As, in full fold, a lion long unfed, Whom wasting famine had made lean and spare, Devours and rends, and swallows, and lays dead The feeble flock, which at his mercy are;
So, in their sleep, the cruel paynim bled Our host, and made wide slaughter everywhere:
Nor blunted was the young Medoro's sword, But he disdained to smite the ignoble horde.