The fruitful globe or fow'r, or healing plant, When thus, with accents musicalls fureet,
The limpid waters, or the ambient air,

A tender voice his wond'ring car ailord:
Or in the purer clement of fire.

O geo’rous Grecian, listen to the pray's
The fertile plains where great Sesofris reign'd, Of one distress'd! whom gricf alone hath led
Myfterious Egypt, next the youth furvey'd, In this dark hour to these victorious tents,
From Elephantis, where impctuous Nile A wretched woman, innocent of fraud.
Precipitati's his waters to the sea,

The Greek defcending thro' th' unfolded gates
Which far below receives the sevenfold stream. Upheld a Aaming brand. Onc first appeard
Thence o'er th' Ionic coast he stray'd; nor pafs'd In fervile garb attir'd; but near his fide
Miletus by, which once enraptur'd heard A woman graceful and majestic food;
The tongue of Thales; nor Prienc's walls, Not with an aspect rivalling the pow'r
Where wiidoin dwelt with Bias ; nor the feat Of fatal Helen, or thc wanton charms
Of Pittacus, along the Lesbian shore.

Of love's loft queen; but fuch as far excell d
Here too melodious numb-rs.charm'd his cars, Whate'er the lily blending with the rose
Which flow'd from Orpheus, and Mulæus old, Paints on the clieek of beauty, foon to fade;
And thee, O father of iininortal verse !

Such as exprefs'd a mind which wisdom ruld,
Mæonides, whole strains thro' ev'ry age And sweetness temper'd, virtue's purest light
Tine with his own eternal lip shall fing. Illumining the countenance divine;
Back to his native Susa then he turn'd

Yet could not soothe remorseless fate, nor teach
His wand'ring steps. His mcrit foon was dcar Malignant fortune to rcvcre the good;
To Hyperanthes, generous and good;

Which oft with anguish rends the spotless heart,
And Ariana, from Darius fprung

And oft asociates wisdom with despair. With Hyperanthes, of th' imperial race

In courtecus phrase began the chief humane : Which ruld th'cxtcnt of Alia, in dildain

Exalted fair, who thus adorn ít the night,
Of all her greatness oft, an humble ear

Forbear to blame the vigilance of war,
To him would bend, and listen to his voice, And to the laws of rigid Mars impute,
Her charms, her mind, her virtue he explor'd That I thus long unwilling have delay'd
Admiring. Soon was admiration chang'd Before the great Leonidas to place
To love, nor lov'd he sooner than despair'd.

This your apparent dignity and worth.
But unreveald and silent was his pain;

He spake, and gently to the lofty tent Nor yet in folitary Shades he roain'd,

Of Sparta's king the lovely ftranger guides. Nor shunn'd resort : but o'cr his forrow's cast

At Agis' summons, with a mantle broad A sickly dawn of gladness, and in smiles His mighty limbs Leonidas infolds, Conccal'd his anguish; while the secret flame

And quits his couch. In wonder he surveys Rag'd in his bosom, and its peace confum d. Th'illustrious virgin, whom his presence awd:

Her eye fubmiflive to the ground inclin'd

With vereration of the god-like man. § 42. Ariana and Polydorus come by Night into the Perjiun Camp.

But foon his voice her anxious drcad difpell’d,

Benevolent and hospitable thus: 1 N fable pomp, with all her starry train,

Thy form alonc, thus amiable and great, The night affum'd her throne. Recall d from Thy mind delineates, and from all commands war,

Supreme regard. Relate, thou noble dame, Her long-protracted labours Greece forgets, By what relentlefs destiny compellid, Diflolv'd in filent fiuinber; all but thote,

Thy tender feet the path's of darkness tread : Who watch'd th’uncertain perils of the dark,

Rehearse th’affictions whence thy virtuc mourns. An hundred warriors : Agis was their chicf.

