text:  Onward--but no!--the craven steed Shrinks from his lord in that dread need-- Smitten and scared before that eye Of basilisk horror and that blast Of death it only seeks to fly-- And half the mighty hope is past! "A moment and to earth I leapt; Swift from its sheath the falchion swept; Swift on that rock-like mail it plied-- The rock-like mail the sword defied: The monster lash'd its mighty coil-- Down hurl'd--behold me on the soil! Behold the hell-jaws gaping wide-- When lo! they bound--the flesh is found; Upon the scaleless parts they spring! Springs either hound;--the flesh is found-- It roars; the blood-dogs cleave and cling! "No time to foil its fast'ning foes-- Light as it writhed I sprang and rose; The all-unguarded place explored Up to the hilt I plunged the sword-- Buried one instant in the blood-- The next upsprang the bubbling flood! The next one Vastness spread the plain-- Crush'd down--the victor with the slain; And all was dark--and on the ground My life suspended lost the sun Till waking--lo my squires around-- And the dead foe!--my tale is done