152
	WILKIE'S	POEMS.
	And	round	the	camp,	and	round	the	Theban
	walls,
	Heaps	roll'd	on	heaps,	the	mingled	forest	falls.
	Of	this	the	Spartan	chief,	his	native	bands,
	With	speed	to	rear	a	lofty	pile,	commands	;
	Which	for	Hegialus,	with	grateful	mind,
	Adrastus'	valiant	son,	the	chief	design'd	;
	"Who	to	his	aid,	when	ev'ry	warrior	fled,
	Repair'd,	and	for	his	rescue	greatly	hied:
	His	native	bands	the	hero	thus	addrest,
	While	sighs	incessant	labor'd	from	his	breast,
	"	The	chief	of	Argos,	warriors!	1	first	demands
	Funereal	honours	from	our	grateful	hands	;
	For	him	this	lofty	structure	is	decreed,
	And	ev'ry	rite	in	order	shall	succeed	:
	His	dear	remains	in	my	pavilion	rest;
	Nor	can	Adrastus	at	the	riles	assist	;
	Who	to	despairs	and	phrenzy	hasresign'd,
	By	age	and	grief	subdu'd,	his	generous	mind	:
	The	other	princes	of	the	army	wait
	The	obsequies	to	grace,	with	mournful	state,"
	He	said	;	and	to	his	tent	the	warriors	led,
	Where	stood	already	deck'd	the	fun'ral	bed	:
	With	Syrian	oil	bedew'd,	the	corse	they	found
	Fresh	from	the	bath,	and	breathing	fragrance
	For	Menelaus,	with	divided	care,	[round	:
	Each	rite	domestic	hast'ned	to	prepare.
	Twelve	princes	to	the	pile	the	corse	sustain'd	;
	The	head	on	Agamemnon's	hand	reclin'd	:
	With	mournful	pomp	the	slow	procession	mov'd	;
	For	all	the	hero	honour'd	and	approv'd.
	First	on	the	top	the	fun'ral	bed	they	place	;
	And	next,	the	sad	solemnity	to	grace,
	And	gratify	the	manes	of	the	slain,	[plain.
	The	blood	of	steeds	and	bullocks	drencn'd	the
	The	four	fair	steeds	which	drew	the	rapid	car,
	That	bore	the	hero	through	the	ranks	of	war,
	Their	lofty	necks	the	pointed	falchion	tore,
	With	force	impell'd,	and	drew	a	stream	of	gore	:
	Three	groaning	fell	;	but,	fiercer	from	the	stroke
	The	silver	reins	the	fourth	with	fury	broke,
	And	fled	around	the	field	:	his	snowy	chest,
	Was	dash'd	with	streaming	blood,	and	lofty	crest
	In	circles	still	he	wheel'd	!	at	ev'ry	round,
	Still	nearer	to	the	pile	himself	he	found	;
	Till	d	rain	'd	of	life,	by	blood	alone	supply'd,
	-	Just	where	he	felt	the	blow,	he	sunk,	and	dy'd.
	By	awe	divine	subdu'd,	the	warriors	stand	;
	And	silent	wonder	fixes	ev'ry	band	:
	Till	thus	Atrides:	"	Sure	th'	immortal	gotls,
	The	glorious	synod	of	the	blest	abodes,
	Approve	our	rites;	the	good	their	favour	share,
	In	death	and	life	the	objects	of	their	care."
	Atrides	thus	:	and,	further	to	augment
	The	mournful	pomp,	the	martial	goddess	went
	Through	all	the	camp,	in	Merion's	form	ex
	press	'd;
	And	thus	aloud	the	public	ear	address'd	:
	"	Warriors	and	friends	!	on	yonder	lofty	pyre,
	Hegialus	expects	the	fun'ral	fire	:
	For	such	high	merit,	public	tears	should	flow	;
	And	Greece	assembled	pour	a	flood	of	woe.
	Now	let	us	all	his	obsequies	attend	;
	And,	with	the	mournful	rites,	our	sorrows	blend.
	Proclaiming	thus	aloud	tie	goddess	went;
	The	army	heard	;	a-.d	each	forsakes	his	tent	;
	Her	voice	had	touch'd	their	hearts	;	they	mov'
	atonic.
	Nations	and	tribes,	an	undistinguish'd	throng
	round	the	pile	the	wid'ning	circle	grows	j
	s,	spreading,	in	some	vale,	a	deluge	flows,
	?y	mountain	torrents	fed,	which	stretches	wide
	floats	the	level	lands	on	ev'ry	side.
	}istinguish'd	in	the	midst	the	princes	stand,
	>Vith	sceptres	grac'd,	the	ensigns	of	command.
	Urides,	with	superior	grief	oppress'd,'
	'bus	to	the	sire	of	gods	his	pray	'r	address'd,
	"	Dread	sov'reign,	hear	!	whose	unresisted
	sway
	'he	fates	of	men	and	mortal	things	obey:
	rom	thee	the	virtue	of	the	hero	springs	;
	'hine	is	the	glory	and	the	pow'r	of	kings,
	f	e'er	by	thee,	and	virgin	Pallas,	led,
	:"o	noble	deeds	this	gen'rous	youth	was	bred	1
	f	love	to	men,	or	piety,	possest,
	With	highest	purpose,	his	undaunted	breast	j
	ommand	the	winds	in	bolder	gusts	to	rise,
	And	bear	the	flames,	I	kindle,	to	the	skies."-
	The	hero	thus	;	and	with	the	fun'ral	brand
	The	structure	touch'd	;	ascending	from	his	hand,
	Spreads	the	quick	blaze	:	the	ruler	of	the	sky
	'ommands;	at	once	the	willing	tempests	fly	:
	iushing	in	streams	invisible,	they	came,
	Drove	the	light	smoke,	and	rais'd	the	sheeted
	flame.
	The	favour	of	the	gods	the	nations	own,
	And,	with	their	joint	applause,	the	hero	crown.
	From	morn	till	noon	the	roaring	flames	aspire,
	And	fat	of	victims	added	feeds	the	fire	;
	Then	fall	their	lofty	spires,	and,	sinking	low,
	O'er	the	pale	ashes	tremulously	glow.
	With	wine,	the	smoke,	and	burning	embers	lay'd;
	The	bones	they	glean'd,	and	to	a	tomb	convey'd
	Under	an	oak,	which,	near	the	public	way,
	Invites	the	swains	to	shun	the	noontide	ray.
	Now	twenty	warriors	of	Atrides'	train,
	Loaded	with	treasure,	brought	a	harness'd	wain	;
	Vases	and	tripods	in	bright	order	plac'd,
	And	spltndid	arms	with	fair	devices	grac'd	:
	These	for	the	games	the	Spartan	chief	decreed,
	The	fun'ral	games	in	honour	of	the	dead.
	Amid	the	princes	first	a	polish'd	yew,
	Unbent	upon	the	ground	the	hero	threw,
	Of	workuivine	;	which	Cynthius	claim'd	before,
	And	Chiron	next	upon	the	mountains	bore	;
	His	sire	the	third	receiv'd	it	:	now	it	lies,
	For	him	who	farthest	shoots,	thedeslin'd	pri^e.
	"	Heroes,	appioach	!"	Atrides	thus	aloud,
	"	Stand	forth,	distinguished	from	the	circling
	crowd,
	Ye	who,	by	skill	or	manly	force,	may	claim
	Your	rivals	to	surpass	and	merit	fame.
	Tins	bow,	worth	twenty	oxen,	is	decreed
	For	him	who	farthest	sends	the	winged	reed	:
	This	bowl,	worth	eight,	shall	be	reserv'd	to
	grace
	The	man	whose	merit	holds	the	second	place."
	He	spoke.	His	words	the	bold	Ajaces	fir'd	;
	Crete's	valiant	monarch	to	the	prize	aspir'd	;
	Teucer	for	shooting	fam'd	;	and	Merion	strong,
	Whose	force	enormous	drag'd	a	bull	along:
	Prompt	to	contend,	and	rais'd	with	hope,	they
	stood	;
	Laertes'	son	the	last	forsook	the	crowd.
	Tydides	toohadjoin'd	them,	andobtain'd
	Whatever	could	by	skill	or	force	be	gain'd	;
	But	in	his	tent,	indulging	sal	despair,
	He	sat,	subdu'd	by	heart-consuming	care.


THE	EPIGONIAD.	BOOK	V.
	153
	Straight	in	a	casque	the	equal	lots	were
	thrown	;
	Each	hero	with	his	name	had	mark'd	his	own	:
	These,	mix'd	with	care,	the	chief	of	Sparta	drew;
	Idmeneus's	the	first	he	knew	:
	Teucer,	with	hope	inspir'd,	the	second	claim'd	:
	The	third	Oileus,	much	for	shooting	fam'd	;
	Next	claim'd	the	wearer	of	the	seven-fold	shield,
	Though	young	in	arms,	distingtiish'd	in	the	field	;
	Ulysses	!	thine	c'ame	next	;	and,	last	of	all,
	Bold	Merion	with	a	smile	receiv'd	his	ball.
	Press'd	with	incumbent	force,	the	Cretan	lord
	Strain'd	the	stiff	bow,	and	bent	it	to	the	cord	;
	Then,	from	the	full-stor'd	quiver,	chose	with	art,
	Wing'd	for	th'	aerial	flight,	a	pointed	dart.
	Theseus	commands	the	warriors	to	divide,
	"Who	crowded	thick	and	pressM	on	ev'ry	side	;
	Straight	they	retire	;	as,	at	the	word	of	Jove,
	From	day's	bright	face	the	scatt'ring	clouds	re
	move;
	And	through	the	host	appear'd	a	spacious	way,
	Where	woods	and	fields	in	distant	prospect	lay.
	With	force	immense,	the	Cretan	monarch	drew,
	Stretch'd	the	tough	cord,	and	strain'd	the	cir
	cling	yew	;
	From	his	firm	gripe	the	starting	arrow	sprung,
	The	stiff	bow	crapk'd,	the	twanging	cordage	sunj
	Up	the	light	air	the	hissing	weapon	flies,
	Pierces	the	winds,	and	streams	along	the	skies	:
	Far	to	the	distant	plain	it	swiftly	drove	;
	The	host	stood	wond'ring	as	it	rush'd	above	:
	Descending	there	upon	a	mount	it	stood	;
	A	depth	of	soil	receiv'd	the	trembling	wood.
	Applause	from	all,	tumultuous	shouts	declare,
	By	echoes	wafted	through	the	trembling	air.
	Such	joy	the	hero	feels,	as	praise	inspires,
	And	to	the	circle	of	the	kings	retires.
	The	valiant	Teucer	next	receiv'd	the	bow,
	And	to	Apo'lo	thus	address'd	a	vow	:
	"	Hear	me,	dread	king	!	whose	unresisted	sway
	Controls	the	Sun,	and	rules	the	course	of	day	;
	Great	patron	of	the	bow	!	this	shaft	impel	j
	And	htcatombs	my	gratitude	shall	tell	;
	Soon	as	to	Salamis	our	martial	pow'rs
	Return,	victorious,	from	the	Theban	tow'rs.	1	'
	He	said,	and	bid	the	winged	arrow	fly	;
	It	pierc'd	the	winds,	and	swept	a	length	of	sky	;
	In	compass,	like	the	colour'd	arch,	which	shines
	txalted,	as	the	setting	Sun	declines;
	From	north	to	south	it	marks	th'	ethereal	space,
	And	woods	and	mountains	fill	its	wide	embrace	:
	Beyond	the	Cretan	shaft,	it	rjach'd	the	plain;
	As	1far	before,	as	now	a	shepherd	swain,
	Hurl'd	from	a	sling,	the	sounding	flint	can	throw,
	From	his	young	charge,	to	drive	the	deadly	crow.
	Oilean	Ajax	next	the	weapon	claim'd,
	For	skill	above	the	rest,	and	practice	fam'd	;
	But	Phoebus,	chief	and	patron	of	the	art,
	Retarded	in	its	flight	the	winged	dart	:
	For,	nor	by	pray'rs,	nor	holy	vows,	he	strove,
	Of	grateful	sacrifice,	the	god	to	move.
	Downwards	he	turn'd	it,	where	a	cedar	fair
	Had	shot	its	spiring	top	aloft	in	air	;
	Caught	in	a	bough	the	quiv'ring	weapon	stood,
	Nor	forc'd	a	passage	through	the	closing	wood.
	1	Ajax	the	next	appear'd	upon	the	plain,
	With	strength	untaught,	and	emulous	in	vain	;
	With	sinewy	arms	the	so'.id	yew	he	bends	;
	Near	and	more	near	approach	the	doubling	ends:
	The	arrow	sprung	;	but	erring	took	its	way,
	Far	to	the	left,	where	oozy	marshes	lay,
	And	groves	of	reeds	;	where	slow	Ismenus	strays,,
	And	winds,	through	thickets	green,	his	wat'i-y
	maze.
	Abash'd	the	youth,	with	painful	steps,	retires	;
	And	npw	Ulysses	to	the	prize	aspires.
	In	silence	thus	the	prudent	warrior	pray'd,
	And,	in	his	heart,	address'd	the	martial	maid	:
	"Great	queep	of	arts	!	on	thee	my	hopes	depend}
	With	favour,	to	thy	suppliant's	snit,	attend	!
