4 And smote off quite his right leg by the knee,
5 That down he tumbled; as an aged tree,

That > [So that]

6 High growing on the top of rocky cliff,
7 Whose heartstrings with keen steel nigh hewed be,

heartstrings > {Tendons or nerves supporting the heart; _hence,
here:_ central fibres of heartwood}
keen > sharp

8 The mighty trunk half rent, with ragged rift

rent > split, torn
ragged rift > ragged fissure ("ragged" also = "discordant", "harsh"
(e.g. at 112.23:4); "rift" may also mean "rubble": cf. this same
phrase at 212.4:5)

9 Does roll adown the rocks, and fall with fearful drift.

adown > down
drift > motion, momentum (cf. _Aen._ 2.626-631)

108.23

Or as a Castle reared high and round,
2 By subtile engins and malitious slight
Is vndermined from the lowest ground,
4 And her foundation forst, and feebled quight,
At last downe falles, and with her heaped hight
6 Her hastie ruine does more heauie make,
And yields it selfe vnto the victours might;
8 Such was this Gyaunts fall, that seemd to shake
The stedfast globe of earth, as it for feare did quake.

1 Or as a castle, reared high and round,
2 By subtile engines and malicious sleight

subtile > subtle; sly, cunning (cf. 106.5:2)
engines > machines, contrivances; siege-engines
sleight > skill; artifice, ruse

3 Is undermined from the lowest ground,
4 And its foundation forced, and enfeebled quite,
5 At last down falls, and with its heaped height
6 Its hasty ruin does more heavy make,

ruin > {The act of collapse of a building, etc.}
heavy > heavy; grave; thunderous

7 And yields itself to the victor's might:
8 Such was this giant's fall, that seemed to shake
9 The steadfast globe of earth, as it for fear did quake.

steadfast > (Cf. 108.8:7-9)
as > [as if]

108.24

The knight then lightly leaping to the pray,
2 With mortall steele him smot againe so sore,
That headlesse his vnweldy bodie lay,
4 All wallowd in his owne fowle bloudy gore,
Which flowed from his wounds in wondrous +store,+
6 But soone as breath out of his brest did pas,
That huge great body, which the Gyaunt bore,
8 Was vanisht quite, and of that monstrous mas
Was nothing left, but like an emptie bladder was.

5 store, > store. _1590;_ store: _1609_

1 The knight, then lightly leaping to the prey,

lightly > lightly; quickly

2 With mortal steel him smo