And how fenfation and reflection join'd
To fill, with images, her darkfome grotte,
Where, varioufly disjointed or combin'd

As reafon, fancy, or opinion wrought, [thought. Their variousmafksthey play'd,and fed her penfive Alsthro' the fields of Science had he stray'd With eager fearch, and fent his piercing eye Thro' each learn'd fchool, each philofophic fhade,

Where Truth and Virtue erft were deem'd to lie,
If haply the fair vagrants he mote spy,
Or hear the mufic of their charming lore;
But all unable there to satisfy

His curious foul, he turn'd him to explore
The facred writ of Faith, to learn, believe, adore.
Thence foe profefs'd of Falfehood and Deceit,
Thofe fly artificers of Tyranny,
Aye holding up before uncertain feet
His faithful light to knowledge, Liberty,
Mankind he led to civil policy,
And mild Religion's charitable law,
That, fram'd by Mercy and Benignity,
The perfecuting fword forbids to draw,
And free-created fouls with penal terrours awe.
Ne with the glorious gifts elate and vain
Lock'd he his wifdom up in churlish pride,
But ftooping from his height, would even deign
The feeble steps of infancy to guide;
Eternal glory him therefore betide;
Let ev'ry gen'rous youth his praife proclaim
Who wand'ring thro'theworld's rude foreft wide
By him hath been ytaught his courfe to frame
ToVirtue's fweet abodesand heav'n afpiring Fame!
For this the Fairy knight, with anxious thought
And fond paternal care his counfel pray'd,
And him of gentleft courtesy befought
His guidance to vouchfafe and friendly aid,
The while his tender offspring he convey'd
Thro' devious paths to that fecure retreat
Where fage Padia, with each tuneful maid,
On a wide mount ha! fix'd her rural feat,
Mid flow'ry gardens plac'd, untrod by vulgar
feet.

And now forth-pacing with his blooming heir,
And that fame virtuous palmer them to guide,
Arm'd all to point, and on a courfer fair
Ymounted high, in military pride,
His little train before he flow did ride.
Him eke behind a gentle 'fquire entues,
With his young lord aye marching fide by fide,
His counsellor and guard in goodly thews†,'
Who well had been brought up, and nurs'd by
ev'ry Mufe.

Thus as their pleafing journey they purfu'd,
With cheerful argument beguiling pain,
Ere long, defcending from an hill, they view'd
Beneath their eyes outstretch'da fpacious plain,

That fruitful fhew'd, and apt for ev'ry grain; For paftures,vines,and flow'rs, while Nature fair Sweet-fmiling all around with count'nance faint Seem'd to demand the tiller's art and care Her wildness to correct, her lavish waste repair. Right good I ween and bounteous was the foil, Aye wont in happy feafon to repay With tenfold ufury the peafant's toil, But now 'twas ruin all and wild decay; Untill'd, the garden and the fallow lay; [grown, The sheep fhorne down with barren brakes||o'erThe whiles the merry pealants sport and play All as the public evil were unknown,

Or ev'ry public care from ev'ry breast was flown! Aftonifh'd at a scene at once fo fair

And fo deform'd, with wonder and delight
At man's neglect and Nature's bounty rare,
In ftudious thought a while the Fairy knight
Bent on that goodly lond § his eager fight,
Then forward rush'd, impatient to defcry
What towns and caftles therein were empight*;
For towns him feem'd and cattles he did fpy[eye.
As to th'horizon round he stretch'd his roaming

Nor long way had they travell'd, ere they came
To a wide ftream that, with tumultuous roar,
Amongst rude rocks its winding courfe did
frame:

Black was the wave and fordid, cover'd o'er
With angry foam, and ftain'dwith infants gore:
Thereto along th'unlovely margin stood
A birchen grove that, waving from the shore,
Aye caft upon the tide its falling bud,
And with its bitter juice cimpoifon'd all the flood.
Right in the center of the vale, empight
Not diftant far, a forked mountain rofe;
In outward form prefenting to the fight
That'd Parnaffian hill, on whofe fair brows
The Nine Aonian Sifters wont repose,
Lift'ning to fweet Caftalia's founding ftream,
Which thro' the plains of Cirrha murm'ring
flows;

But this to that compar'd mote juftly feem
Ne fitting haunt for gods, ne worthy man's esteem.
For this nor founded deep nor fpredden wide,
Nor high uprais'd above the level plain,
By toiling art thro' tedious years apply'd,
From various parts compil'd with ftudious pain,
Was erf uptbrown, if fo it mote attain,
Like that poetic mountain, to be hight +
The noble feat of Learning's goodly train ;
Thereto the more to captivate the fight
It, like a garden fair, most curiously was dight§§.