	By	thee	my	infant	arms	were	taught	to	throw
	The	dart	with	certain	aim,	and	bend	the	bow:
	Oft	on	my	little	hands,	immortal	maid	5
	To	guide	the	shaft,	thy	mighty	hands	were	laid	:
	Now,	goddess,	aid	me,	while	I	strive	for	fame;
	Wing	the	swift	weapon,	and	assert	my	claim."
	He	pray'd:	the	goddess,	at	his	suit,	descends;
	And	present	from	th'	Olympian	courts	attends.
	With	force	divine	his	manly	limbs	she	strung.
	The	bow	he	strain'd	:	the	starting	arrow	sung	;
	As	when	the	sire	of	gods,	with	wrathful	hand,
	Drives	the	swift	lightning	and	the	forked	brand,
	To	waste	the	labours	of	the	careful	swains,
	Consume	the	mountain	flocks,or	scorch	the	plains	j
	With	sudden	glare	appears	the	fiery	ray;
	No	thought	can	trace	It	through	th'	ethereal	way:
	So	swift	thy	winged	shaft,	Ulysses	!	flew,
	Nor	could	the	following	eye	its	speed	pursue.
	The	flight	of	Teueer's	arrow	far	surpast,
	Upon	a	rural	hearth	it	pitch'd	at	last,
	To	Ceres	built	;	where	swains,	in	early	spring,
	With	joy	were	wont	their	annual	gifts	to	bring	;
	When	first	to	view,	above	the	furrow'd	plain,
	With	pleasing	verdure,	rose	the	springing	grain,
	Through	all	the	host	applauding	shouts	resound^
	The	hills	repeat	them,	and	the	woods	around.
	The	bended	bow	bold	Merion	next	assumes,
	A	shaft	selects,	and	smooths	its	purple	plumes	:
	He	plap'd	it	on	the	string,	and	bending	low,
	With	all	his	force	collected,	strain'd	the	bow.
	Up	the	light	air	the	starting	arrow	sprung	;
	The	tough	bow	crack'd;	the	twanging	cordage
	sung.
	Beyond	the	reach	of	sight	the	weapon	drove,
	And	tow'r'd	amid	th'	ethereal	space	above	:
	But	as	it	rose,	a-heroncross'd	before,
	From	inland	marshes	steering	to	the	shore	;
	Under	the	wing	it	reach'd	her	with	a	wound	;
	Screaming	she	wheel'd,	then	tumbled	to	the
	ground.
	And	thus	the	youth	:	"Illustrious	chiefs	!	I	claim
	If	not	the	prize,	at	least	superior	fame	:
	Ungovern'd	strength	alone	the	arrow	sends	;
	To	hit	the	mark,	the	shooter's	art	commends.*
	In	mirthful	mood	the	hero	thus	address'd	;
	And	all	their	favour	and	applause	express'd.
	"	Ulysses	!	take	the	bow,"	Atrides	cries,
	"	The	silver	bowl,	brave	Teucer	!	be	thy	prize.
	In	ev'ry	art,	my	friends	!	you	all	excel;
	And	each	deserves	a	prize	for	shooting	well	:
	For	though	the	first	rewards	the	victors	claim,
	Glory	ye	merit	all,	and	lasting	fame."
	He	said	;	and	pond'ring	in	his	grateful	mind,
	Distinguish'd	honours	for	the	dead	design'd.
	"Warriors	of	Greece,and	valiant	aids	from	far,
	Our	firm	associates	in	the	works	of	war	!
	Here	from	a	rock	the	Theban	stream	descends,
	And	to	a	lake	its	silver	current	sends	;


THE	EPIGONIAD.	BOOK	V.
	15S
	He	said;	and,	scorn	and	laughter	to	excite,
	His	features	foul	he	writh'd,	with	envious	spite,
	Smiling	contempt;	and	pleas'd	his	ranc'rous
	heart
	With	aiming	thus	oblique	a	venom'd	dart.
	But	joy	'd	not	long	;	foe	soon	the	faithless	wood,
	Strain'd	from	the	root,	resign'd	him	to	the	flood.
	Plunging	ami	sputt'ring	as	his	arms	he	spread,
	A	load	of	soil	camethuud'ringon	his	head,
	Slipt	from	the	bank	:	along	the	winding	shore,
	With	laughter	loud	he	heard	the	echoes	roar,
	When	from	the	lake	his	crooked	form	he	rearM	:
	With	horrour	pale,	with	bloating	clay	besmear'd	:
	Then	clamb'ring	by	the	trunk,	in	sad	dismay,
	Which	half	immers'd	with	all	its	branches	lay,
	Confounded,	to	the	tents	he	sculk'd	along,
	Amid	the	shouts	and	insults	of	the	throng.
	Now	cloth'd	in	public	view	the	heroes	stand,
	With	sceptres	grac'd,	the	ensi~ns	of	command.
	The	Cretan	monarch,	as	his	prize,	assumes
	The	polish'd	helmet,	crown'd	with	waving	plumes,
	The	silver	mail,	the	buckler's	weighty	round,
	Tli'	embroider'd	belt,	with	golden	buckles	bound.
	The	second	prize	Laertes'	son	receiv'd,
	With	less	applause	from	multitudes	deceiv'd	;
	The	first	he	could	have	purchas'd	;	butdeclin'd
	And	yielded,	to	the	martial	maid	resign'd.
	Thus	they.	The	Thebans,	near	the	eastern
	Around	their	pyres"	in	silent	sorrow	wait	:	[gate:
	Hopeless	and	sad	they	mourn'd	their	heroes	slain,
	The	best	and	bravest	on	their	native	plain.
	The	king	himself,	in	deeper	sorrow,	mourn'd	;
	With	rage	and	mingled	grief	his	bosom	burn'd.
	Like	the	grim	lion,	when	his	offspring	slain
	He	sees,	and	round	him	drawn	the	hunter's	train;
	Couch'd	in	the	shade	with	fell	intent	he	lies,
	And	glares	upon	the	foes	with	burning	eyes:
	Such	Creon	seem'd	:	hot	indignation	drain'	d
	Grief's	wat'ry	sources,	and	their	flow	restrain'd.
	Upon	a	turret	o'er	the	gate	he	stood,
	And	saw	the	Argives,	like	a	;hady	wood,
	Extended	wide	;	and	dreading-	fraud	design'd,
	Still	to	the	plain	his	watchful	eyes	confin'd,
	Suspicious	from	his	hatred,	and	the	pow'r
	Of	restless	passions,	which	his	heart	devour:
	And	when	at	ev'n's	approach	the	host	retir'd,
	And	from	the	labours	of	the	day	respir'd,
	Within	the	walls	he	drew	his	martial	pow'rs,
	And	kept	with	strict	est	watch	the	gates	and	tow'rs
	Soon	as	the	night	possess'd	th'	ethereal	plain,
	And	o'er	the	nations	stretch'd	her	silent	reign,
	The	guards	were	plac'd,	and	to	the	gentle	sway
	Of	sleep	subdu'd,	the	weary	warriors	lay.
	Tydides	only	wak'd,	by	anxious	care
	Distracted,	still	he	mourn'd	his	absent	fair,
	Deeming	her	lost;	his	slighted	counsel	mov'd
	Lasting	resentment,	and	the	truce	approv'd	:
	Contending	passions	shook	his	mighty	frame;
	As	warring	winds	impel	the	ocean's	strea'm,
	When	south	and	east	with	mingled	rage	contend
	And	in	a	tempest	on	the	deep	descend	:
	Now,	stretch'd	upon	the	couch,	supine	he	lay;
	Then,	rising	anxious,	wish'd	the	morning	ray.
	Impatient	thus,	at	last,	his	turbid	mind,
	By	various	counsels	variously	inclin'd,
	The	chief	address'd	:	"	Or	shall	I	now	recall
	Th'	Etolian	warriors	from	the	Thebau	wall	j
	Obey	the	warning	by	a	goddess	giv*n,
	N,or	slight	her	counsel	dictated	from	Heav'n?
	Or	shall	I	try,	by	one	deciding	blow,
	The	war	at	once	to	end,	and	crush	the	foe?
	This	pleases	most	;	nor	shall	the	voice	of	fame
	The	daring	deed,	in	after	ages,	blame.
	No	truce	1	swore,	but	shun'd	it,	and	removed,
	Alone	dissenting	while	the	rest	approv'd.
	Soon	as	the	morn,	with	early	light	reveal'd.
	Has	call'd	the	1	heban	warriors	to	the	field	;
	Against	the	town	I'll	lead	my	martial	pow'rs,
	And	fire	with	flaming	brands	her	hated	tow'rs:
	The	bane	of	Greece,	whence	dire	debate	arise
	To	bid	the	peaceful	nations	first	be	foes	;	'
	Where	Tydeus	fell,	and	many	heroes	more,
	Banish'd	untimely	to	the	Stygian	shore.
	The	public	voice	of	Greece	for	vengeance	calls	;
	And	shall	applaud	the	stroke	by	which	she	falls."
	He	purpos'd	:	but	the	gods,	who	honour	right
	Deny'd	to	treason	what	is	due	to	might.
	When	from	the	east	appear'd	the	morning	fair,
	The	Theban	warriors	to	the	woods	repair,
	Fearless,	unann'd	;	with	many	a	harness'd	wain,
	The	woody	heights	were	crowded	and	the	plain,
	Tydides	saw	;	and,	issuing	from	his	tent,
	In	arms	compleat,	to	call	his	warriors,	went.
	Their	leader's	martial	voice	the	soldiers	heard
	Each	in	his	tent,	and	at	the	call	appear'd
	In	shining	arms.	De'iphobus	began,
	For	virtue	fam'd,	a	venerable	man.
	Him	Tydeus	lov'd	;	and	in	his	faithful	hand
	lad	plac'd	the	sceptre	of	supreme	command,
	'o	rule	the	state	;	when,	from	his	native	tow'rs,
	'o	Thebes	the	hero	led	his	martial	pow'rs	;
	lis	son,	an	infant,	to	his	care	resign'd,
	Vith	sage	advice	to	form	his	tender	mind,
	'he	hero	thus:	"	Illustrious	chief	!	declare
	What	you	intend,	and	whither	point	the	war.
	^he	truce	commenc'd,	you	cannot,	and	be	just,
	^he	Thebans	now	assault,	who	freely	trust
	To	public	faith	engagM	:	unarm'd	they	go
	Far	through	the	woods	and	plains,	nor	fear	a
	foe."
	His	leader's	purpose	thus	the	warrior	try'd;
	And,	inly	vex'd,	Tydides	thus	reply'd	:
	'	Father	!	thy	words	from	ignorance	proceed	;
	The	truce	1	swore	not,	nor	approv'd	the	deed.
	The	rest	are	hound,	and	therefore	must	remain
	Ling'ring	inactive	on	this	hostile	plain	:
	The	works	of	war	abandon'd,	let	them	shed
	Their	unavailing	sorrows	o'er	the	dead	:
	Or	aim	the	dart,	or	hurl	the	disk	in	air	;
	Some	paltry	presents	shall	the	victors	share.
	Warriors	we	came,	in	nobler	strife	to	dare	;
	To	fight	and	conquer	in	the	lists	of	war;
	To	conquer	Thebes	:	and	Jove	himself	ordains,
	With	wreaths	of	triumph,	to	reward	our	pains.
	Wide	to	receive	us	stand	the	Theban	gates	j
	A	spacious	entry,	open'd	by	the	fates,
	To	take	destruction	in	;	their	turrets	stand
	Defenceless,	and	expect	the	flaming	brand.
	Now	let	us	snatch	th'	occasion	while	we	may,
	Years	waste	in	vain	and	perish	by	delay,
	That,	Thebes	o'erthrown,	our	tedious	toils	may
	cease,
	And	we	behold	our	native	walls	in	peace."
	Tydides	thus	:	the	ancient	warrior	burns
	With	indignation	just,	and	thus	returns:
	"	O	son	!	unworthy	of	th'	illustrious	line
	From	which	you	spring	:	your	sire's	reproach
	and	mine	!


THE	EPIGONIAD.	BOOK	VII.
	Enter	;	for	now	the	double	twilight	fails	;
	And	o'er	the	silent	Earth	the	night	prevails:
	From	the	moist	vaihys	noxious	fogs	arise,
	To	wrap	the	r.>cky	heights,	and	shade	the	skies.'
	"	The	cave	we	entcr'd,	and	his	botany	shar'd	j
	A	rural	banquet	by	himself	prepar'd.
	But	s-ion	the	rage	of	th'rst	and	hunger	stay'd,
	My	mind	still	doubtful,	to	the	youth	I	said	:
	*	Must	hapless	Thebes,	despa'ririg	and	undone,
	Want	the	assistance	of	her	bravest	son	?
	The	hero's	fate	explain,	nor	grudge	mine	ear
	The	sad	assurance	of	our	loss	to	hear.'
	I	question'd	thus.	The	youth,	with	liorror	pale,
	Attempted	to	recite	an	awful	tale	;
	Above	the	fabled	woes	which	bards	rehearse,
	When	sad	Melpomene	inspires	the	verse,
	i	"	'	The	wife	of	Jove	'	(	Pceonides	rep'y	'd)
	'	All	arts	in	vain	tj	crush	the	hero	try'd	;
	For	brighter	from	her	hate	his	virtue	burn'd	;
	And	disappointed	still,	the	goddess	mourn'd.
	His	ruin	to	effect	at	last	she	strove
	By	jealousy,	the	rage	of	injur'd	love.
	The	bane	to	Peianira's	breast	convey	'd,
	Who,	as	a	rival,	fcar'd	th*	Oechalian	maid.