On her wan check a sudden blush arole, High on the wall intent the hero fat,

Like day's tirst dawn upon the twilight pale, As o'er the furface of the tranquil main

And, wrapt in grief, these words a paluge Along its undulating breast the wind

broke : The various din of Asia's host convcy'd,

If to be most unhappy, and to know
In one decp murmur swelling in his ear: That hope is irrecoverably fled;
When, by the sound of footsteps down the pass If to be great and wretched, may
Alarm’d, he calls aloud : What feet are those, Commiferation from the good, behold,
Which beat the echoing pavement of the rock ? Thou glorious icader of unconquer'd bands,
With speed reply, nor tempt your instant fate. Behold, descended from Darius' loins,

He said, and thus return'd a voice unknown: Th’aftlie:cd Ariana, and my pray's
Not with the feet of enemies we come,

Accept with pity, nor my tears disdain ! Bur crave admittance with a friendly tongue.

First, that I lov'd thc bcít of human race, The Spartan anfwers: Thro’the midnight shade By nature's hand with ev'ry virtue form’d, What purpose draws your wand'ring steps abroad? Heroic, wisc, adorn'd with ev'ry art, Towhom the stranger: We are friends to Greece, of shame unconscious docs my heart rercal

. And to the presence of the Spartan king This day in Grecian arms conspicuous clad, Admiflion we implore. The cautious chief

He fought, he fell. A paffion long conccal'd Of Lacedemon hesitates again;

For me, alas ! within my brother's arms

deserve

So wcpt

His dying breath resigning, he disclos'd. Then with a look unchang’d, nor trembling hand,
-Oh I will say my forrows ! will forbid Drew forth a poniard, which her garment veil'd,
My eyes to stream before thee, and my heart, And theathing in her heart th' abhorred steel,
Thus full of anguish, will from highs restrain! On her flain lover filent links in death.
For why should thy humanity be griev'd
With my diftrcís, and learn from me to mourn
Thc lot of nature, doom'd to care and pain !

SPENSER's FAIRY QUEEN, Hear the:1, 0 king, and grant my sole requeít, $ 43. Dur[[ir weeping over ber Enemy, compared To leek his body in the heaps of slain.

to a Giocodile; and a Description of Night. Thus to the Spartan sued the regal maid, Resembling Ceres in majestic woe,

AS when a weary traveller, that ftrays

By muddy ihore of broad feven-mouthed Nile, When fupplicant at Jove's resplendent throne, Lnwecting of the perilous wand'ring ways, From drcary Pluto, and th’infernal gloom, Dcth meet a cruel crafry crocodile, Her lov d and lost Proferpina the fought. Which in falle gricf hiding his harmful guile, Fix'd on the wecping qucen with stedfaít eyes, Doth weep full fore, and theddcih tender tears : Laconia's chicf these tender thoughts recall'd: The fcoliih man, that pities all this while

Such are thy forrows, O fur ever dear!. His mournful plight, is fwallow'd up unwarcs, Who now at Lacedæmon doft dcplore

Forgetful of his own, that minds another's cares. My everlasting absence ! then inclin'd

Duula until even-tide, His head, and figh'd; nor yet forgot to charge

That Shining lamps in Jore's high house were light: His friend, the gentle Agis, tlıro' the ftraits

Then forih iho role, ne longer would abide.
The Persian princess to attend and aid.
With careful steps they seek her lover's corfe.

But comes unto the place where th' heathen knight The Greeks remember'd, where by fate repreis d Lav cover'd with enchanted cloud all day :

Iu lumb’ring fiscon nigh void of vital spright, His arm first ccas'd to mow their legions down;

Whom when she found, as the him left in plight And from beneath a mass of Persian lain

To wail his wotul case, the would not stay, Soon drew the hero, by his armour known.