In figur'd plots, with leafy walls enclos'd,
By measure and by rule it was outlay'd;
With fymmetry fo regular difpos'd,
That plot to plot ftill anfwer'd hade to fhade:

Each correfpondent twain alike array'd
With like embellishments of plants and flow'rs,
Of ftatues, vafes, fpouting founts, that play'd
Thro' fhells of Tritons their afcending fhow'rs,
And labyrinths involv'd and trelice-woven bow'rs.
There likewife mote be feen on ev'ry fide
The yew, obedient to the planter's will,
And thapely box of all their branching pride
Ungently fhorne, and with prepoft'rous skill,
To various beasts and birds of fundry quill
Transform'd, and human shapes of monstrous
fize,

Huge as that giant race who, hill on hill
High-heaping, fought with impious vain em-
prize tt,

Defpite of thund'ring Jove, to fcale the steepy skies.

Als other wonders of the sportive shears Fair Nature mifadorning there were found; Globes, fpiral columns, pyramids, and piers, With fprouting urns and budding statues And horizontal dials on the ground [crown'd, In living box by cunning artists trac❜d, And gallies trim on no long voyage bound, But by their roots there ever anchor'd fast, All were their bellying fails outspread to ev'ry blaft.

O'er all appear'd the mountain's forked brows
With terraffes on terrafles upthrown,
And all along, arrang'd in order'd rows
And viftos broad, the velvet flopes adown
The ever-verdant trees of Daphne fhone;
But aliens to the clime, and brought of old
From Latian plains and Grecian Helicon,
They fhrunk and languifh'd in a foreign mold,
By changeful fummers starv'd, and pinch'd by
winter's cold.

Amid this verdant grove, with folemn state,
On golden thrones of antic form reclin'd,
In mimic majefty Nine Virgins fat,
In features various as unlike in mind:
Als boafted they themselves of heav'nly kind,
And to the fweet Parnaffian Nymphs ally'd,
Thence round their brows the Delphic bay
they twin'd,

And matching with high names their apish
pride,

O'er ev'ry learned school aye claim'd they to prefide.

In antic garbs (for modern they disdain’d) By Greek and Roman artifts whilom §§ made, Of various woofs, and variously distain'd With tints of ev'ry hue, were they array'd; And here and there ambitiously display'd A purple fhred of fome rich robe, prepar'd Erft by the Mufes or th'Aonian Maid, To deck great Tullius or the Mantuan bard, Which o'er each motely veft with uncouth fplen. dor glar'd.

++ Emprize, enterprize, attempt.

SS Whilom, formerly.

And well their outward vesture did exprefs
The bent and habit of their inward mind,
Affecting Wifdom's antiquated drefs,
And ufages by time caft far behind :
Thence to the charms of younger Science blind,
The cuftoms, laws, the learning, arts, and
phrafe,

Of their own countries they with fcorn declin'd,
Ne facred Truth herself would they embrace
Unwarranted, unknown in their forefathers days.
Thus ever backward cafting their furvey
To Rome's old ruins, and the groves forlorn
Ofelder Athens, which in profpect lay [turn
Stretch'd out beneath the mountain, would they
Their bufy fearch, and o'er the rubbish mourn;
Then gath'ring up, with fuperftitious care
Each little fcrap, however foul or torn,
In grave harangues they boldly would declare
This Ennius, Varro, this the Stagirite, did wear.
Yet, under names of venerable found, [rod,
While o'er the world they stretch'd their aw ful
Thro' all the provinces of Learning own'd
For teachers of whate'er is wife and good;
Als from each region to their drad abode
Came youth unnumber'd, crowding all to tafte
The ftreams of Science, which united ow'd
Adown the mount from nine rich fources caft,
And to the vale below in one rude torrent past.
O'er ev'ry fource, protectress of the stream,
One of thofe Virgin Sifters did prefide,
Who dignifying with her noble name
Her proper food, aye pour'd into the tide
The heady vapours of fcholaftic pride,
Defpotical and abject, bold and blind,
Fierce in debate, and forward to decide,
Vain love of praise with adulation join'd,
And difingenuous fcorn and impotence of mind.
Extending from the hill on ev'ry fide,
In circuit vaft a verdant valley fpread,
Acrofs whofe uniform flat bofom glide
Ten thousand streams, in winding mazes led
By various fluices from one cominon head;
A turbid mafs of waters, vaft, profound!
Hight of Philology the lake, and fed

By that rude torrent which, with roaring found, Came tumbling from the hill, and flow'd the level round.