	The	goddess	knew,	that,	jealous	of	her	lord,
	A	robe	she	kept	with	latent	poisons	stov'd	;
	The	centaur's	gift,	bequeath'd	her,	to	reclaim
	The	hero's	love,	and	light	his	dying	flame	;
	If	e'er	devoted	to	a	stranger's	charms,
	He	stray	'd	inconstant,	fiom	her	widow'd	arms	;
	But	giv'n	with	treacherous	intent	to	prove
	The	death	of	nature,	not	the	lifeof	love.
	Mad	from	her	jealousy,	the	charm	she	try'd	;
	His	love	to	change,	the	deadly	robe	apply	'd:
	And	guiltless	of	the	present	which	he	bore,
	Lychas	convey'd	it	to	Cenoemun's	shore	:
	Where	to	the	pow'rs	immortal,	fjr	their	aid,
	A	grateful	hecatomb	the	hero	paid	:
	When	favor'd	from	above,	his	arm	o'erthrew
	The	proud	Eurytus,	and	his	warriors	slew.
	The	venom	'd	rob>'	the	hero	took,	nor	fear'd
	A	gift	by	conjugal	respects	en*!ear'd	:
	And	straight	resign	'd	the	lion's	shaggy	spoils,
	The	mantle	which	he	wore	in	all	his	toils.
	No	sign	of	harm	the	fatal	present	shmv'd	;
	Till	rous'd	by	heat	its	secret	venom	glow'd:
	Straight	on	the	flesh	it	seiz'd,	like	stiftest	glue,
	And	scorching	deep,	to	ev'ry	member	grew.
	Then	tearing	with	his	hands	th'	infernal	snare,
	His	skin	he	rent,	and	laid	the	muscles	bare	;
	While	streams	of	blood,	descending	from	the
	wound,
	Mix'd	with	the	gore	of	victims	on	the	ground.
	The	guiltless	Lychas,	in	his	furious	mood,
	He	seiz'd,	as	trembling	by	his	aide	he	stood	:
	Him,	by	the	slender	ancle	snatch'd,	he	swung	;
	And	'gainst	a	rocky	promontory	flung:
	Which,	from	the	dire	event,	his	name	retains	;
	Thro'	his	white	locks	itnpurpied	rush'd	the
	brains.
	Aw'd	by	the	deed,	his	desp'rate	rage	to	shun,
	Our	bold	companions	from	his	presence	run	:
	I	too,	conceal'd	behind	.1	rock,	remain'd	;
	My	love	and	sympathy	by	fear	restnxn'd	:
	For	furious	'midst	the	sacred	fires	he	<rrrw;
	The	victims	scatter	'd,	and	the	hearths	o'er
	threw.
	Then	sinking	prostrate,	where	a	tide	of	gore
	From	oxen	slain	had	blackeu'd	all	tb	shore,
	His	form	divine	he	roll'd	in	dust	and	blood	;
	Mis	groans	the	hills	re-echo'd	and	the	flood.
	Then	rising	furious,	to	the	ocean's	streams
	fie	rush'd,	in	hope	to	quench	his	raging	flames	j
	Slut	burning	still	the	unextinguish'd	paiu,
	The	shore	he	left,	and	stretoh'J	into	the	main.
	galley	auchor'd	near	the	beach	we	found	;
	tfer	curled	canvass	to	the	breeze	unbound	;
	And	trac'd	his	desp'rate	course,	till	far	before
	We	saw	him	land	on	Oeta's	desert	shore.
	Towards	the	skies	his	furious	hands	he	rear'd,
	And	thus,	across	the	deep,	his	voice	we	heard	:
	"	'	Sov'reign	of	Heav'n	and	Earth	!	whose
	boundless	sway
	The	fates	of	men	and	mortaHhings	obey,
	.f	e'er	delighted	from	the	courts	above,
	[n	human	form	you	sought	Alcmene's	love;
	If	fame's	unchanging	voice	to	all	the	Earth,
	With	truth,	proclaims	you	au	1	hor	of	my	birth	j
	Whence,	from	a	course	of	spotless	glory	run,
	Successful	toils	and	wreaths	of	triumph	won,
	Am	I	thus	wretched	?	better	that	before
	Some	monster	fierce	had	drank	my	streaming
	gore;
	Or	crush'd	by	Cacus,	foe	to	gods	and	men,
	My	batter'd	brains	had	strew'd	his	rocky	den	j
	Than,	from	my	glorious	toils	and	triumphs	past,
	To	fall	subdu'<i	by	female	arts,	at	last.
	O	cool	my	boiling	blood,	ye	winds,	that	blow
	From	mountains	loaded	with	eternal	snow,
	And	crack	the	icy	cliffs	:	in	vain	!	in	vain	!
	Your	rigonr	cannot	quench	my	raging	pain	!
	For	round	this	heart	the	furies	wave	their	brands,
	And	wring	my	entrails	with	their	burning	handa.
	Now	bending	,'rom	the	skies,	O	wife	of	Jove!
	Enjoy	the	vengeance	of	thy	injur'd	love	:
	For	fate,	by	me,	the	thund'rer's	guilt	atones;
	And,	punish'd	in	her	son,	A	Icmene	groans	:
	The	object	of	your	hate	shall	soon	expire;
	Fix'd	on	my	shoulders	preys	a	net	of	fire	j	.
	Whom	nor	the	toils	nor	dangers	could	subdue,
	By	false	Eurystheus	dictated	from	you	j
	Nor	tyrants	lawless,	.nor	the	monstrous	brood
	Which	haunts	the	destrt	or	infests	the	flood,
	Nor	Greece,	nor	all	the	barb'rous	climes	that	lie
	Where	Phoebus	ever	points	his	golden	eye	;
	A	woman	hath	o'erthrown	!	ye	gods	!	I	yield
	To	female	arts,	unconquer'd	in	the	field.
	My	arms	alas	!	are	these	the	same	that	bow'd
	Anteus,	and	his	giant	force	subdu'd	?
	That	dragg'd	Nemea's	monster	from	his	den	?
	And	slew	the	dragon	in	his	native	fen	?
	Alas!	alas!	their	mighty	muscles	fai	1	,
	While	pains	infernal	ev'ry	nerve	assail	:
	Alas,	alas	!	I	feel	in	streams	of	woe
	These	eyes	dissolve,	before	untaught	ia	flow.
	Awake	my	virtue,	oft	in	dangers	try'd,
	Patient	in	toils,	in	deaths	unterrify'd,
	Rouse	to	my	aid	;	nor	let	my	labours	past,
	With	fame	achiev'd,	be	blotted	by	the	last	:
	Firm	and	unmov'd,	the	present	shock	endure;
	Once	triumph,	and	for	ever	rest	secure.'
	"	'	The	hero	thus;	and	grasp'd	a	pointed	rock
	With	both	his	arms,	which	straight	in	pieces
	broke,
	Crush'd	in	his	agony	:	then	on	his	breast
	Descending	pros!	rate,	further	plaint	snpprest.
	And	now	the	clouds,	in	dusky	volumes	spread,
	Had	darken'd	ail	the	mountains	with	their	shude:


,168
	\TILKIE'S	POEMS.
	Rlax'<l	at	last,	its	spires	forgot	to	roll,
	And,	in	a	hiss,	she	bteath'd	her	fiery	soul	:
	In	b^ste	to	gorge	his	prey,	the	hird	of	Jove
	D	>wn	to	the	bottom	of	the	thicket	drove	;
	The	young	defenceless	from	the	covert	drew	;
	Devoured	them	straight,	and	to	the	mountains
	This	omeu	seen,	another	worse	we	hear:	[flew.
	The	subterraneous	thunder	greets	our	ear	:
	The	worst	of	all	the	signs	which	augurs	know	;
	A	dire	prognostic	of	impending	woe.
	"	Amaz'd	we	stood,	till	Philoctetes	broke
	Onr	long	dejected	silence	thus,	and	spoke:
	Warriors	of	Thebes	!	the	auguries	dissuade
	My	purpose,	and	withhold	me	from	your	aid	;
	Though	pity	moves	me,	and	ambition	draw*,
	To	share	your	labours	and	assert	your	cause;
	In	fight	the	arms	of	Hercules	to	show,
	And	from	his	native	ramparts	drive	the	foe.
	But	vain	it	is	against	the	gods	to	strive	;
	Whose	counsels	ruin	nations	or	retrieve	;
	Without	their	favour,	valour	nought	avails,
	And	human	prudence	self-subverted	fails;
	For	irresistibly	their	pow'r	presides
	In	all	events,	and	good	and	ill	divides.
	Let	Thebes	assembled	at	the	altars	wait,
	And	long	processions	crowd	each	sacred	gate	:
	With	sacrifice	appeas'd,and	humble	pray'r,
	Their	omens	frustrated,	the	gods	may	spare.
	To	day,	my	guests,	repose	;	to	morrow	sail,
	If	Heav'n	propitious	sends	a	prosp'rous	gale	:
	For.	shifting	to	the	south,	the	western	breeze
	Forbids	you	now	to	trust	the	faithless	seas.'
	"	The	hero	thus	;	in	silence	sad,	we	mourn'd	;
	And	to	the	solitary	cave	return	'd,
	Despairing	of	success;	our	grief	he	shar'd,
	And	for	relief	a	cheering	bowl	prepar'd	;
	The	vintage	which	the	grape	spont	aneous	yields,
	By	art	untutor'd,on	the	woodland	fields,
	He	sought	with	care,	and	mingled	in	the	bowl
	A	plant,	of	pow'r	to	calm	the	troubled	soul;
	Its	name	nepenthe;	swains,	on	desert	ground,
	Do	often	glean	it,	else	but	rarely	found;
	This	in	the	bowl	he	mix'd;	and	soon	we	found,
	In	soft	oblivion,	all	our	sorrows	drown'd	:
	We	felt	no	more	the	agonies	of	care,
	And	hope,	succeeding,	dawn'd	upon	despair.
	From	morn	we	feasted,	till	the	setting	ray
	Retir'd,	and	ev'ning	shades	expel	1M	the	day	;
	Then	in	the	dark	recesses	of	the	cave,
	To	slumbers	soft,	our	willing	limbs	we	gave	:
	But	ere	the	morning,	from	the	east,	appear'd,
	And	sooner	than	the	early	lark	is	heard,
	Geon	awak'd,	iny	careless	slnmber	broke,
	And	bending	to	my	ear,	in	whispers	spoke:
	'	Dienices!	while	slumbering	thus	secure,
	We	think	not	what	our	citizens	endure,	[pears
	The	worst	the	signs	have-threaten'd,	nought	ap-
	With	happier	aspect	to	dispel	cur	fears;
	Alcides	lives	not,	and	his	friend	in	vain
	To	arms	we	call,	while	auguries	restrain	:
	Returning	thus,	we	bring	the	Theban	state
	But	hopes	deceiv'd,	and	omens	of	her	fate:
	Better	success	our	labours	shall	a	tend,
	Nor	all	pur	aims	in	disappointment	end;
	If	you	approve	my	purpose,	nor	dissuade
	What	now	1	counsel	for	your	country's	aid.
	Soon	as	the	Sun	displays	his	early	beam,
	The	arms	of	great	Alcides	let	us	claim	;
	Then	for	Bceotia's	shores	direct	our	sails;
	Aad	force	mutt	second	if	persuasion	fails:
	Against	reproach	necessity	shall	plead	;
	Censure	confute,	and	justify	the	deed.'
	"	The	hero	thus,	and	ceas'd	:	with	pity	moVd,
	And	zeal.for	Thebes,	I	rashly	thus	approv'd.
	'	You	counsel	well	;	but	prudence	would	adrise
	To	work	by	cunning	rather,	and	surprise,
	Than	force	declar'd;	his	venom'd	shafts	you	know.
	Which	fly	resistless	from	th'	Herculean	bow;
	A	safe	occasion	now	the	silent	hour
	Of	midnight	yields	;	when,	by	the	gentle	pow'r
	Of	careless	slumber	bound,	the	hero	lies,
	Our	necessary	fraud	will	'scape	his	eyes;
	Without	the	aid	of	force	shall	reach	its	aim,
	With	danger	less	incurr'd,,and	less	of	blame.'
	"I	counsel'd	thus;	and	Cleon	straight	ap-
	In	silence	from	the	dark	recess	wemov'd	;	[prov'd.
	Towards	the	hearth,	with	wary	steps,	we	came,
	The	ashes	stirr'd,and	rousM	the	slumb'ring	flame.
	On	ev'ry	side	in	vain	we	tum'cl	our	eyes,
	Nor,	as	our	hopes	had	promis'd,	found	the	prize:
	Till	to	the	couch,	where	Philoctetes	lay,
	The	quiver	led	us	by	its	silver	ray	;
	For	in	a	panther's	fur	together	ty'd,
	His	bow	and	shafts,	the	pillow	s	place	supply'd:
	Thither	I	went	with	careful	steps	and	slow	;
	And	by	degrees	obtainM	th'	Herculean	bow:
	The	quiver	next	to	disengage	essay'd	;
	It	stuck	entangled,	but	at	lastobey'd.
	The	prize	obtain'd,	we	hasten	to	the	strand,
	And	rouse	the	mariners,	and	straight	command
	The	canvass	to	unfurl	:	a	gentle	gale
	Favour'd	our	course,	and	fill'd	the	swelling	sail	:
	The	shores	retir'd	;	and	when	the	morning	ray
	Ascended,	from	the	deep,	th'	ethereal	way	;
	Upon	the	right	Cenaeum's	beach	appear'd,
	And	Pelion	on	the	left	his	summit	rear'd.
