Which subtill sleight did him encumber much, xxvii And made him oft, when he would strike, forbeare; For hardly could he come the carle to touch, But that he her must hurt, or hazard neare: Yet he his hand so carefully did beare, That at the last he did himselfe attaine, And therein left the pike head of his speare. A streame of coleblacke bloud thence gusht amaine, That all her silken garments did with bloud bestaine. With that he threw her rudely on the flore, xxviii And laying both his hands vpon his glaue, With dreadfull strokes let driue at him so sore, That forst him flie abacke, himselfe to saue: Yet he therewith so felly still did raue, That scarse the Squire his hand could once vpreare, But for aduantage ground vnto him gaue, Tracing and trauersing, now here, now there; For bootlesse thing it was to think such blowes to beare. Whilest thus in battell they embusied were, xxix _Belphebe_ raunging in that forrest wide, The hideous noise of their huge strokes did heare, And drew thereto, making her eare her guide. Whom when that theefe approching nigh espide, With bow in hand, and arrowes ready bent, He by his former combate would not bide, But fled away with ghastly dreriment, Well knowing her to be his deaths sole instrument. Whom seeing flie, she speedily poursewed xxx With winged feete, as nimble as the winde, And euer in her bow she ready shewed[124] The arrow, to his deadly marke desynde. As when _Latonaes_ daughter cruell kynde, In vengement of her mothers great disgrace, With fell despight her cruell arrowes tynde Gainst wofull _Niobes_ vnhappy race, That all the gods did mone her miserable case. So well she sped her and so far she ventred, xxxi That ere vnto his hellish den he raught, Euen as he ready was there to haue entred, She sent an arrow forth with mighty draught, That in the very dore him ouercaught, And in his nape arriuing, through it thrild His greedy throte, therewith in two distraught, That all his vitall spirites thereby spild, And all his hairy brest with gory bloud was fild. Whom when on ground she groueling saw to rowle, xxxii She ran in hast his life to haue bereft: But ere she could him reach, the sinfull sowle Hauing his carrion corse quite sencelesse left, Was fled to hell, surcharg’d with spoile and theft. Yet ouer him she there long gazing stood, And oft admir’d his monstrous shape, and oft His mighty limbs, whilest all with filthy bloud The place there ouerflowne, seemd like a sodaine flood.