And ev'rywhere this fpacious valley o'er,
Faft by each ftream was feen a num'rous throng
Of beardless striplings, to the birch crown'd
fhore

By nurfes, guardians, fathers, dragg'd along ;
Who, helpless, meek, and innocent of wrong,
Were torn reluctant from the tender fide
Of their fond mothers, and by faitours + strong,
By pow'r made infolent, and hard by pride,
Were driv'n with furious rage, and lath'd into the
tide!

Bbz

Од

On the rude bank with trembling feet they ftood,

And cafting round theit oft reverted eyes,
If haply they mote 'fcape the hated flood,
Fill'd all the plain with lamentable cries;
But far away th'unheeding father flies,
Conf rain'd his throng compunctions to reprefs,
While close behind, affuming the difguife
Of nurt'ring Care and finiling Tenderness,
With fecret fcourges arm'd, thofe grifly faitours
prefs.

As on the freepy margin of a brook,
When the young fun with flow'ry Maia rides,
With innocent difinay a bleating flock
Crowd back, affighted at the rolling tides,
The fhepherd-fwain at firft exhorting chides
Their feely fear, at length impatient grown,
With his rude crook he wounds their tender
fides,

And all regardless of their piteous moan,
Into the dashing wave compels them furious

down.

Thus urg'd by maft'ring fear, and dolorous

teen,

Into the current plung'd that infant crowd, Right piteous was the fpectacle I ween, Of tender ftriplings ftain'd with tears andblood, Perforce conflicting with the bitter flood, And lab'ring to attain the diftant shore, Where, holding forth the gown of manhood, The Siren Liberty, and evermore [ftood Solicited their hearts with her enchanting lore. Irkfome and long the paffage was, perplex'd With rugged rocks, on which the raving tide By fudden burfts of angry tempefts vex'd, Oft dafh'd the youth, whofe ftrength mote ill abide

With head uplifted o'er the waves to ride; Whence many, weary'd ere they had o'erpaft The middle ftream (for they in vain Have Again return'd aftounded § and aghaft, [try'd) Ne one regardful look would ever backward caft.

Some, of a rugged more enduring frame, Theirtoilfome courfe with patient pain purfu'd, And tho' with many a bruife and muchel ** blame,

Eft hanging on the rocks, and eft embru'd Deep in the muddy ftream, with hearts fubdu'd And quail'd by labour, gain'd the fhore at laft; But in life's practic lear++ unskill'd and rude, Forth to that forked hill they filent pac'd, Where, hid in ftudious fhades, their fruitless hours they waftc.

Others, of rich and noble lineage bred,

Tho' with the crowd to país the flood conftrain'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, unftain'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 premature decay.

A few, alas! how few! by Heav'ns high will With fubtle fpirits endow'd and finews ftrong, Albefore mated † by the tempests fhrill That bellow'd fierce and rife the rocks among, By their own native vigour borne along, Cut brifkly thro' the waves, and forces new Gath'ring from toil, and ardor from the throng Of rival youths, outftript the lab'ring crew, And to the true Parnaffe § and heav'n-throng'd glory flew.

[fore

Dire was the tumult and from ev'ry fhore Difcordant echoes ftruck the deafen'd car, Heart-thrilling cries, with fobs and fingults Short-interrupted, the imploring tear, And furious ftripes and angry threats fevere, Confus'dly mingled with the jarring found, Of all the various fpeeches that whilere * On Shinar's widefpread chainpain did aftound High Babel's builders vain, and their proud works

confound.

Much was the knight empaffion'd at the scene,
But more his blooming fon, whofe tender breaft,
Empierced deep with fympathizing teen,
On his pale check the figas of dra: imprefs'd,
And fill'd his eyes with tears, which fore dif
trefs'd;

Up to his fire he rais'd in mournful wife, Who with fweet fmiles paternal foon redress'd His troublous thoughts, and clear'd each fad furmife; [hies. Then turns his ready fteed, and on his journey But far he had not march'd ere he was stay'd By a rude voice, that like th'united found Of houting myriads thro' the valley bray'd, And fhook the groves, the floods, and folid ground;

The diftant hills rebellow'd all around.
Arreft, Sir Knight,' it cry'd, 'thy fond ca-

reer,

Nor with prefumptuous difobedience wound That, awful majefty which all revere ! In my commands, Sir Knight, the voice of nations hear.'