	All	day	wesail'd	;	but	when	the	setting	light
	Approach'd	the	ocean,	from	th'	Olympian	height,
	The	breeze	was	hush'd	;	and,	stretch'd	acros>
	the	main,
	Like	mountains	rising	on	the	wat'ry	plain,
	The	clouds	collected	on	the	billows	stood,
	And,	with	incumbent	shade,	obsc.urd	the	flood*
	Thither	a	current	bore	us;	soon	we	found
	A	night	of	vapour	closing	fast	around.
	T,oose	hung	the	empty	sail	:	we	ply'd	our	oars,
	And	strove	to	reach	Eubcea's	friendly	shores	;
	But	strove	in	vain	;	for	erring	from	the	course,
	In	mazes	wide,	the	rower	spent	his	force.	^
	Seven	days	and	nights	we	try'd	some	port	to	gain.
	Where	Greek	or	barb'rous	shores	exclude	the
	main;
	But	knew	not,	whether	backwards,	or	before,
	Or	on	the	right,	or	left,	to	seek	the	shore	:
	Till,	rising	on	the	eighth,	a	gentle	breeze
	Drove	the	light	fog,	and	brush	'd	the	curling	sea*.
	Our	canvass	to	its	gentle	pow'r	we*	spread	;
	And	fix'd	our	oars,	and	tbllow'd	as	it	led.
	Before	us	soon,	impending	fromabove,
	Through	parting	clouds,	we	saw	a	lofty	grove.
	Alarm'd,	the	sail	we.	slacken,	and	explore
	The	deeps	and	shallows	of	the	unknown	shore.
	Near	on,	the	right	a	winding	creek	appear'd,
	Thither	directed	by	the	pole,	we	steer'd	;
	And	landed	on	the	beach,	by	fate	misled,
	Nor	knew	again	the	port	from	which	we	fled.
	The	gods	themselves	deceiv'd	us	:	to	our	ejres
	New	caverns	open,	airy	cliffs	arise	;
	That	Philoctetes	might	again	possess
	His	aims,	and	Heay'n	eur	injury	redress*


THE	EPIGONIAD.	BOOK	VII:
	167
	"	The	unknown	region	purpos'd	to	explore,
	Cleon,	with	me	alone,	forsakes	the	shore	;
	Back	to	the	cave	we	left,	hy	angry	fate
	Implicitly	conducted,	at	the	gate
	The	injur'd	youth	we	found	;	a	thick	disguise
	His	native	form	conceal'd,	and	mock'd	our	eyes	;
	For	the	black	locks	in	waving	ringlets	spread,
	A	wreath	of	hoary	white	involv'd	his	head,
	Beneath	a	load	of	years,	he	seem'd	to	bend,
	His	breast	to	sink,	his	shoulders	to	ascend.
	He	saw	us	straight,	and,	rising	from	his	seat,
	Began	with	sharp	reproaches	to	repeat
	Our	crime;	but	could	not	thus	suspicion	give;
	So	strong	is	errour	when	the	gods	deceive	!
	We	question'd	of	the	country	as	we	came,
	By	whom	inhabited,	and	what	its	name	;
	How	far	from	Thebes:	that	thither	we	were	bound;
	And	thus	the	wary	youth	our	errour	found.
	Smooth'd	to	deceive,	his	accent	straight	he
	turn'd,
	While	in	his	breast	the	thirst	of	vengeance	burn'd;
	And	thinking	now	his	bow	and	shafts	regaiu'd,
	Reply'd	with	hospitable	kindness	feign'd	:
	'	On	[da's	sacred	height,	my	guests	!	you	stand;
	Here	Priam	rules,	in	peace,	a	happy	.land.
	Twelve	cities	own	him,	on	the	Phrygian	plain,
	Their	lord,	and	twelve	fair	islands	on	the	main.
	From	hence	to	Thebes	in	seven	days	space	you'd
	If	Jove	propitious	sends	a	prosp'rous	g^Je.	[sail,
	But	now	accept	a	homely	meal,	and	deign
	To	share,	what	Heav'n	affords	a	humble	swain	'
	"	He	said	;	and	brought	a	bowl	with	vintage
	fill'd,
	From	berries	wild,	and	mountain	grapes	distill'd,
	Of	largest	size	;	and	plac'd	it	on	a	rock,
	Under	the	covert	of	a	spreading	oak	j
	Around	it	autumn's	mellow	stores	he	laid,
	Which	the	Sun	ripens,	in	the	woo.iland	shade.
	Our	thirst	and	hunger	thus	at	once	allay'd,
	To	Cleon	turning,	Ph'doctetes	said	:
	1	Che	bow	you	wear	of	such	unusual	size,
	With	wonder	still	I	view	and	curious	eyes	;	[art,
	For	length,	for	thickness,	and	the	workman's
	Surpassing	all	I've	seen	in	ev'ry	part.	1
	"	Dissembling,	thus	inquir'd	the	wary	youth,
	And	thus	your	valiant	son	declar'd	the	truth	:
	'	Father	!	the	weapon,	which	you	thus	commend,
	The	force	of	great	Alcidesonce	did	bend	;	[du'd,
	These	shafts	the	same	which	monsters	fierce	sub-
	And	lawless	men	with	vengeance	just	pursu'd.'
	"	The	hero	thus	;	and	Prean's	son	again	:
	'	What	now	1	ask,	refuse	not	to	explain	:
	Whether	the	hero	still	exerts	his	might,
	For	innocence	oppress'd:	and	injur'd	right	?
	Or	yields	to	fate;	and	with	the	mighty	dead,
	From	'toil	reposes	in	the	El	ysian	shade	!
	Sure,	if	he	liv'd,	he	would	not	thus	forego
	His	shafts	invincible	and	mighty	bow,
	By	which	he	oft	immortal	honour	gain'd
	For	wrongs	redress'd	and	lawless	force	re-
	strain'd.'
	"	The	rage	suppress'd,	which	in	his	bosom
	burn'd,
	He	question'd	thus	;	and	Cleon	thus	return'd	:
	'	What	we	have	heard	of	Hercules,	I'll	show	;
	What	by	report	we	learn'd,	and	what	we	know.
	From	Thebes	to	Oeta's	wilderness	we	went,
	With	supplications,	to	the	hero,	sent
	From	all	our	princes	;	that	he	would	exert
	His	matchless	valour	on	his	country's	part,	-
	Against	whose	state	united	foes	conspire,
	And	waste	her	wide	domain	with	sword	and	fire.
	There	on	the	cliffs,	which	bound	the	neighb'ring
	We	found	the	mansion	of	a	lonely	swain	;	[main,
	Much	like	to	this,	but	that	its	rocky	mouth,
	The	cooling	north	respects,	as	this	the	south	;
	And,	in	a	corner	of	the	cave	conceal'd,
	The	club	which	great	Alcidesus'd	to	wield.
	Wrapt	in	his	shaggy	robe,	the	lion's	spoils,
	The	mantle	which	he	wore	in	all	his	toils.
	At	ev'na	hunter	in	the	cave	appear'd	;
	From	whom	the	fate	of	Hercules	we	heard.
	He	told	us	that	he	saw	the	chief	expire,
	That	he	himself	did	light	hisfun'ral	fire	;
	\nd	boasted,	that	the	hero	had	resign'd,
	To	him,	this	bow	and	quiver,	as	his	friend	:
	Oft	seen	before,	these	deadly	shafts	we	know,
	And	tipp'd	with	stars	of	<;old	th'	Herculean	bow	:
	But	of	the	hero's	fate,	the	tale	he	told,
	Whether	'tis	true,	I	cannot	now	unfold.'
	"	He	spoke.	The	youth	with	indignation	burn'd,
	Yet	calm	in	outward	semblance,	thus	return'd	:
	'	I	must	admire	the	man	who	could	resign
	To	you,	these	arnsso	precious	and	divine,
	Which,	to	the	love	of	such	a	friend,	heow'd;
	Great	was	the	gift	if	willingly	bestow'd	:
	By	force	they	could	not	easily	be	gain'd,
	And	fraud,	1	know,	yonr	gen'rous	souls	disdain'd.'
	"	Severely	smiling,	thus	the	hero	spoke	;
	With	conscious	shame	we	heard,	nor	silence
	broke	:
	And	thus	again:	'The	only	boon	[claim,
	Which,	to	your	host	deny'd,	would	merit	blame;
	Is,	that	my	hands	that	weapon	may	embrace,
	And	on	the	flaxen	cord	an	arrow	place	;
	An	honour	which	I	covet	;	though	we	mourn'd,
	By	great	Alcides,	once	our	state	o'erturn'd	:
	When	proud	Laomedon	the	hero	brav'd,
	Nor	paid	the	ransom	for	his	daughter	sav'd.'
	"	Dissembling	thus	di4	Philoctetes	strive
	His	instruments	of	vengeance	to	retrieve	:
	And,	by	the	Fates	deceiv'd,	in	evil	hour,
	The	bow	and	shafts	we	yielded	to	his	pow'r,
	In	mirthful	mood,	provoking	him	to	try
	Whether	the	weapon	would	his	force	obey	;
	Fur	weak	he	seem'd,	like	those	whose	nerves	have
	lost,	[boast.
	Through	age,	the	vigour	which	in	youth	they
	The	belt	around	his	shoulders	first	he	flung,
	And,	glitt'ring	by	his	side	the	quiver	hung	:
	Compress'd	with	all	his	force	the	stubborn	yew
	He	bent,	and	from	the	case	an	arrow	drew	:
	And	yielding	to	his	rage	in	furious	mood,
	With	aim	direct	against	us	full	he	stood,	[guise,
	For	vengeance	arm'd	;	and	now	the	thick	dis-
	Which	veil'd	his	form	before,	and	mock'd	our
	Vanish'd	in	air	;	our	errour	then	appear'd;	[eyes,
	I	saw	the	vengeance	of	the	gods,	and	fear'd.
	Before	him	ou	the	ground	my	knees	I	bow'd,
	And,	with	extended	hands,	for	mercy	su'd.
	But	Cleon,	fierce	and	scorning	to	entreat,
	His	weapon	drew,	andrush'd	upon	his	fate:
	For	as	he	came,	the	fatal	arrow	flew,
	And	from	his	heart	the	vital	current	drew:
	Supine	he	fell	:	and,	weliing	from	the	wound,
	A	tide	of	gore	impurpled	all	the	ground.
	The	son	of	Pecan	stooping	drew	the	dart,
	Yet	Warm	with	slaughter,	from	the	hero's	heart	j
	And	turn'd	it	full	on	me	:	with	humble	rray'r
	And	lifted	hands,	I	mov'd	him	still	to	spare.


FAWKES'	POEMS.
	With	wary	spaniels	furrow'd	fields	beset,
	And	close	the	partridge	in	the	silken	net	:
	Or	search	the	woods,	and	with	unerring	aim
	With	leaden	wounds	transfix	the	flying	same
	Or	with	stanch	hounds	the	wily	fox	pursue,
	And	trace	his	footsteps	o'er	the	tainted	dew.
	With	what	delight	would	friendly	N	y	change
	Don's	l2	fertile	valleys	for	this	ampler	range	?
	And	with	the	music	of	th'	enlivening	horn
	Cheer	the	fleet	pack,	and	wake	the	lingering
	morn.
	But	lo	I	faint	Phoebus	darts	a	languid	ray,
	And	gold-edg'd	clouds	foretel	the	close	of	day	;
	The	nymph	observant	took	her	airy	flight,
	And,	like	a	vision,	vanish'd	from	my	sight.
	M	Don.	The	river	that	runs	by	Doncaster.
	A	DESCRIPTION	OF
	CALYPSO	AND	HER	GROTTO.
	FROM	TELEMACHUS,	BOOK	I.
	THE	queen	he	follow'd	as	she	mov'd	along,
	Surrounded	by	her	nymphs,	a	beauteous	throng;
	But	far	the	fairest,	and	supremely	tall,
	She	walk'd	majestic,	and	outshone	them	all	:
	Thus	'midst	a	grov	the	princely	oak	appears,
	And	high	in	air	his	branching	honours	rears.
	Her	radiant	beauty	charm'd	his	youthful	mind,
	Her	purple	robe	that	floated	in	the	wind,
	And	locks	bound	graceful	with	a	clasp	behind	:
	But	her	bright	eyes,	instilling	fond	desire,
	Beam'd	sweetness	temper'd	with	celestial	fire.
	Sage	Mentor	follow'd,	as	in	thought	profound,
	And	silent	fix'd	his	eyes	upon	the	ground.
	And	now,	conducted	by	the	royal	dame,
	Soon	to	the	entrance	of	her	grott	'	they	came,
	'	*	Perhaps	the	reader	will	not	be	displeased	to
	see	Homer's	description	of	this	famous	grotto,	as
	it	is	translated	by	Mr.	Pope	from	the	fifth	book
	of	the	Odyssey.
	Large	was	the	grott,	in	which	the	nymph	he
	found,
	(The	fair-hair'd	nymph	with	every	beauty	crown'd	)
	She	sat	and	sung	;	the	rocks	resound	her	lays	:
	The	cave	was	brighten	*d	with	arising	blaze:
	Cedar	and	frankincense,	an	odorous	pile,
	Flam'd	on	the	hearth,	and	wide	perfum'd	the	isle;
	While	she	with	work	and	song	the	time	divides,
	And	through	the	loom	the	golden	shuttle	guides.
