from the battle episode in The Fort or Castle of Hope*
Some with sharp swords, to tell O most accursed!
Were above half into their bodies thrust,
From whence fresh streams of blood along did run
Unto the hilts and there lay clodded on;
Some, their legs dangling by the nervous strings
And shoulders cut loose like flying wings;
Heads were cleft in pieces, brains lay mashed
And all their faces into slices hashed;
Brains only in the pia-mater thin
Did quivering lie within that little skin; [10]
Their skulls, all broke and into pieces burst,
By horses’ hoofs and chariot wheels crushed.
Others, their heads did lie on their own laps,
And some again, half cut, lay on their paps;
Some thrust their tongues out of their mouths at length,
For why, the strings were cut that gave them strength.
Their eyes did stare, their lids were open wide,
For the small nerves were shrunk on every side.
In some again those glassy balls hung by
Small slender strings, as chains, to tie the eye, [20]
Which strings when broke, the eyes fell trundling round,
And then the film was broke upon the ground.
In death their teeth strong set, their lips were bare,
Which grinning seemed as if they angry were;
Their hair upon their eyes in clodded gore
So wildly spread as ne’er it did before;
With frowns their foreheads did in furrows lie
As graves, their foes to bury when they die.
Their spongy lungs, heaved up through pangs of death,
With pain and difficulty fetched short breath; [30]
Some grasping hard their hands through pain provoked
Because the rattling phlegm their throats had choked.
Their bodies now bowed up, then down did fall
For want of strength to make them stand withal;
Some staggering on their legs did feebly stand,
Or leaning on their sword with either hand
Where on the pommel did their breast rely,
More grieved they could not fight than for to die […]