The cause was this: one day when _Phœbe_ fayre v With all her band was following the chace, This Nymph, quite tyr’d with heat of scorching ayre Sat downe to rest in middest of the race: The goddesse wroth gan fowly her[232] disgrace, And bad the waters, which from her did flow, Be such as she her selfe was then in place. Thenceforth her waters waxed[233] dull and slow, And all that drunke thereof, did[234] faint and feeble grow. Hereof this gentle knight vnweeting was, vi And lying downe vpon the sandie graile, Drunke of the streame, as cleare as cristall glas;[235] Eftsoones his manly forces gan to faile, And mightie strong was turnd to feeble fraile. His chaunged powres at first them selues not felt, Till crudled cold his corage gan assaile, And chearefull bloud in faintnesse chill did melt, Which like a feuer fit through all his body swelt. Yet goodly court he made still to his Dame, vii 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 terrour 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, viii Or get his shield, his monstrous enimy With sturdie steps came stalking in his sight, An hideous Geant horrible and hye, That with his talnesse 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 exceed The hight of three the tallest sonnes of mortall seed. The greatest Earth his vncouth mother was, ix And blustring _Æolus_ his boasted sire, Who with his breath, which through the world doth pas, Her hollow womb did secretly inspire, And fild her hidden caues with stormie yre, That she conceiu’d; and trebling the dew time, In which the wombes of women[236] do expire, Brought forth this monstrous masse of earthly slime, Puft vp with emptie wind, and fild with sinfull crime. So growen great through arrogant delight x Of th’high descent, whereof he was yborne, And through presumption of his matchlesse might, All other powres and knighthood he did scorne. Such now he marcheth to this man forlorne, And left to losse: his stalking steps are stayde Vpon a snaggy Oke, which he had torne Out of his mothers bowelles, and it made His mortall mace, wherewith his foemen he dismayde.