Inflam'd with wrath, his raging blade he heft,
  And struck so strongly, that the knotty string
  Of his huge tail he quite a sunder cleft,
Five joints thereof he hewed, and but the stump him left.

Hart cannot think, what outrage, and what cries,
  With foul enfouldred smoke and flashing fire,
  The hell-bred beast threw forth unto the skies,
  That all was covered with darkness dire:
  Then fraught with rancor, and engorged ire,
  He cast at once him to avenge for all,
  And gathering up himself out of the mire,
  With his uneven wings did fiercely fall
Upon his sun-bright shield, and gripped it fast withall.

Book I, Canto XI