But to the cattern coast of heaven inakes speedy way, To Agis' high pavilion they refort. Now, Ariana, what transcending pangs,

W'lere griefly Night, with vilage deadly fad,

That Phabus cheerful face durit never vict', Thy soul involv'd! what horror clalp'd thy heart! And in a foul black pitchy mantle clad, But love grew mightiest; and her beauteous limbs she finds forth-coming from her daiktoinc mew, On the cold breait of Teribazus throw The griif-distracted maid. The clotted gore

Where the alt day did hide her latid hue :

Before the door her iion chariot stcod, Deforın 'd her inowy botoin. O'cr his wounds

Aiready harnciled for journey new; Loole flow'd her hair, and bubbling from her eyes

Ard colc-black ficeds y born of hellish brood, Impetuous forrow lav'd the purple clav,

That on their rufty bits did champ as they were When forth in groans her lamentations broke:

wood.
O torn for ever from my weeping eyes !
Thou, who despairing to obtain her heart,
Who then mort lov’d thee, didft untinely yield

And all the while she stood upon the ground, Thy life to fate's inevitable dart

The wakeful dogs did never cease to bay, For ler, who now in agony unfolds

As giving warning of th'unusual found, Her tender boíom, and repeats her rows

With which her iron wheels did them affrav, To thy deaf car, who fondly to her own

And her dark griefly louk them much dismay. Now clasps thy breast infensible and cold. Tie messenger of death, the ghaftly oil, Alas! do those unmoving ghaftly orbs

With dreary Thricks did also her bewras; Perceive my gushing anguith? Does that heart, And hungry wolves continually did hoiul Which death's inanimating hand hath chillid,

At her abhorred face, so filthy and to fuul. Share in my luff"rings, and return my fighs ? - bitter unfurmountable distress!

side them stood Lo! on thy breast is Ariana bow'd,

The trembling ghosts with fad amazed mood, Hangs o'er thy face, unites her cheek to thine, Chatiering their iron tecrh, and staring wide Not now to listen with enchanted cars

With ftusy eyes; and all the hellith brood To thy persuasive eloquence, no more

Of ficnds inférnal flock'd on every side,
Charm'd with the wildlom of thy copious mind! To gaze on earthly wight, that with the Night
She could no more : invincible detpair

durft ride.
Suppress'd her utt'rance. As a marble form
Fix'd on the folcmn fepulchre, unmov'd,
O'er fome dead hero, whom his country lov'd,

§ 44. Dcfcription of Lucifera's Palace. Bends down the head with imitated woe :

A

Stately palacc built of squared brick, So paus'd the princess o'er the breathless clay, Which cunningly nas without mortar laid, Intranc'd in forrow. On the dreary wound, Whose walls were high, but nothing ftreng, nor Where Dithyrambus' sword was deepest plung'd, And golden foil all over them display'd ; [thick, Mute for a space and motionless Ihc gaz'd; That purest sky with brightness they dismay'd:

High

-On every

a

High lifted up were many softy tow'rs, Her filver busins from her nimble thigh,
And goodly galleries far over-laid,

And her lank loins ungirt, and breasts unbrac’d,
Full of fair windows, and delightful bow’rs ; After her heat the breathing cold to tatte;
And on the top a dial told the timely hours. Her golden locks that late in treifes bright

Embrecded were for hindring of her hafte, It was a goodly heap for to behold,

Now loose about her fhou iders long undight, And spake the praises of the work man's wit;

And were with fireet ambrofia all bctprinkled aight. But full great pity, that fo fair a mold Did on so wcak foundation ever fit:

Soon as the Venus faiv behind her back,

She was alham'd to be fo loose surpris'd ; For on a fandy hill, that still did fit

And wox half wro:h against her damsels slack, And fall away, it mounted was full high, That every breath of heaven shaked it;

That had not her thereof before advis'd,

But suffer'd her lo carelessly disguis'd
And all the hinder parts, that few could spy,
Were ruinous and old, but painted cunningly.

Be overtaken. Soon her garments loose
Cpgathering in her bosom she compriz'd,

Well, as the mig it, and the goddeis rose:
§ 45. Lucifera ascending ber Cracb.