	Without	the	grott,	a	various	sylvan	scene
	Appear'd	around,	and	groves	of	living	green;
	Poplars	and	alders	ever	quivering	play'd,
	And	nodding	cypress	fjrin'cl	a	fragrant	shade	;
	On	whose	high	branches,	waving	with	the	storm,
	The	birds	of	broadest	wing	their	mansion	form	;
	The	chough,	the	sea-mew,	the	loquacious	crow,
	And	scream	aloft,	and	skim	the	deeps	below.
	Depending	vines	the	shelving	cavern	screen,
	With	purpte	clusters	blushing	through	the	green.
	Four	limpid	fountains	from	the	clefts	distil,
	And	every	fountain	pours	a	several	rill,
	In	mazy	windings	wandering	down	the	hill	:
	Where	bloomy	meads	with	vivid	greens	were
	crown'd,
	And	glowing	violets	threw	odours	round.
	Amaz'd	to	find	within	this	lonely	cell	.
	Nature	with	all	her	rural	graces	dwell.
	There	no	high-polish'd	marble	they	behold,
	No	storied	columns,	and	no	sculptur'd	gold;
	No	speaking	busts,	no	silver	richly	wrought,
	No	breathing	pictures	seem'd	inform'*!	with
	thought.
	The	grott,	divided	into	various	cells,
	Was	deck'd	with	spar,	and	variegated	shells	;
	The	place	of	tap'stry	a	young	vine	supply'd,
	And	spread	her	pliant	arms	on	ev'ry	side	;
	Cool	zephyrs,	though	the	Sun	intensely	glow'd,
	Breath'd	through	the	place	sweet	freshness	a*
	they	flow'd.
	O'er	amaranthine	beds	fair	fountains	stray'd,
	And,	softly	murmuring,	in	the	meadows	play'd,
	Or	in	broad	basons	pour*d	the	crystal	wave,
	Where	oft	the	goddess	wont	her	limbs	to	lave.
	Fast	by	the	grott	sweet	flowers	of	every	hue,
	Purpling	the	lawn,	in	gay	confusion	grew.
	Here	wav'd	a	wood,	all	glorious	to	behold;
	Of	trees	that	bloom	with	vegetable	gold;
	Whose	branches,	in	eternal	blossom,	yield
	Fragrance	delicious	as	the	flowery	field,
	This	wood,	impervious	to	the	solar	ray,
	Crown'd	the	fair	spot,	and	guarded	it	from	day.
	Here	birds	melodious	pourM	the	sprightly	song;
	There	torrents	thunder'd	the	rough	rocks	among,
	Down	dash'd	precipitately	from	the	hills,
	Then	o'er	the	level	lawn	difius'il	their	curling
	rills.
	Calypso's	grotto	crown'd	the	breezy	steep,
	From	whence	appear'd	the	party-colour'd	deep	;
	Now	smooth	and	even	as	a	mirror	seen,
	Now	vainly	wreaking	on	the	rocks	its	spleen,
	Indignant,	foaming	with	tremendous	roar,
	And	in	huge	mountains	rolling	to	the	shore.
	More	pleasing	was	the	prospect	to	the	plain	;
	A	river,	winding	through	the	rich	champaign,
	Form'd	various	isles	with	lines	sweet-flowering
	crown'd,
	And	cloud-aspiring	poplars	border'd	round.
	Among	the	banks	the	sportive	waters	play'd,
	And	woo'd	the	lovely	islands	which	they	made	:
	Some	swiftly	pour'd	their	crystal	currents	strong	;
	Some	led	their	waves	with	liquid	lapse	along	;
	With	many	an	errour	lingering	seem'd	to	stray,
	As	if	they	wish'd	for	ever	here	to	stay,
	And	murmuring	in	their	course	reluctant	roll'cl
	away.
	The	distant	mountains	their	hoar	heads	on	high
	Upheav'd,	and	lost	their	summits	in	the	sky:
	Their	airy	forms	fantastic	pleas'd	the	sight,
	And	fill'd	the	mind	with	wonder	and	delight.
	The	neighb'ring	hills	were	spread	by	nature's
	boon
	With	vines	that	hung	in	many	a	fair	festoon	;
	Whose	swelling	grapes	in	richest	purple	dy'd.
	The	leaves	attempted,	but	in	vain,	to	hide	:
	So	lov'd	the	generous	vine	to	flourish	here,
	It	bent	beneath	the	plenty	of	the	year.
	Here	purple	figs	with	luscious	juice	overflowM,
	With	deepen'd	red	the	full	pomegranate	glow'd	;
	The	peaceful	olive	spread	her	branches	round,
	And	every	tree,~with	verdant	honours	crown'd,
	Whose	fruit	the	taste,	whose	flower	the	ey*.
	might	cheer.
	And	sefm'd	to	make	anew	Elysium	here,
	Cambridge,	17^6*	Iu	i>.	..	.	J


THE	DESERTED	VILLAGE.
	495
	Theruin'd	spendthrift,	now	no	longer	proud,
	Claim'	(1	kindred	there,	and	had	his	claims	allow'd;
	The	broken	soldier,	kindly	bade	to	stay,
	Sat	by	his	fire,	and	talk'd	the	night	away	;
	Wept	o'er	his	wounds,	or,	tales	of	sorrow	done,
	Shoulder'd	his	crutch,	and	show'd	how	fields
	were	won.	[g'ow.
	Pleas'd	with	his	guests,	the	good	man	learn'd	to
	And	quite	forgot	their	vices	in	their	woe	;
	Careless	their	merits	or	their	faults	to	scan,
	His	pity	gave	ere	charity	began.
	Thus	to	relieve	the	wretched	was	his	pride,
	And	ev'n	his	failings	lean'd	to	virtue's	side	;
	But	in	his	duty	prompt,	at	ev'ry	call,
	He	watch'd	and	wept,	he	pray'd	and	felt,	for	all	:
	And,	as	a	bird	each	fond	endearment	tries
	To	tempt	its	new-fledg'd	offspring	to	the	skies,
	He	try'deach	art,	reprov'd	each	dull	delay,
	Allur'd	to	brighter	worlds,	and	led	the	way.
	Beside	the	bed	where	parting	life	was	laid,
	And	sorrow,	guilt,	and	pain,	by	turns	dismay	'd,
	The	rev'rend	champion	stood.	At	his	control,
	Despair	and	anyuish	fled	the	struggling	soul	;
	Comfort	came	down	the	trembling	wretch	to	raise,
	And	his	last	fault'ring	accents	wh'isper'd	praise.
	At	church,	with	meek	and	unaffected	grace,
	His	looks	adorn'd	the	venerable	place	;
	Truth	from	his	lips	prevail'd	with	double	sway,
	And	fools,	who	came	to	scoff,	remain'd	to	pray.
	The	service	past,	around	the	pious	man,
	With	steady	zeal,	each	honest	rustic	ran	:
	Ev'n	children	follow'd,	with	endearing	wile,
	And	pluck'd	his	gown,	to	share	the	good	man's
	smile;
	His	ready	smile	a	parent's	warmth	exprest,
	Their	welfare	pleas'd	him,	and	their	cares	dis-
	trest	:
	To	them	his	heart,	his	love,	his	griefs,	weregiv'n,
	But	all	his	serious	thoughts	had	rest	in	Heav'n.
	As	some	tall	cliff,	that	lifts	its	awful	form,
	Swells	from	the	vale,	and	midway	leaves	the
	storm,	[spread,
	Tho'	round	its	breast	the	rolling	clouds	are
	Eternal	sunshine	settles	on	its	head.
	Beside	yon	straggling	fence	that	skirts	the	way
	With	blossom'd	furze,	unprofitably	gay,
	There,	in	his	noisy	mansion,	skill'd	to	rule,
	The	village	master	taught	his	little	school	:
	A	man	severe	he	was,	and	stern	to	view,
	I	knew	him	well,	and	every	truant	knew	;
	Well	had	the	boding	tremblers	learn'd	to	trace
	The	day's	disasters	in	his	morning	face	;
	Full	well	they	laugh'd	with	counterfeited	glee
	At	all	his	jokes,	for	many	a	joke	had	he;
	Full	well	the	busy	whisper,	circling	round,
	Convey'd	the	dismal	tidings	when	he	frown'd;
	Yet	he	was	kind,	or	if	severe	in	aught,
	The	love	he	bore	to	learning	was	in	fault	;
	The	village	all	declar'd	how	much	he	knew	;
	'Twas	certain	he	could	write	and	cypher	too	;
	Lands	he	could	measure,	terms	and	tides	presage,
	And	ev'n	the	story	ran	that	he	could	gauge.
	In	arguing,	too,	the	parson	own'd	his	skill,
	For	ev'n	though	vanquish'd	he	could	argue	still	;
	While	words	of	learned	length,	and	thund'ring
	sound,
	Amaz'd	the	gazing	rustics	rang'd	around	;
	And	still	they	gaz'd,	and	still	the	wonder	grew
	That	one	small	head	should	carry	all	be	knew.
	But	past	is	all	his	fame.	The	very	spot,
	Where	many	a	time	he	triumph'd,	is	forgot.
	Near	yonder	thorn,	that	lifts	its	head	on	high,
	Where	onre	the	sign-post	caught	the	passing	eye,
	Low	lies	that	house	where	nut-brown	draughts
	inspir'd,
	Where	grey-beard	mirth	and	smiling	toil	retir'd,
	Where	village	statesmen	talk'd	with	looks	pro,
	found,
	And	news	much	older	than	their	ale	went	round	:
	Imagination	fondly	stoops	to	trace
	The	parlour	splendours	of	that	festive	place	;
	The	white-wash'd	wall,	the	nicely	sanded	floor,
	The	varnish'd	clock	that	click'd	behind	the	door	j
	The	chest	contriv'd	a	double	debt	to	pay,
	A	bed	by	night,	a	chest	of	drawers	by	day	;
	The	pictures	plac'd	for	ornament	and	use,
	The	twelve	good	rules,	the	royal	game	of	goose;
	The	hearth,	except	when	winter	chill'd	the	day,
	With	aspen	boughs,	and	flowers,	and	fennel,	gayj
	While	broken	tea-cups,	wisely	kept	for	show,
	Rang'd	o'er	the	chimney,	glisten'd	in	a	row.
	Vain	transitory	splendours	!	could	not	all
	Reprieve	the	tott'ring	mansion	from	its	fall	!
	Obscure	it	sinks,	nor	shall	it	more	impart
	An	hour's	importance	to	the	poor	man's	heart;
	Thither	no	more	the	peasant	shall	repair
	To	sweet	oblivion	of	his	daily	care	;
	No	more	the	farmer's	news,	the	barber's	tale,
	No	more	the	woodman's	ballad	shall	prevail	;
	No	more	the	smith	his	dusky	brow	shall	clear,
	Relax	his	pond'rous	strength,	and	lean	to	hear	J
	The	host	himself	no	longer	shall	be	found
	Careful	to	see	the	mantling	bliss	go	round;
	Nor	the	coy	maid,	half	willing	to	be	prest,
	Shall	kiss	the	cup	to	pass	it	to	the	rest.
	Yes	!	let	the	rich	deride,	the	proud	disdain,
	These	simple	blessings	of	the	lowly	train	;
	To	me	more	dear,	congenial	to	my	heart,
	One	native	charm,	than	all	the	gloss	of	art;
	Spontaneous	joys,	where	nature	has	its	play,
	The	soul	adopts,	and	owns	their	first-born	sway	;
	Lightly	they	frolic	o'er	the	vacant	mind,
	Unenvy'd,	unmolested,	unconfin'd.
	But	the	long	pomp,	the	midnight	masquerade,
	With	all	the	freaks	of	wanton	wealth	array'd,
	In	these,	ere	triflers	half	their	wish	obtain,
	The	toiling	pleasure	sickens	into	pain	;
	And,	e'en	while	fashion's	brightest	arts	decoy,
	The	heart	distrusting	asks,	if	this	be	joy	?
	Ye	friends	to	truth,	ye	statesmen,	who	survey
	The	rich	man's	joys	increase,	the	poor's	decay,
	'Tis	yours	to	judge	how	wide	the	limits	stand
	Between	a	splendid	and	a	happy	land.
	Proud	swells	the	tide	with	loads	of	freighted	ore,
	And	shouting	Folly	hails	them	from	her	shore	;
	Hoards	e'en	beyond	the	miser's	wish	abound,
	And	rich	men	flock	from	all	the	world	around.
	Yet	count	our	gains.	This	wealth	is	but	a	name
	That	leaves	our	useful	product	still	the	same.
	Not	so	the	loss.	The	man	of	wealth	and	pride
	Takes	up	a	space	that	many	poor	supply'd	;
	Space	for	his	lake,	his	park's	extended	bounds,
	Space	for	his	horses,	equipage,	and	hounds;
	The	robe	that	wraps	his	limbs	in	silken	sloth
	Has	robb'd	the	neighb'ring	fields	of	half	their
	growth	;
	His	seat,	where	solitary	sports	are	seen,
	Indignant	spurns	the	cottage	from	the	green	j


HOW	ROLAND	BLEW	THE	HORN.
	"	Brave	knights	are	dead	for	you	to-day,
	And	you	yourself	must	die,
	And	France	be	shamed	;	to-day	is	gone
	The	Loyal	Company	!	"

	But	Turpin	heard	them	and	rode	up	;
	"	Cease	wrangling,	Sirs,	for	shame	!
