Classic Poem

His flaggy wings when forth he did display,
Were like two sails, in which the hollow wind
Is gathered full, and worketh speedy way:
And eke the pennes, that did his pinions bind,
Were like main-yards, with flying canvas lined,
With which whenas him list the air to beat,
And there by force unwonted passage find,
The clouds before him fled for terror great,
And all the heavens stood still amazed with his threat.
His huge long tail wound up in hundred folds,
Does overspread his long brass-scaly back,
Whose wreathed boughts when ever he unfolds,
And thick entangled knots adown does slack,
Bespotted as with shields of red and black,
It sweepeth all the land behind him far,
And of three furlongs does but little lack;
And at the point two stings in-fixed are,
Both deadly sharp, that sharpest steel exceeden far.
But stings and sharpest steel did far exceed
The sharpness of his cruel rending claws;
Dead was it sure, as sure as death indeed,
Whatever thing does touch his ravenous paws,
Of what within his reach he ever draws.
But his most hideous head my tongue to tell
Does tremble: for his deep devouring jaws
Wide gaped, like the griesly mouth of hell,
Through which into his dark abyss all ravin fell.
And that more wondrous was, in either jaw
Three ranks of iron teeth enranged were
In which yet trickling blood and gobbets raw
Of late devoured bodies did appear,
That sight thereof bred cold congealed fear:
Which to increase, and all at once to kill;
A cloud of smothering smoke and sulphur sere
Out of his stinking gorge forth steamed still,
That all the air about with smoke and stench did fill.
His blazing eyes, like two bright shining shields,
Did burn with wrath, and sparkled living fire;
As two broad beacons, set in open fields,
Send forth their flames far off to every shire,
And warning give, that enemies conspire,
With fire and sword the region to invade;
So flamed his eyne with rage and rancorous ire:
But far within, as in a hollow glade,
Those glaring lamps were set, that made a dreadful shade.