Whilft all her nymphs did like a girlond her enclose. SUDDAIN upriseth from her stately place

The roval dame, and for her coach doth call: All hurlen' forth, and she with prinaly pace,

$ 48. Description of a Garden. As fair Aurora in her purple pall, Out of the East the dawning day doth call. FTSOONS they heard a most delicious found So forth the cornes: her brightness broad doth blaze;

Of all that mote delight a dainty ear; Thc heaps of people thronging in the hall, Such as at once might not on living ground, Do ride each other, upon her to gaze: [amaze. Save in this paradise, be heard elleivhere : Her glorious glittering light doth all men's eyes Right hard it was for wight which did it hear, So forth the comes , and to her coach does climb, For all that pleasing is to living ear

To read what manner music that mote be, Adorned all with gold, and garlands gay, Was there conforted in one harmony; That feem'd as ficth as Flora in her prime;

Birds, voices, instruments, winds, waters, all agree. And strove to match, in roval rich array, Great Juno's golden chair, the which they say

Thc jovous birds, shrouded in cheerful shade, The gods stand gazing on, when he does ride

Ticir notes unto the voice attemper d sweet; To Jove's high lioule thru' heaven's brals-pared Th angelical, soft trembling voices made

Toth instruments divine respondence meet; way, Drawn of fair peacocks that excel in pride. The filver-founding instruments did meet And full of Argus'eyes their tails dispredden wide. With the bale murmur of the water's fall;

The water's fall, with difference discrect,

Now foft, now loud, unto the wind vid call; § 46. Defiription of Prince Arthur in bis Fili- The gentle warbling wind low answered to all.

liments of War. UPON the top of all his lofty crest A bunch of hairs, discolour'd direrfly

49. Description of the Garden of Adonis. With {prinkled pearl, and gold full richly drift, Did thake, and feem'd co dance for jollicy,

HERE is continual spring, and harvest there Like to an almond tree ymounted high On top of green Selinis all alone,

For both the boughs do laughing blossoms bear, With blofloms brave bedecked daintily ;

And with fresh colours dock the wanton prime; Whose tender looks do treinble every one

And cke at once the heavy trees they climb, Ar cvery little blast that under heaven is blown. Which seem to labour under their fruits Icad :

The whiles the joyous birds make their pultime

Emonyit the thdy leaves, their sweet abode, § 47. Description of Diana with bear Nimpl, And their true loves without fufpicion tell abroad.

returned from the Coace, and preparing 19

barbe. SHORTLY unto the wateful woods she came, $ 50. Devastation avbich Time aiakes in this

Garden,
After late chace of thcir cinbrucd
Sitting beside a fountaia in a rew,

G REAT enemy to it, and all the rest

That in the garden of Adonis {prings, Some of them w.thing with the liquid dew

Is wicked Time ; who, with his fcythe addreit, From off their dainty linibs the dutty sweat,

Does mow the flow'riny herbs and goodly things, And foil, which did deforin their lively huc;

And all their glory to the ground down fling Others lay shaded from the icorching heat; The rett upon her purion gave attendance great. He flies about, and with his taggy wings

Where they do wither, and are foully marr’d: She having hung upon a bough on high Beats down both leaves and buds without regard, Hier lour and painted quiver, lad ubiac'd Ne ever pity may relent his masice hard.

T

game

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$ 51. Description of Jupiter.

Whofe carcasses were scatter'd on the green,

And thrown about the clifts. Arrived ihere, So having said he ceas'd, and with his brow,

His black eye-brow, whole doomful dreaded That bare-head knight, for dread and doleful teen, Is wont to wield the world unto his vow, [beck Would fain have licd, ne durst approachen near: And even the highest powers of heaven to check, But th' other forc'd him ftay, and comforted in Made sign to them in their degrees to speak.

fcar.

The darksome cave they cntcr, where they find -With that he shook

That cursed man, low fitting on the ground, His nectar-dewed locks, with which the skies,

Muling full fadly in his fullen mind; And all the world beneath, for terror quook, His grcaty locks, long growing and unbound, And eft his buruing leven-brond in hand he took. Disordered hurg about his shoulders round,

And hid his face : thro' which his hollow eyne

Look'd deadly dull, and stared as astound; $ 52. Guyon conducted by Mammon through a His raw-bone cheeks, through penury and pine,

Cave under Ground, to fee bis Treasure. Wcre shrunk into his jaws, as he did never dine. AT length they came into a larger fpace, His garment, nought but many ragged clouts,

That stretch'd itself into an ample plain, With thorns together pinn'd and patched was, Thro' which a beaten broad high-way did trace, The which his naked lides he wrapp'd abouts : That straight did lead to Pluto's grielly reign; And him befide there lay upon the grass By that way's fide there fat infernal Pain, A drcary corfe, whose life away did pass, And fast beside him fat tumultuous Strife; All vallow'd in his own yet lukewarm blood, The one in hand an iran whip did strain, That from his wound yet welled freih, alas ! The other brandished a bloody knifc,

In which a rusty knife fast fixed stood, And buth did gath their teeth, and both did threaten And made an open passage for the guihing flood. life.

