Deep in the muddy ftream, with hearts fubdu'd
And quail'd by labour, gain'd the shore at last,
But in life's practick • lear unskill'd and rude,
Forth to that forked bill they filent pac'd;

Where hid in ftudious fhades their fruitless hours they waste.
XXXIV.

Others of rich and noble lineage bred,

Though with the crowd to pass the flood constrain'd, Yet o'er the crags with fond indulgence led By hireling guides and in all depths fuftain'd, Skimm'd lightly o'er the tide, undipt, unstain'd, Save with the fprinkling of the wat❜ry spray : And aye their proud prerogative maintain❜d, Of ignorance and ease and wanton play, Soft harbingers of vice, and præmature decay. XXXV.

A few, alas, how few! by heav'n's high will With fubtile spirits endow'd and finews strong, Р Albe fore q mated by the tempefts fhrill, That bellow'd fierce and rife the rocks among, By their own native vigour borne along Cut brifkly through the waves; and forces new Gathering from toil, and ardor from the throng Of rival youths, outftript the labouring crew, And to the true Parnaffe, and heav'n-thron'd glory flew.

r

XXXVI.

Dire was the tumult, and from every shore
Discordant echoes ftruck the deafen'd ear,
Heart-thrilling cries, with fobs and fingults fore
Short-interrupted, the imploring tear,

And furious ftripes, and angry threats fevere,
Confus'dly mingled with the jarring found
Of all the various speeches that t while-ere
On Shinar's wide-spread champain did astound
High Babel's builders vain, and their proud works confound
XXXVII.

Much was the KNIGHT empaffion'd at the scene,
But more his blooming fon, whofe tender breast
Empierced deep with fympathizing teen

On his pale cheek the figns of dread impress'd,
And fill'd his eyes with tears, which fore diftrefs'd
Up to his fire he rais'd in mournful wife;

Who with fweet fmiles paternal soon redress'd

His troublous thoughts, and clear'd each sad surmise ; Then turns his ready fteed, and on his journey hies. XXXVIII.

But far he had not march'd ere he was stay'd

By a rude voice, that like th' united found
Of shouting myriads, through the valley bray'd,
And shook the groves, the floods, and folid ground:

• Singults, fighs.

While-ere, formerly.

The

The distant hills rebellow'd all around.
"Arreft, Sir Knight, it cried, thy fond career,
"Nor with prefumptuous disobedience wound
"That aweful majesty, which all revere !

"In my commands, Sir Knight, the voice of nations hear! XXXIX

Quick turn'd the KNIGHT, and faw upon the plain
Advancing towards him with impetuous gate,
And visage all inflamed with fierce difdain,
A monftrous GIANT, on whose brow elate
Shone the bright enfign of imperial state;
Albeit lawful kingdom he had none;
But laws and kingdoms wont he oft create,
And oft❜times over both erect his throne,

While fenates, priests and kings his u fov'ran fceptre own
XL.

CUSTOM he hight; and aye in every land
Ufurp'd dominion with defpotick fway

O'er all he holds; and to his high command
Conftrains even ftubborn Nature to obey;
Whom difpoffeffing oft, he doth affay
To govern in her right: and with a pace
So foft and gentle doth he win his way,
That the unwares is caught in his embrace,

And tho' deflowr'd and thrall'd nought feels her foul difgrace.

Sovran, for fovereign.

XLI. For

XLI.

For nurt'ring, even from their tend'reft age,
The docile fons of men withouten pain,
By difciplines and rules to every stage
Of life accommodate, he doth them train
Infenfibly to wear and hug his chain.
Alfe his behefts or gentle or fevere,
Or good or noxious, rational or vain,
He craftily perfuades them to revere,
As inftitutions fage, and venerable lear.
XLII.

Protector therefore of that forked hill,

And mighty patron of those Sisters Nine,

Who there enthron'd, with many a copious rill

Feed the full streams, that through the valley shine,

He deemed was; and aye with rites divine,
x Like thofe, which Sparta's hardy race of yore
Were wont perform at fell Diana's shrine,

He doth constrain his vaffals to adore

Perforce their facred names, and learn their facred lore.
XLIII.

And to the FAIRY KNIGHT now drawing near,
With voice terrifick and imperious mien,

(All was he wont lefs dreadful to appear,

When known and practised than at distance seen)

And

x The Lacedemonians in order to make their children bardy and endure pain with conftancy and courage, cuftomed to caufe them to be fcourged very feverely.

were acAnd I

myself

And kingly stretching forth his fceptre sheen,
Him he commandeth, upon threat'ned pain
Of his displeasure high and vengeance keen,
From his rebellious purpose to refrain,

And all due honours pay to Learning's rev'rend train.
XLIV.

So faying and foreftalling all reply,
His peremptory hand without delay,
As one who little cared to justify

His princely will, long us'd to boundless fway,
Upon the Fairy Youth with great difmay
In every quaking limb convuls'd, he lay'd:
And proudly stalking o'er the verdant y lay,
Him to thofe fcientifick fireams convey'd,

With

Ꮓ

many his young compeers therein to be z embay'd.
XLV.

The KNIGHT his tender fon's distressful a ftour
Perceiving, fwift to his affiftance flew :

Ne vainly stay'd to deprecate that pow'r,
Which from fubmiffion aye more haughty grew.
For that proud GIANT's force he wifely knew,
Not to be meanly dreaded, nor defy'd
With rafh prefumption; and with courage true,
Rather than step from Virtue's paths afide,

Oft had he fingly fcorn'd his all-dismaying pride.

myfelf (Says Plutarch, in his life of Lycurgus) have feen Several of them endure whipping to death, at the foot of the altar of Diana furnamed Orthia.

y Lay, mead. z Embay'd, bathed, dipt.

trouble, misfortune, &c.

a Stour,