Such one it was, as that renowmed Snake xvii Which great _Alcides_ in _Stremona_ slew, Long fostred in the filth of _Lerna_ lake, Whose many heads out budding euer new, Did breed him endlesse labour to subdew: But this same Monster much more vgly was; For seuen great heads out of his body grew, An yron brest, and backe of scaly bras, And all embrewd in bloud, his eyes did shine as glas. His tayle was stretched out in wondrous length, xviii That to the house of heauenly gods it raught, And with extorted powre, and borrow’d strength, The euer-burning lamps from thence it brought[242], And prowdly threw to ground, as things of nought[243]; And vnderneath his filthy feet did tread The sacred things, and holy heasts foretaught. Vpon this dreadfull Beast with seuenfold head He set the false _Duessa_, for more aw and dread. The wofull Dwarfe, which saw his maisters fall, xix Whiles he had keeping of his grasing steed, And valiant knight become a caytiue thrall, When all was past, tooke vp his forlorne weed, His mightie armour, missing most at need; His siluer shield, now idle maisterlesse; His poynant speare, that many made to bleed, The ruefull moniments of heauinesse, And with them all departes, to tell his great distresse. He had not trauaild long, when on the way xx He wofull Ladie, wofull _Vna_ met, Fast flying from the[244] Paynims greedy pray, Whilest _Satyrane_ him from pursuit did let: 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 liuely breath her sad brest did forsake, Yet might her pitteous hart be seene to pant and quake. The messenger of so vnhappie newes[245] xxi Would faine haue dyde: dead was his hart within, Yet outwardly some little comfort shewes: At last recouering hart, he does begin To rub her temples, and to chaufe her chin, And euery tender part does tosse and turne: So hardly he the flitted life does win, Vnto her natiue prison to retourne: Then gins her grieued ghost thus to lament and mourne. Ye dreary instruments of dolefull sight, xxii 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 vnfould, The which my life and loue together tyde? Now let the stony dart of senselesse cold Perce to my hart, and pas through euery side, And let eternall night so sad sight[246] fro me hide.