Which pitcous spectacle, approving true On the other side in one confort cherc fate The wocful tale that Trevisan had told, Cruel Revenge, and rancorous Despire,

When as the gentle Red Cross knight did view,
Diloyal Tieason, and heart-burning Hate; With fiery zeal he burnt in courage bold,
But gnawing Jealousy, out of their right Him to avenge before his blood were cold;
Sitting alone, his bitter lips did bite ;

And to the villain faid: Thou damned wight
The author of this fact, we here behold,

! And trembling Fear ftill to and fro did fly, And found no place where tafe he shroud him What justice can but judge against thee right, might.

With thinc own bloud to price his blood, here Lamenting Sorrow did in darknefs lic,

thed in fight. And Shaine his ugly face did hide from living cyc. What frantic fit (quoth he) hath thus distraught And over them fad Horror, with grim hue, Thee, foolith man, to rafh a doom to give ? Did always foar, beating his iron wings; What juitice ever other judyinent taught, And after him owis and night-ravens Hew, But he should die, uho merits not to live? The hatcful meilengers of hcavy things, Vone ille to death this man despairing drive Of death and dolour telling iad tidings; But his own guilty mind deserving death. Whilft sad Ccleno, fitting on a cliff,

Is then unjust to cach his due to give ? A fong of bale and bitter forrow fings,

Or let him die, that loathcth living breath ? That heart of fiint alunder would haze rift; Or let him die at ease, that liveth here uncath? Which having ended, after him the fiech (wift. Who travels by the wcary wand'ring way,

To come unto his wifhed home in haste,

And meets a flood that doh his passage stay, $ 53. Description of Despair, and ber Speecb.

Is not great grace to heh him over-past, ERE RE long thcy come, where that same wicked Or free his feet, that in the mire stick faft? wight

Most envious man! that grieves at ncighbour's. His dwelling has, low in an hollow cave,

good; Far underneath a craggy clift ypight,

And fond, that joyest in the woe thou hast; Dark, doleful, dreary, like a greedy grave, Why wilt not let him pass, that long hath stood That Itill for carion carcassos doth crave : Upon the bank, yet wilt thyself not pass the flooda On top whereof ay dwelt the ghaftiy oul,

He there does now cnjoy eternal reft, Shricking his baneful note, which ever drave

And happy cale, which thou dost want and crave, Far from that haunt all other cheerful fowi:

And further from it daily wanderest: And all about it wand'ring ghosts did wail and What if some little pain ihe pairage have, howl.

That makes frail Hofh to fear thc bitter wave? And, all about, old stocks and stubs of trecs, Is not short pain well borne, that brings long case, Whereon nor fruit nor leaf was ever feen, And lavs the foul to fcep in quiet grave? Did hang upon the ragged rocky k ces; Sleep after toil, port aftur to my feas, [please. On which had many wretches hanged been, Eafe after war, death after life, doés greatly

The

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The knight much wonder'd at his sudden wit, | Die shall all fesh: What then must needs be done, And laid : The term of life is limited,

Is it not better to do willingly, Ne may a man prolong or shorten it:

Than linger till the glats bc all out-run? The foldier may not move from watchful feed, Death is the end of woes. Die foon, O Fairy's foa. Nor leave his ind, until his captain bed. The knight was much enmored with this speech, Who life did limit by almighty doom

That as a sword's point through his hcart did (Quoth he) knows beft the terms established;

pierce, And he that 'points the centinel his room, And in his conscience made a secret breach, Doth license hiin depart at found of morning droon. Well knowing true all that he did rehcaife, Is not his deed, whatever thing is done,

And to his ficth rrincmbrance did reverse In heaven and earth? Did not he all crcate

The ugly view of his deformed crimes, To die again? All ends that was begun;

That all his manly pow'rs it did disperse, Their times in his eternal book of fate

As he were charmed with inchaunted rhimes, Are written fure, and have their certain date.