Quick turn'd the knight, and faw upon theplain Advancing tow'rds him, with impetuous gait And vifage all inflam'd with fierce difdain, A monftrous giant, on whofe brow elate Shone the bright enfign of inperial fiate; Albeit lawful kingdom he had none, But laws and kingdoms wont he oft create, And oft times over both erect his throne, While fenates, priefts, and ftings, his fovran 4 fceptre own.

Aftounded, aftonish'd.

**Muchel, much.

Mated, amazed, facred.
Whilere, formerly.

Cufto

Cuftom he hight, and aye in ev'ry land Ufurp'd dominion with defpotic fway O'er all he holds, and to his high command Constrains ev'n ftubborn Nature to obey, Whom difpoffeffing oft he doth essay To govern in her right: and with a pace So foft and gentle doth he win his way, That the unawares is caught in his embrace; And tho' deflow'r'd and thrall'd, nought feels her foul difgrace.

age

For nurt'ring even from their tenderest The docile fons of men withouten pain, By difciplines and rules to ev'ry stage Of life accommodate, he doth them train Infenfibly to wear and hug his chain: Als 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. Protector therefore of that forked hill, And mighty patron of thole Sifters Nine, Who there enthron'd with many a copious rill, Feed the full stream that thro' the valley thine He deemed was, and aye with rites divine, Like those which Sparta's hardy race of yore Were wont perforin at fell Diana's fhrine, He doth conftrain his vaffals to adore, Perforce their facred names, and learn their fa

cred lore.

And to the Fairy knight, now drawing near With voice terrific and imperious mien (All was he wont lefs dreadful to appear When known and practis'd than at distance feen)

And kingly ftretching forth his fceptre fheen,
Him he commandeth upon threaten'd pain
Of his difpleafure high and vengeance keen,
From his rebellious purpofe to refrain,
And all due Honors pay to Learning's rev'rend
train,

So faying, and foreftalling all reply,
His peremptory hand without delay;
As one who little car'd to juftify

His princely will, long us'd to boundless fway,
Upon the Fairy youth with great difinay
In ev'ry quaking limb convuls'd he lay'd,
And proudly ftalking o'er the verdant lay ++
Him to thofe fcientific ftreams convey'd,
With many his young compeers, therein to be
embay'd §§.

The knight his tender fon's distressful stour||||
Perceiving, fwift to his affiftance flew,
Ne vainly ftay'd to deprecate that pow'r
Which from fubmiflion aye more haughty
grew :

For that proud giant's force he wifely knew Not to be meanly dreaded, nor defy'd [true, With rafh prefumption; and with courage Rather than step from virtue's paths aside, Oft had he fingly scorn'd his all difmaying pride. And now, difdaining parle, his courfer hot He fiercely prick'd, and couch'd his vengeful fpear,

Wherewith the giant he fo rudely fmot, That him perforce conftrain'd to wend § arWho much abafh'd at fuch rebuke fevere, [rear; Yet his accuftom'd pride recov'ring foon, Forthwith his maffy fceptre 'gan uprear; For other warlike weapon he had noue, Ne other him behov'd to quell his boldest fone. With that enormous mace the Fairy knight So fore he bet, that all his armour bray'd †, Το pieces well nigh riv'n with the might Of fo tempestuous ftrokes; but he was stay'd, And ever with delib'rare valour weigh'd The fudden changes of the doubtful fray, From cautious prudence oft deriving aid, When force unequal did him hard effay; So lightly from his fteed he leap'd upon the lay Then fiftly drawing forth his trenchant

blade,

High o'er his head he held the fenceful shield, And warily forecafting to evade

The giant's furious arm about him wheel'd, With reftlefs fteps aye traverfing the field, And ever as his foe's intemp'rate pride

Thro' rage defenceless mote advantage yield, With his harp fword fo oft he did him gride, That his gold fandal'd feet in crimson floods were dy'd.

His bafer parts he maim'd with many wound;

a

But far above his utmost reach were pight §§ The forts of life; ne never to confound With utter ruin, and abolish quite A pow'r so puiffant, by his fingle might Did he prefume to hope; himself alone From lawless force to free in bloody fight, He flood content to bow to custom's throne, So reafon mote not blush his fovran rule to own, So well he warded and fo fiercely prest His foe, that weary wex'd he of the fray, Ye nould he algates lower his haughty creft, But making in contempt his fore difinay, Difdainfully releas'd the trembling prey As one unworthy of his princely care; Then proudly cafting on the warlike Fay + A fimile of fcorn and pity, thro' the air 'Gan blow his thrilling horn; the blaft was heard afar.