	The	horn	can	help	us	nothing	now,
	Yet	blow	it	all	the	same.
	"	'Tis	better	that	the	King	should	come,
	He	can	avenge	us	then
	Upon	these	Pagans,	who	must	not
	Be	let	go	home	again.
	"	For	us	upon	a	famous	field
	Dead	shall	he	find	us	here,
	In	time	to	bury	us	before
	The	wolf	and	kite	appear."


LEONIDAS.	BOOK	VIII.
	High	on	the	plumes	of	contemplation	soar"d.
	He	from	the	lofty	Babylonian	fane
	With	learn'd	(	'haldaeans	trac'd	the	heav'nly	sphere,
	There	number'd	o'er	the	vivid	fires,	which	gleam
	On	Night's	bespangled	bosom.	Nor	unheard
	Were	Indian	sages	from	sequester'd	bow'rs,
	While	on	the	hanks	of	Ganges	they	disclos'd
	The	pow'rs	of	Nature,	whether	in	the	woods,
	The	fruitful	glebe,	or	flow'r,	the	healing	plant,
	The	limpid	waters,	or	the	ambient	air,
	Or	in	the	purer	element	of	fire.
	The	realm	of	old	Sesostris	next	he	view'd,
	Mysterious	Egypt	with	her	hidden	rites
	Of	Isis	and	Osiris.	Last	he	sought
	Th'	Ionian	Greeks,	from	Athens	sprung,	nor	pass'd
	Miletus	by,	which	once	in	rapture	heard
	The	tongue	of	Thales,	nor	Priene's	walls,
	Where	wisdom	dwelt	with	Bias,	nor	the	seat
	Of	Pittacus,	rever'd	on	Lesbian	shores.
	Th'	enlighten'd	youth	to	Susa	now	return'd,
	Place	of	his	birth.	His	merit	soon	was	dear
	To	Hyperanthes.	It	was	now	the	time,
	That	discontent	and	murmur	on	the	banks
	Of	Nile	were	loud	and	threatening.	Chernbes	there
	The	only	faithful	stood,	a	potent	lord,
	Whom	Xerxes	held	by	promis'd	nuptial	ties
	With	his	own	blood.	To	this	Egyptian	prince
	Bright	Ariana	was	the	destin'd	spouse,
	From	the	same	bed	wiuh	Hypevantb.es	born.
	Among	her	guards	was	Teribazus	nain'd
	By	that	fond	brother,	tender	of	her	weal.
	Th'	Egyptian	boundaries	they	gain'd.	They	hear
	Of	insurrection,	of	the	Pharian	tribes
	In	arms,	and	Chembes	in	the	tumult	slain.
	They	pitch	their	tents,	at	midnight	are	assail'd,
	Surpris'd,	their	leaders	massacred,	the	slaves
	Of	Ariana	captives	borne	away,
	Her	own	pavilion	forc'd,	her	person	seiz'd
	By	ruffian	hands	:	when	timely	to	redeem
	Her	and	th'	invaded	camp	from	further	spoil
	Flies	Teribazus	with	a	rally'd	band,
	Swift	on	her	chariot	seats	the	royal	fair,
	Nor	waits	the	dawn.	Of	all	her	menial	train
	None	but	three	female	slaves	are	left.	Her	guide,
	Her	comforter	and	guardian	fate	provides
	In	him,	distinguish'd	by	his	worth	alone,
	No	prince,	nor	satrap,	now	the	single	chief
	Of	her	surviving	guard.	Of	regal	birth,
	But	with	excelling	graces	in	her	soul,
	Unlike	an	eastern	princess	she	inclines
	To	his	consoling,	his	instructive	tongue,
	An	humbled	ear.	Amid	the	converse	sweet
	Her	charms,	her	mind,	her	virtues	he	explores,
	Admiring.	Soon	is	admiration	chang'd
	To	love	;	nor	ioves	he	sooner	than	despairs.
	From	mom	till	eve	her	passing	wheels	he	guards
	Back	to	Euphrates.	Often,	as	she	mounts
	Or	quits	the	car,	his	arm	her	weight	sustains
	With	trembling	pleasure.	His	assiduous	hand
	From	purest	fountains	wafts	the	living	flood.
	Nor	seldom	by	the	fair-one's	soft	command
	Would	he	repose	him,	at	her	feet	reclin'd	;
	While	o'er	his	lips	her	lovely	forehead	bow'd,
	Won	by	his	grateful	eloquence,	which	sooth'd
	With	sweet	variety	the	tedious	march,
	Beguiling	time.	He	too	would	then	forget
	His	pains	awhile,	in	raptures	vain	entranc'd,
	Delusion	all,	and	fleeting	rays	of	joy,
	Soon	overcast	by	more	intense	despair;
	Ljkij	wintry	clouds,	which,	op'ning	for	a	time	;
	Tinge	their	black	folds	with	gleams	of	scatter'd	light,
	Then,	swiftly	closing,	on	the	brow	of	Morn
	Condense	their	horrours,	and	in	thickest	gloom
	The	ruddy	beauty	veil.	They	now	approach
	The	tow'r	of	Bel	us.	Hyperanthes	leads
	Through	Babylon	an	army	to	chastise
	The	crime	of	Egypt.	Teribazus	here
	Parts	from	his	princess,	inarches	bright	in	steel
	Beneath	his	patron's	banner,	gathers	palms
	On	conquer'd	Nile.	To	Susa	he	returns,
	To	Ariana's	residence,	and	bears
	Deep	in	his	heart	th'	immedicable	wound.
	But	unreveal'd	and	silent	was	his	pain;
	Nor	yet	in	solitary	shades	he	roam'd,
	Nor	shun'd	resort	:	but	o'er	his	sorrows	cast
	A	sickly	dawn	of	gladness,	and	in	smiles
	CoDceal'd	his	anguish;	while	the	secret	flame
	Rag'd	in	his	bosom,	and	its	peace	consum'd	:
	His	soul	still	brooding	o'er	these	mournful	thoughts.
	"	Can	I,	O	Wisdom,	find	relief	in	thee,
	Who	dost	approve	my	passion	?	From	the	snares
	Of	beauty	only	thou	wouldst	guard	my	heart.
	But	here	thyself	art	charm'd	;	where	softness,	grace,
	And	ev'ry	virtue	dignify	desire.
	Yet	thus	to	love,	despairing	to	possess,
	Of	all	the	torments,	by	relentless	Fate
	On	life	inflicted,	is	the	most	severe.
	Do	I	not	feel	thy	warnings	in	my	breast,
	That	flight	alone	can	save	me	?	I	will	go
	Back	to	the	learn'd	Chaldaeans,	on	the	banks
	Of	Ganges	seek	the	sages	;	where	to	Heav'n
	With	thee	my	elevated	soul	shall	tow'r.
	O	wretched	Teribazus	!	all	conspires
	Against	thy	peace.	Our	mighty	lord	prepares
	To	overwhelm	the	Grecians.	Ev'ry	youth
	Is	call'd	to	war;	and	I,	who	lately	pois'd
	With	no	inglorio'us	arm	the	soldier's	lance,
	Who	near	the	side	of	Hyperanthes	fought,
	Must	join	the	throng.	How	therefore	can	I	fly
	From	Ariana,	who	with	Asia's	queens
	The	splendid	camp	of	Xerxes	must	adorn?
	Then	be	it	so.	Again	I	will	adore
	Her	gentle	virtues.	Her	delightful	voice,
	Her	gracious	sweetness	shall	again	diffuse
	Resistless	magic	through	my	ravish'd	heart	;
	Till	passion,	thus	with	double	rage	inflam'd.	-
	Swells	to	distraction	in	my	tortur'd	breast,
	Then	but	in	vain	through	darkness	do	I	search
	My	fate	Despair	and	fortune	be	my	guides.''
	The	day	arriv'd,	when	Xerxes	first	advanc'd
	His	arms	from	Susa's	gates.	The	Persian	dames,
	So	were	accustom'd	all	the	eastern	fair,
	In	sumptuous	cars	accompany'd	his	march,
	A	beauteous	train,	by	Ariarta	grac'd.
	Her	Teribazus	follows,	on	her	wheels
	Aitends	and	pines.	Such	woes	oppress	the	youth,
	Oppress,	but	not	enervate.	From	the	van
	He	in	this	second	conflict	had	withstood
	The	threat'ning	frown	of	adamantine	Mars,
	He	singly,	while	his	bravest	friends	recoil'd.
	His	manly	temples	no	tiara	bound.
	The	slender	lance	of	Asia	he	disdainM,
	4nd	her	light	target.	Eminent	he	tower'd
	In	Grecian	arms	the	wonder	of	his	foes;
	Among	th'	lonians	were	his	strenuous	limbs
	Train'd	in	the	gyrnnic	school.	A	fulgent	casque
	Enclos'd	his	head.	Before	his	face	and	chest
	Down	to	the	knees	an	ample	shield	was	spread.
	A	pond'rous	spear	he	shook.	The	well-aim'd	point
	Seat	two	Phliasianr	"f)	the	realms	of	death


368
	BROOKE'S	POEMS.
	A	race	addicted	much	to	free	delights,
	To	social	joys,	and	hospitable	rites,
	While	o'er	their	huts	the	wintry	tempests	pass,
	Warm'd	by	the	genial	fire	and	sparkling	glass:
	Five	thousand	hence	the	sage	commander	drew,
	A	cheerful,	faithful,	and	intrepid	crew;
	Sad	chance	of	war,	the	greater	number	slain,
	To	mirth	no	lohger	wakeful,	press	the	plain.
	The	Belgi	next,	in	helms	andpolish'd	mail,
	Their	snowy	limbs	and	flaxen	ringlets	veil	;
	Whose	narrow	realms	unbounded	wealth	contain,
	Hemm'd	in	by	France,	Almania,	and	the	main.
	Where	the	Moselle	and	blended	Rhine	extend,
	Wide	o'er	the	banks	their	weighty	harvests	bend:
	A	people	valiant,	and	inur'd	to	toil,
	Domestic	industry,	and	fore'gn	spoil.
	With	these	appear,	dispos'd	in	armed	files,
	The	subject	powers	of	their	associate	isles	;
	Who	with	steep	mounds	repai	r	those	dang'rous	shores,
	Where	the	breach	threatens,	and	the	tempest	roars;
	Where	the	proud	flood	disdains	inferior	prey,
	And	o'er	a	nation	pours	the	headlong	sea.
	Beneath	another	Robert	all	unite,
	A	thousand	arm'd,	and	eager	for	the	fight,
	They	pass,	and	to	the	British	squadrons	yield
	The	next	succession	of	the	moving	field.
	But	these,	superior	to	the	Belgi	shone,
	Array'd	by	William,	Albion's	younger	son	;
	From	their	broad	backs	their	graceful	weapons	flow,
	The	swift	wing'd	quiver,	and	the	twanging	bow:
	With	them,	Hibernia	sends	her	sons	to	war,
	Hibernia,	neighbour	of	the	northern	star,
	Where	her	bleak	hills	and	hoary	woods	aspire,
	And	less'ning	from	the	distant	world	retire.
	Then	Tancred	caught	the	eye	with	heedless	grace,
	Strength	in	his	arm,	and	beauty	in	his	face:
	Of	all	that	valiant,	that	unnumber'd	host,
	Rinaldo	might	superior	prowess	boast;
	Of	worth	untainted,	fearless	in	the	fight,
	And	else,	unmatch'd,	in	glory,	as	in	might
	One	sole	default	his	nobler	ardour	chain'd,
	While	love	amid	his	strength	of	virtues	reign'd,
	Caught	from	a	glance	of	momentary	charms,
	And	nurs'd	with	anguish	in	the	din	of	arms.
	So	fame	relates,	on	that	triumphant	day,
	When	Persians	fell	an	undistinguish'd	prey,
	Far	from	his	host	the	slaughter	Tancred	led,
	And	singly	follow'd	where	the	foremost	fled	;
	Till	feverish,	and	fatigu'd,	he	sought	repose,
	And	to	his	wish	a	rural	arbour	rose,
	Where	a	cool	stream,	beneath	the	whisp'ring	shade,
	With	pendent	flow'rs,	and	quiv'ring	willows	play'd	;
	Thither	he	turn'd,	but,	with	unwary	thought,
	Soon	lost	the	sweets	of	that	repose	he	sought.
	By	the	clear	stream	unlook'd	for	perils	lay,
	In	all	the	charms	of	virgin	beauty	gay	;
	Her	body	arm'd	with	Amazonian	grace,
	But	obvious	all	the	dangers	of	her	face:
	His	captive	step	the	warrior	stopp'd	amaz'd,
	Sigh'd	as	he	look'd,	and	trembled	while	he	gaz'd;
	His	eyes	ran	o'er	the	maid,	with	hasty	art
	Thence	drew	her	form,	and	fix'd	it	in	his	heart.
	Hut	soon	alarm'd	the	beauteous	Pagan	rose	;
	With	lovely	threats	her	kindling	visage	glows;
	She	brac'd	her	helm,	and	tierce	the	hero	view'd,
	In	act	to	combat	whom	her	charms	subdu'd.
	His	troops	approach'd;	the	virgin	fled	like	wind,
	But	hop'd	in	va>n	to	leave	the	chief	behind:
	The	place,	the	person,	present	to	his	view,
	The	nymph	still	flies,	and	still	his	thoughts	pursue;
	Within	his	eyes	the	loved	ideas	roll,
	Heave	in	his	heart,	and	sicken	in	his	soul.
