As when a Dolphin and a Sele are met, xv In the wide champian of the Ocean plaine: With cruell chaufe their courages they whet, The maysterdome of each by force to gaine, And dreadfull battaile twixt them do darraine: They snuf, they snort, they bounce, they rage, they rore, That all the sea disturbed with their traine, Doth frie with fome aboue the surges hore. Such was betwixt these two the troublesome vprore. So _Artegall_ at length him forst forsake xvi His horses backe, for dread of being drownd, And to his handy swimming him betake. Eftsoones him selfe he from his hold vnbownd, And then no ods at all in him he fownd: For _Artegall_ in swimming skilfull was, And durst the depth of any water sownd. So ought each Knight, that vse of perill has, In swimming be expert through waters force to pas. Then very doubtfull was the warres euent, xvii Vncertaine whether had the better side: For both were skild in that experiment, And both in armes well traind and throughly tride. But _Artegall_ was better breath’d beside, And towards th’end, grew greater in his might, That his faint foe no longer could abide His puissance, ne beare him selfe vpright, But from the water to the land betooke his flight. But _Artegall_ pursewd him still so neare, xviii With bright Chrysaor in his cruell hand, That as his head he gan a litle reare Aboue the brincke, to tread vpon the land, He smote it off, that tumbling on the strand It bit the earth for very fell despight, And gnashed with his teeth, as if he band High God, whose goodnesse he despaired quight, Or curst the hand, which did that vengeance on him dight.[260] His corps was carried downe along the Lee, xix Whose waters with his filthy bloud it stayned: But his blasphemous head, that all might see, He pitcht vpon a pole on high ordayned; Where many years it afterwards remayned, To be a mirrour to all mighty men, In whose right hands great power is contayned, That none of them the feeble ouerren, But alwaies doe their powre within iust compasse pen. That done, vnto the Castle he did wend, xx In which the Paynims daughter did abide, Guarded of many which did her defend: Of whom he entrance sought, but was denide, And with reprochfull blasphemy defide, Beaten with stones downe from the battilment, That he was forced to withdraw aside; And bad his seruant _Talus_ to inuent Which way he enter might, without endangerment.