XII.
He at his head took aim who stood most nigh;
Ughetto was the miserable wight,
Whom to the teeth he clove, and left to die;
Though of good temper was his helmet bright.
As well the others many strokes let fly
At him, himself; which all the warrior smite,
But harm (so hard the dragon’s hide) no more,
Than needle can the solid anvil score.
XIII.
All the defences, round, abandoned are,
The unpeopled city is abandoned all;
For, where the danger is the greatest, there
The many give their aid, at Charles’s call:
Through every street they hurry to the square,
Since flying nought avails, from work and wall.
Their bosoms so the monarch’s presence warms,
That each again takes courage, each takes arms.
XIV.
As when within the closely-fastened cage
Of an old lioness, well used to fight,
An untamed bull is prisoned, to engage
The savage monster, for the mob’s delight;
The cubs, who see him cresting in his rage,
And round the den loud-bellowing, to the sight
Of the huge beast’s enormous horns unused,
Cower at a distance, timid and confused;