	Hence	o'er	his	cheek	distemper'd	anguish	spread,
	Prey'd	on	his	strength,	and	on	his	beauty	fed	;
	Despair	Jay	sad,	but	silent	in	his	breast,
	And	sighs	alone	the	length'ning	woe	express'd.
	Proud	to	attend	Campania's	valiant	bands,
	Eight	hundred	horse	await	the	chief's	commands;
	Campania,	bless'd	with	all	the	bloom	of	health,
	A	seat	of	pleasures,	and	a	fund	of	wealth,
	Where	the	rich	odours	breathe	along	her	vales,
	And	feed	old	ocean	with	the	fragrant	gales.
	Behind,	two	hundred	hardy	warriors	came,
	The	only	warriors	of	the	Grecian	name	:	[field,
	Light	arm'd.	and	swift,	they	range	th'	embattl'd
	Nor	poise	the	lance,	nor	bear	the	pond'rous	shield;
	But	in	close	fight,	or	distant	skirinish,	know
	The	dextrous	falchion,	and	the	bending	bow.
	Spare	were	their	steeds,	and	slender	their	repast,
	But	blithe	and	agile	as	an	eastern	blast;
	Untir'd,	and	practis'd	to	the	nimble	rein,
	They	stop,	and	turn,	and	dart	along	the	plain	:
	Thus	borne,	the	riders	confidently	go,
	Deface	the	battle,	and	fatigue	the	foe	;
	Expert	to	charge,	to	traverse,	and	to	fly,
	Pursu'd	they	combat,	and	the	conquerors	die.
	Tatino	points	their	progress	o'er	the	fields,
	He	the	sole	chief	the	Grecian	empire	yields;
	Inglorious	Greece	!	in	indolence	profound
	Repos'd,	while	arm'd	contention	rang'd	around:
	"	But	now	the	sad	equivalent	is	paid;
	I/eft	by	the	cause	you	once	refus'd	to	aid,
	The	haughty	Pagan	lords	it	o'er	your	plains,
	And	wakes	the	shameful	lethargy	with	chains."
	To	close	the	rear	the	bold	adventurers	came,
	The	last	in	order,	though	the	first	in	fame	;
	A	troop	of	heroes,	Europe's	proudest	boast,
	And	the	dire	terrour	of	the	Asian	host	!
	Whate'er	through	times	of	high	memorial	rung,
	By	prose	recorded,	or	by	poet's	sung,
	Achievements	valorous,	and	knights	renown'd,
	In	chivalry,	or	antique	fable	found
	Transferr'd	to	these,	may	real	credence	find,
	And	sum	th'	excellence	of	human	kind.
	Though	each	might	claim,	as	of	peculiar	right,
	To	lead	a	host,	and	rule	the	ranks	of	fight,
	Dudon	that	high	pre-eminence	demands,
	By	joint	assent	of	the	advent'rous	bands.
	Where	Aufidus	first	rolls	an	infant	wave,
	This	chief	of	chiefs	Hesperian	Conza	gave:
	Sage	were	his	words,	and	hoary	was	his	head,
	To	constant	toil,	and	early	battle	bred;
	Yet	ever	was	his	boiling	courage	young,
	And	his	try'd	nerve	to	vivid	action	strung;
	His	bosom	nobly	trench'd	with	many	a	scar,
	Old	to	the	field,	the	father	of	the	war.
	Amid	the	prime	of	those	illustrious	peers
	Eustatio,	Bulloign's	youngest	son	appears;
	Great	was	his	challenge	of	peculiar	fame,
	But	more	through	his	imperial	brother's	name.
	With	him,	Gernando,	heir	of	Norway,	rides,
	And	in	his	pomp	of	vaunted	title	prides:
	Nor	less	distinguish'd,	in	the-	peerless	train,
	Rode	the	fam'd	Roger,	and	bold	Engerlane	;
	Gentonio	and	Rambaldo,	far	icnown'd;
	And	the	twin	Gerrards	with	like	honours	crown'd.
	Nor	here	Obizo,	or	L'baldo	there,
	With	Rosmond	Lancaster's	redoubted	heir,
	Consign'd	to	latest	annals	shall	accuse,
	The	mute	neglect	of	our	injurious	Muse;


JERUSALEM	DELIVERED.	BOOK	II.
	371
	For	Aladine	in	Sion	newly	thron'd,
	Beneath	the	proud	usurper	Judah	groan'd	:
	Dire	was	the	native	purpose	of	his	mind,
	To	ev'ry	act	of	early	ill	inclin'd;
	But	as	his	years	increase,	his	fires	assuage,
	Allay	with	time,	and	mitigate	with	age.
	He	learns	the	progress	of	the	Christian	pow'rs,
	That	like	a	torrent	comes	to	sap	his	tow'rs	j
	And	a	new	doubt	his	anxious	bosom	tears
	Treason	within,	and	force	without,	he	fears.
	For	Salem's	sacred	city,	then	enclos'd,
	Two	different	sects,	of	different	faith,	compos'd	;
	In	Christ,	divine	instructor,	those	believ'd	;
	And	these,	in	Macon,	carnally	deceiv'd	:
	In	number,	and	in	pow'r,	the	last	excel	;
	The	former,	only,	in	believing	well.
	But	late,	when	he	the	imperial	seat	attain'd,
	And	scepter'd	o*er	the	pow'rs	of	Judah	reign'd,
	The	Paynims	lighten'd	from	the	tax	of	state,
	He	whelms	the	Christians	with	the	unequal	weight.
	Suspicious	hence,	he	trembles	in	his	turn,
	Lest	injury	with	due	resentment	burn.
	Rous'd	at	the	thought,	his	native	wra'h	respires,
	And	wakes	the	fury	of	his	slumb'ring	fires;
	The	glut	of	future	carnage	feasts	his	soul,
	And	in	his	eye	new	scenes	of	slaughter	roll.
	Thus	numb	and	peaceful	lies	some	poisonous	snake,
	Chill'd	in	the	dropping	of	a	wintry	brake	;
	Till,	warm'd	beneath	the	Sun's	returning	ray,
	He	stirs	and	curls,	and	kindles	with	the	day	;
	Reviv'd	to	ill,	his	burnish'd	spires	arise,
	And	venom	lightens	from	his	sanguine	eyes.
	"	Behold,"	he	said,	"	malicious	in	their	joy,
	How	the	smile	lurks,	when	Christians	would	destroy	!
	In	transport	hush'd,	they	wait	the	coming	foe,
	Their	hearts	exulting	in	the	public	woe:
	Nor	less	such	secret	meditations	mean,
	Than	nightly	treasons,	and	some	murd'rous	scene	;
	Or	through	our	gates	yon	hostile	pow'rs	to	guide,
	To	us	though	hostile,	yet	to	them	allied.
	"	But	prudence	bids	to	disappoint	the	blow,
	And	turn	its	force,	retorted	on	the	foe;
	The	traitor's	scheme	shall	on	himself	recoil,
	And	take	him,	with	his	own	invented	toil.
	Stabb'd	on	the	breast	let	bleeding	infants	die	;
	Each	sex	and	age	in	mingling	slaughter	lie;
	While	hoary	on	the	shrine	their	priests	expire,
	And	ev'ry	temple	flames	a	funeral	pyre	!"
	So	brew'd	the	murd'rous	mischief	in	his	mind,
	Dubious	to	act,	what	deadly	he	design'd	;
	The	threatful	storm,	superior	fears	control,
	And	do	the	work	of	mercy	in	his	soul	;
	While	the	fell	purpose	through	his	bosom	boils,
	With	rancour	rises,	and	with	dread	recoils,
	Lest	to	himself	like	fortune	might	betide,
	Compell'd	to	crave	that	mercy	he	denied,
	And	all	the	war,	with	desperate	vengeance	sped,
	Should	pour	its	wrath	on	his	devoted	head.
	The	tyrant	hence,	irresolute	in	rage,
	Diverts	the	fury	which	he	can't	assuage	;
	Lays	the	wide	suburbs	level	with	the	ground,
	And	further	spreads	consuming	fires	around;
	Fell	poison	with	the	living	fount	he	blends,
	Where	death	amid	the	rolling	streams	descends;
	Acts	all	a	cruel	prudence	can	suggest,
	And	feeds	the	fiend	that	ravens	in	his	breast.
	Defensive	next,	the	city	claims	his	cares	;
	The	mound	he	deepens,	and	the	breach	repairs	:
	Three	sides,	impregnable,	disdain'd	the	frayj
	Sole	on	the	north	the	doubt	of	battle	lay	:
	But	here,	with	utmost	vigilance	he	plies	;
	The	bars	are	doubled,	and	the	ramparts	rise;
	And	last,	with	native	and	auxiliar	pow'rs,
	He	arms	her	wards,	and	fortifies	her	tow'rs.
	BOOK	II.
	THE	king	in	each	anticipating	thought
	Thus	foil'd	his	foes,	and	future	combats	fought	;
	When	lo	!	Ismeno,	horrid	seer,	drew	nigh,
	A	vicious	counsellor	and	dread	ally;
	Ismeno,	deep	in	all	the	pow'rs	of	Hell,
	The	mystic	philter,	and	infernal	spell	!
	The	monumental	corse	Ismeno	warm'd,
	And	the	pale	dead	with	mimic	life	inform'd	;
	Compell'd	the	fiends	to	issue	to	his	aid,
	And	Hell's	dread	king	in	his	own	realms	obey'd.
	A	Christian	once,	he	late	transferr'd	his	vows,
	And	now	to	Macon,	fitter	master,	bows	;
	Nor	well	the	form	of	either	system	knew,
	False	to	the	first,	nor	to	the	Batter	true	:
	Still	were	the	terms	of	sacred	phrase	retain'd,
	Mlx'd	in	his	songs,	and	in	his	rites	profan'd	;
	With	lore	divine	the	abhorrent	charm	he	yokes,
	And	highest	Heav'n	with	deepest	Hell	invokes.
	Dire	from	his	cave,	where,	impiously	retir'd,
	His	arts	he	practis'd	and	his	skill	acquir'd,
	He	issu'd,	grateful	to	a	tyrant's	will	;
	And	thus	advis'd	the	minister	of	ill.
	"	You	see,	O	king,	the	fury	of	our	foes,
	Flush'd	with	the	past,	for	future	conquest	glows;
	But	fury	is	by	answering	force	controll'd,
	And	Heav'n	is	prompt	in	favour	to	the	bold.
	Thrice	happy	Judah,	doubly	arm'd	in	thee	!
	Expert	to	act,	as	cautious	to	foresee,
	Who	singly	boast	the	twofold	pow'r	to	save,
	Mature,	for	counsel,	as	for	combat	brave.
	Ah,	would	your	subjects	catch	the	kindred	fire,
	And	bravely	emulate	as	you	inspire,
	Then	Godfrey,	soon	entomb'd,	might	here	obtain
	Unenvied	tenure,	and	a	still	domain.
	For	me,	whate'er	sage	science	may	devise,
	Whate'er	of	trust	in	deepest	magic	lies,
	I	bring,	prepared,	through	each	advent'rous	state,
	To	ward	your	danger,	or	to	share	your	fate	;
	Bow'd	to	the	lore	of	necromantic	laws,
	The	host	exil'd	from	Heav'n	shall	aid	your	cause:
	Then	list	to	what	my	first	instructions	move	;
	And	what	I	counsel,	let	my	king	approve.
	"	Remote	and	deep	withdrawn	from	vulgar	eyes,
	A	shrine	beneath	the	Christian	temple	lies,
	With	show	of	pompous	consecration	plac'd,
	And	the	bright	image	of	their	goddess	grac'd;
	A	mortal	deity	this	virgin	bore,
	And	her	those	sects	idolatrous	adore	;
	His	vows	to	her	the	travell'd	pilgrim	pays,
	The	lights	perpetual	round	her	idol	blaze;
	While	veil'd,	and	passive,	s'he	attends	the	throng,
	Their	various	offering,	and	their	saintly	song.
	But	thence,	by	your	imperial	hand	convey'd,
	Transport	the	form	of	this	maternal	maid,
	And	laid	within	our	prophet's	sacred	fane,
	Let	ritual	song	and	circling	charms	retain	:
	For	such	the	force	of	our	mysterious	art,
	And	such	the	pow'rs	my	wondrous	spells	impart,
	That	while	this	new	palladium	we	possess,
	Your	arms	shall	ever	meet	the	wish'd	success,


380
	BROOKE'S	POEMS.
	As	swiftly	loos'd	to	flight	he	nrgM	his	steed,
	For	instant	fear	gave	feathers	to	his	speed.
	Suspens'd	awhile,	and	much	at	both	amaz'd,
	On	the	strange	chase	the	thoughtful	virgin	gaz'd	;
	But	turn'd,	she	saw	her	shatter'd	squadrons	yield,
	And	chang'd	the	fortune	of	the	flying	field	:
	With	shame,	grief,	rage,	all	kindling	at	the	sight,
	She	rush'd	to	turn	her	routed	bands	from	flight;
	Now,	singly	hold,	against	a	host	made	head,
	And	now,	o'erpower'd	by	pressing	numbers,	fled;
	Yet	mutual	flight	to	her	pursuers	taught,
	For	still	she	flew,	and	as	she	fled	she	fought.
