Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

AND BALLADS. 289
Mad and outrageous with the pain,
He whirPd his mace of fteel
The very wind of fuch a blow 55
Had made the champion reel.
It haply mill ; and now the knight
His glittering fword difplay'd,
And riding round with whirlwind fpeed
Oft made him feel the blade. 60
As when a large and monftrous oak
Uncealing axes hew
So fail around the gyant's limbs
The blows quick-darting flew*
:
As when the boughs with hideous fall 65
Some haplefs woodman crufh :
With fuch a force the enormous foe
Did on the champion ruin.
A fearful blow, alas ! there came,
Both horfe and knight it took, jo
And laid them fenfelefs in the dull
So fatal was the ftroke.
Then fmiling forth a hideous grin,
The gyant ftrides in hade,
And, ftooping, aims a fecond ftroke : 75
" **
Now cay tiff breathe thy laft !
Vol. III. U But
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