Whom when the Prince, to battell new addrest, 2 And threatning high his dreadfull stroke did see, His sparkling blade about his head he blest, 4 And smote off quite his right leg by the knee, That downe he tombled; as an aged tree, 6 High growing on the top of rocky clift, Whose hartstrings with keene steele nigh hewen be, 8 The mightie trunck halfe rent, with ragged rift Doth roll adowne the rocks, and fall with fearefull drift. 1 Whom when the prince, to battle new addressed, 2 And threatening high his dreadful stroke, did see, 3 His sparkling blade about his head he blessed, blessed > brandished 4 And smote off quite his right leg by the knee, 5 That down he tumbled; as an aged tree, That > [So that] 6 High growing on the top of rocky cliff, 7 Whose heartstrings with keen steel nigh hewed be, heartstrings > {Tendons or nerves supporting the heart; _hence, here:_ central fibres of heartwood} keen > sharp 8 The mighty trunk half rent, with ragged rift rent > split, torn ragged rift > ragged fissure ("ragged" also = "discordant", "harsh" (e.g. at 112.23:4); "rift" may also mean "rubble": cf. this same phrase at 212.4:5) 9 Does roll adown the rocks, and fall with fearful drift. adown > down drift > motion, momentum (cf. _Aen._ 2.626-631) 108.23 Or as a Castle reared high and round, 2 By subtile engins and malitious slight Is vndermined from the lowest ground, 4 And her foundation forst, and feebled quight, At last downe falles, and with her heaped hight 6 Her hastie ruine does more heauie make, And yields it selfe vnto the victours might; 8 Such was this Gyaunts fall, that seemd to shake The stedfast globe of earth, as it for feare did quake. 1 Or as a castle, reared high and round, 2 By subtile engines and malicious sleight subtile > subtle; sly, cunning (cf. 106.5:2) engines > machines, contrivances; siege-engines sleight > skill; artifice, ruse 3 Is undermined from the lowest ground, 4 And its foundation forced, and enfeebled quite, 5 At last down falls, and with its heaped height 6 Its hasty ruin does more heavy make, ruin > {The act of collapse of a building, etc.} heavy > heavy; grave; thunderous 7 And yields itself to the victor's might: 8 Such was this giant's fall, that seemed to shake 9 The steadfast globe of earth, as it for fear did quake. steadfast > (Cf. 108.8:7-9) as > [as if] 108.24 The knight then lightly leaping to the pray, 2 With mortall steele him smot againe so sore, That headlesse his vnweldy bodie lay, 4 All wallowd in his owne fowle bloudy gore, Which flowed from his wounds in wondrous +store,+ 6 But soone as breath out of his brest did pas, That huge great body, which the Gyaunt bore, 8 Was vanisht quite, and of that monstrous mas Was nothing left, but like an emptie bladder was. 5 store, > store. _1590;_ store: _1609_