That oftentimes he quak'd, and fainted oftenWho then can strive with trong neceility,

times. The hoids the world in his ftill changing liate, In which amazement when the miscrcant Or Thun the death ordain'd by destiny?

Perceived him to waver veak and frail, When hour of death is comc let none afk whence, With trembling horror did his conscience dant, nor why.

And hellith anguish did his soul allail: The longer life, I wote the greater fin,

To drive him to despair, and quite to quail, The gicater fin, the greater punishinent;

lle fhew'd hiin painted in a table plain, All those great battles i hich thou boasts to win, The damned ghosts, that do in torments sail, Thro' strife, and bloodihed, and avengement,

And thousand hunds that do them endlets pain Now prais dy hercafter dear thou thalt repent:

With fire and brimtione, which for ever shall reFor life must life, and blood must blood, repay.

main. Is not enough thy evil life forefpent?

The fight whereof so throughly him dismay'd, Fot he that once hath missed the right way, That nought but death before his eyes he law, The further he doth go, the further hcdoth stray. And ever-burning wrath before him laid,

By rightcous fentence of th' Almighty's law: Then do no further go, no further Aray,

Then gan the villain him to over-craw, But here lie down, and to thy rest betake,

And brought unto him fiords, ropes, poison, fire, Th’ill to prevent, that life cntuen max:

And all that might him to perdition draw; For what hath life, that may it loved make,

And badc him choose what death he would defire: And gives not rather caute it to forsake?

For death was due to him that had provok'd God's Fear, fukncís, age, lofs, labour, sorrow, Itrife, Pain, hunger, cold, that makes the heart to quake; But when as none of them he saw him take,

ire. And ever tickle fortune rageth rifi, All which, and thousands more, do make a loath. He to him raught a dagger fharp and keen, fome life.

And gave it in his hand; his hand did quake,

And tremble like a leaf of alpin green, Thou, wretched man, of death hast greatest need, And troubled blood thro' his palc face was seen If in true balance thou wilt weigh thy state ; To come and go; with tidings from the heart, For never knight that dared warlike decd As it a running mcflenger had been : More luckless disadventures did amate :

At last rcfolu'd to work his final (mart, Witness the dungeon deep, wherein of late He lifted up luis hand, that back again Jid ftart. I hy life shut up, for death to oft did call; And though good luck prolonged hath thy date, The crudied cold ran to her well of life,

Which when as Una faw, through every vein Yet death then would the like mithaps forestall, As in a fioon : but foon relier'd again, Into the which hereafter thou mayst t: 1ppen fall.

Cut of his hand the Inachi'd the cursed knife, Why then doft thou, O man of fin, delire And threw it to the ground, enraged rife, To draw thy days forth to their last degree? And to him faid : Fie, fie, faint-hearted knight! Is not the measure of thy finful hire

What meanest thou by this reproachful ftrite? High heaped up with huge iniquity,

Is this the battle which thou vaunt'ft to fight Against the day of wrath, to burden thee ?

With that tire-mouthed dragon, horrible and Is not enough, that to this, lady mild:

bright? Thou falled haft thy face with perjury, And fold thyself to lerve Ductia vild,

Come, come away, frail, filly; fleshy wight, With whom in all abuse thou llast thy felf defild: Ne devilish thoughts dilmay thy constant spright:

Ne let vain vords bewitch thy manly heart, Is not he just that all this doel behold

In heavenly mercies haft thou not a part? From highest heaven, and hears an equal cye? Why shouldst thou then dcipair, that chosen art? Shall he thy sins up in his knowledge fold, Where justice grows, there grows eke great. I And guilty' he of thinc impicry?

grace, Is not his law, Let every finner dic?

The which doth quench the brond of hellith smart,

And

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