his hart apall, Ne wist he, what to thinke of that same sight, Ne what to say, ne what to doe at all; He doubted, least it were some magicall Illusion, that did beguile his sense, Or wandring ghost, that wanted funerall, Or aerie spirit vnder false pretence, Or hellish feend raysd vp through diuelish science. His wonder farre exceeded reasons reach, xl That he began to doubt his dazeled sight, And oft of error did himselfe appeach: Flesh without bloud, a person without spright, Wounds without hurt, a bodie without might, That could doe harme, yet could not harmed bee, That could not die, yet seem’d a mortall wight, That was most strong in most infirmitee; Like did he neuer heare, like did he neuer see. A while he stood in this astonishment, xli Yet would he not for all his great dismay Giue ouer to effect his first intent, And th’vtmost meanes of victorie assay, Or th’vtmost issew of his owne decay. His owne good sword _Morddure_[821], that neuer fayld At need, till now, he lightly threw away, And his bright shield, that nought him now auayld, And with his naked hands him forcibly assayld. Twixt his two mightie armes him vp he snatcht, xlii And crusht his carkasse so against his brest, That the disdainfull soule he thence dispatcht, And th’idle breath all vtterly exprest: Tho when he felt him dead, a downe he kest The lumpish corse vnto the senselesse grownd; Adowne he kest it with so puissant wrest, That backe againe it did aloft rebownd, And gaue against his mother earth a gronefull sownd. As when _Ioues_ harnesse-bearing Bird from hie xliii Stoupes at a flying heron with proud disdaine, The stone-dead quarrey fals so forciblie, That it rebounds against the lowly plaine, A second fall redoubling backe againe. Then thought the Prince all perill sure was past, And that he victor onely did remaine; No sooner thought, then that the Carle as fast Gan heap huge strokes on him, as ere he downe was cast. Nigh his wits end then woxe th’amazed knight, xliv And thought his labour lost and trauell vaine, Against this[822] lifelesse shadow so to fight: Yet life he saw, and felt his mightie maine, That whiles he marueild still, did still him paine: For thy he gan some other wayes aduize, How to take life from that dead-liuing swaine, Whom still he marked freshly to arize From th’earth, and from her wombe new spirits to reprize.