	As	on	the	w'.lds	of	Plessa's	bord'ring	wood,
	Or	where	broad	Volga	rolls	a	deep'ning	flood,
	The	savage	Ure,	by	circling	mastiffs	press'd,
	Shakes	the	dread	dewlap	of	his	bellowing	chest;
	Outnumber'd,	now	prepares	his	flanks	for	flight,
	Now	wheeling	lifts	his	horny	front	in	fight;
	Clorinda	so,	half	chasing,	and	half	chas'd.
	Repelling,	and	repell'd,	now	fled,	now	fac'd;
	When	flying	fear'd,	and	fata!	though	pursu'd,
	She	rather	seem'd	subduing	than	stibdu'd.
	The	Pagans,	push'd	before	the	Christian	pow'rs,
	Now	reach'd	the	bases	of	their	shelt'ring	tow'rs;
	Whence	rallied,	for	the	field	again	they	burn,
	And	wi;h	a	shout	upon	their	hunters	turn.
	Meantime	Argantes	with	his	troop	impends,
	And	plum'd	in	horrour	from	the	mount	descends.
	Well	might	the	stoutest	tremble	at	the	sight,
	For	fearful	rush'd	the	giant	fam'd	in	fight	:
	Pierc'd	by	his	sword,	or	by	his	lance	o'erthrown,
	The	prostrate	ranks	beneath	his	fury	groan	;
	Deform'd,	the	battle	b'eeds	at	ev'ry	vein,
	And	man	and	steed	lie	tumbled	on	the	plain.
	With	equal	death	Clorinda	heap'd	the	field,
	And	made	the	pride	of	rnanly	prowess	yield.
	Ardelio,	whose	brave	spirit,	warm	though	sage,
	Felt	a	fresh	spring	in	his	autumnal	age,
	With	rash	essay	advent'ring	to	repel,
	A	victim	to	the	fond	presumption	fell.
	Two	sons	he	had	who	felt	their	father's	fire,
	Two	valiant	sons	to	guard	a	valiant	sire	;
	But	wounded	lay	the	brave	Alcander's	might,
	And	scarce	was	Poliphemes	sav'd	by	flight.
	But	Tancred,	who	untimely	o'er	the	plain
	Pursu'd	the	ruffian,	but	pursu'd	in	vain,
	Now	turning	saw	th'	unequal	combat	wag'd,
	And	his	brave	troop	by	circling	hosts	engag'd	:
	With	double	grief	his	errour	pierc'd	his	sight,
	But	double	valour	would	restore	the	fight;
	He	ran,	he	shot,	confirm'd	his	fainting	bands,
	RecalPd	their	hearts,	and	fortified	their	hands.
	Nor	he	alone	;	for	now,	by	Oudon	led,
	The	Advent'rous	troop	their	dreaded	ensigns
	spread.
	Strength	of	their	strength,	and	in	himself	a	host,
	Their	flow'r,	their	nerve,	their	beauty,	and	their
	boast,
	Whom	by	his	mien	and	arms	Erminia	knew,
	Before	the	foremost	young	Rinaldo	flew.
	"	Behold,"	she	cry'd,	"	behold	Rinaldo	there,
	Than	man	more	valiant,	more	than	woman	fair	!
	Whose	fame	is	full	ere	promise	could	presage,
	And	shames	in	infancy	the	toils	of	age.
	His	arm	more	forceful	than	an	engine	falls,
	And	threats	more	ruin	to	these	tott'ring	walls.
	Had	Europe	sent	six	champions	to	the	field,
	Six	boys	like	this	could	ample	Europe	yield,
	The	world	were	conquer'd	to	the	southern	pole	;
	Beneath	their	yoke	should	India's	Ganges	roll,
	In	chains	all	Niger's	tawny	kings	should	tread",
	And	Nile	in	vain	would	hide	his	sacred	head.
	"	But	turn	where	Dudon	thy	attention	claims,.
	Who	there	in	gold	and	mingling	verdure	flames	!
	He	rules	yon	band	whose	actions	task	belief,
	Where	ev'ry	soldier	is	himself	a	chief;
	Yet	justly	his	experienc'd	step	precedes,
	And	hundreds	that	were	born	to	empire	leads.
	"	Lo	there	(unprais'd	who	in	his	prowess	prides}
	The	brother	of	imperial	Norway	rides,
	Gernando,	whose	huge	stature	loads	the	plain	!
	What	boots	to	say	he	's	valiant,	since	he	's	vain	?
	"	But	here,	O	king,	in	radiant	silver	dress'd,
	Fair	as	the	faith	that	whitens	in	their	breast,
	Behold,	ah	sweet	associates	!	side	by	side,
	Two	friends	espous'd,	the	lover	and	the	bride	j
	Giidippe,	Edward,	paradis'd	in	bliss,
	Her	Edward	that,	and	his	Giidippe	this	!
	No	force	can	foil	them,	and	no	fate	can	part,
	Fam'd	in	the	fight,	and	wedded	in	the	heart."
	While	thus	she	gave	due	honour	to	the	foe,
	Wild	was	the	riot	in	the	vale	be.ow	:
	For	now	in	Tancred	and	Kinaldo's	ire,
	The	slaughter	rages	and	the	ranks	expire;
	Through	the	firm	depth	of	hemming	foes	they
	broke,
	And	some	arm'd	Paynim	died	on	ev'ry	stroke;
	Not	e'en	Argantes	could	the	shoCk	sustain,
	But,	fall'n	beneath	Rinaldo,	spread	the	plain.
	And	now,	O	mighty	chief,	ire	arms	surpass'd,
	This	thy	first	foil	had	haply	prov'd	thy-	last,
	But	chance	depriv'd	the	victor	of	his	prey,
	Who	press'd	beneath	his	prostrate	courser	lay.
	Meantime	pale	fear	deform'd	the	face	of	fight,
	And,	mingling,	wing'd	the	Pagan	feet	for	flight;
	All,	save	Argantes	and	the	martial	maid,
	Who	still	to	stem	the	conqu'ring	army	staid;
	The	bank	and	bulwark	of	their	host	they	rose,
	And	each	stood	equal	to	a	thousand	foes.
	Nor	so	restrain'd,	th'	impetuous	Dudon	flew,
	Still	urg'd	the	chase,	and	still	the	hindmost	slew	t
	Swift,	as	the	victor	by	Tigranes	pass'd,
	Lopp'd	from	the	trunk	the	headed	helm	he	cast:
	What,	Corban,	what,	Algazar,	could	avail,
	Your	casque	well	temper'd,	and	your	circling	mail	?
	For	his	keen	sword	cleft	Corban	to	the	chest,
	And	through	Algazar's	back	transfix'd	the	breast:
	Beneath	his	steel	Mahammed	press'd	the	plain,
	Almanzer's	bulk	was	number'd	with	the	slain;
	Before	the	chief	great	Amurath	expir'd,
	And	e'en	Argantes	slow	and	stern	retir'd.
	With	bridled	wrath	the	indignant	warrior	burn'd,
	He	labour'd,	rag'd,	withdrew,	stopp'd,	chaf'd,	and
	turn'd	i
	Till	now	the	wish'd	advantage	he	essay'd,
	And	in	brave	Dudon	's	bosom	sheath	'd	the	blade;
	Pi-one	o'er	the	field	his	sully'd	armour	rung,
	And	o'er	his	eyes	th'	eternal	slumber	hung.
	Thrice,	to	the	cheer	of	Heav'n's	all-dulcet	light,
	He	lift	the	pain'd	and	sickly	lids	of	sight;
	And	thrice;	vain	toil,	he	struggled	to	arise,
	And	thrice	he	fell,	and	clos'd	his	umber'd	eyes:
	From	the	cold	limbs	the	vital	heat	retir'd,
	And	in	a	parting	sigh	his	soul	e.xpir'd.
	Back	stepp'd	the	stern	Circassian	from	the	dead,
	And	shook	the	reeking	steel,	and	scornful	said:
	"	Go,	warriors,	let	the	gen'rous	Godfrey	know,
	What	quick	effusions	from	his	bounty	flow	!
	When	to	our	arm	this	weapon	he	assign'd,
	Wise	was	the	trust,	as	sure	the	gift	was	kind	;


452
	JONES'S	POEMS.
	Then	of	two	metals	form'd	the	warlike	band,
	That	here,	compact,	in	show	of	battle	stand	;
	He	taught	the	rules	that	guide	the	pensive	game,
	And	call'd	it	Cassa	from	the	Dryad's	name	:
	(Whence	Albion's	sons,	who	most	its	praise	confess,
	Approv'd	the	play,	and	nam'd	it	thoughtful	Chess.)
	The	god	delighted	thank'd	indulgent	Sport;
	Then	grasp'd	the	board,	and	left	his	airy	court.
	With	radiant	feet	he	pierc'd	the	clouds;	norstay'd,
	Till	in	the	woods	he	saw	the	beauteous	maid	:
	Tir'd	with	the	chase	the	damsel	sat	reclin'd,
	Her	girdle	loose,	her	boson*	unconfin'd.
	He	took	the	figure	of	a	wanton	Faun,
	And	stood	before	her	on	the	flowery	lawn	;
	Then	show'd	his	tablet	:	pleas'd,	the	nymph	survey'd
	The	lifeless	troops,	in	glittering	ranks	display'd	;
	She	ask'd	the	wily	sylvan	to	explain
	The	various	motions	of	the	splendid	train	;
	With	eager	heart	she	caught	the	winning	lore,
	And	thought	ev'u	Mars	less	hateful	than	before	:
	'	What	spell,'	said	she,	'	deceiv'd	my	careless	mind	?
	The	god	was	fair,	and	I	was	most	unkind.'
	She	spoke,	and	saw	the	changing	Faun	assume
	A	milder	aspect,	and	a	fairer	bloom	;
	His	wreathing	horns,	that	from	his	temples	grew,
	Flow'd	down	in	curls	of	bright	celestial	hue	;
	The	dappled	hairs,	that	veil'd	his	loveless	face,
	Blaz'd	into	beams,	and	show'd	a	heavenly	grace	;
	The	shaggy	hide,	that	mantled	o'er	his	breast,
	Was	soften'd	to	a	smooth	transparent	vest,
	That	through	its	folds	his	vigorous	bosom	show'd,
	And	nervous	limbs,	where	youthful	ardour	glow'd	;
	(Had	Venus	view'd	him	in	those	blooming	charms,
	Not	Vulcan's	net	had	forc'd	her	from	his	arms.)
	With	goatlike	feet	no	more	he	mark'd	the	ground,
	But	braided	dowers	his	silken	sandals	bound.
	The	Dryad	blush'd	;	and,	as	he	press'd	her,	smil'd,
	Whilst	all	his	cares	one	tender	glance	beguil'd."
	He	ends;	"To	arms,"	the	maids	and	striplings	cry;
	"	To	arms,"	the	groves	and	sounding	vales	reply.
	Sirena	led	to	war	Ihe	swarthy	crew,
	And	Delia	those	that	bore	the	lilly's	hue.
	Who	first,	O	Muse,	began	the	bold	attack	;
	The	white	refulgent,	or	the	mournful	black	?
	Fair	Delia	first,	as	favouring	lots	ordain,
	Moves	her	pale	legions	tow'rd	the	sable	train:
	From	thought	to	thought	her	lively	fancy	flies,
	Whils'to'er	the	board	she	darts	her	sparkling	eyes.
	At	length	the	warrior	moves	with	haughty	strides	;
	Who	from	the	plain	the	snowy	king	divides	:
	With	equal	haste	his	swarthy	rival	bounds	;
	His	quiver	rattles,	and	his	buckler	sounds	:
	Ah	!	hapless	youths,	with	fatal	warmth	you	burn	;
	Laws,	ever	fix'd,	forbid	you	to	return.
	Then	from	the	wing	a	short-liv'd	spearman	flies,
	Unsafely	bold,	and	see	!	hr	dies,	he	dies	:
	The	dark-brow'd	hero,	with	one	vengeful	blow
	Of	life	and	place	deprives	his	ivory	foe.
	Now	rush	both	armies	o'er	the	burnish'd	field,
	Hurl	the	swift	dart,	and	rend	the	bursting	shield.
	Here	furious	knights	on	fiery	coursers	prance,
	Here	archers	spring,	and	lofty	towers	advance.
	But	see	the	white-rob'd	Amazon	beholds
	Where	the	dark	host	its	opening	van	unfolds	:
	Soon	as	her	eye	discerns	the	hostile	maid,
	By	ebon	shield,	and	ebon	helm	betray'd;
	Seven	squares	she	passes	with	majestic	mien,
	And	stands	triumphant	o'er	the	falling	queen.
	Perplex'd,	and	sorrowing	at	his	consort's	fate,
	The	monarch	bura'd	with	rage,	despair,	and	hate	:
	Swift	from	his	zone	th'	avenging	blade	he	drew,
	And,	mad	with	ire,	the	proud	virago	slew.
	Meanwhile	sweet-smiling	Delia's	wary	king
	Rtir'd	from	fight	behind	his	circling	wing.
	Long	time	the	war	in	equal	balance	hung	;
	Till,	unforeseen,	an	ivory	courser	sprung,
	And,	wildly	prancing	in	an	evil	hour,
	Attack'd	at	once	the	monarch	and	the	tower	:
	Sirena	blush'd	;	for,	as	the	rules	requir'd,
	Her	injur'd	sovereign	to	his	tent	retir'd;
	Whilst	her	lost	castle	leaves	his	threat'ning	height,
	And	adds	new	glory	to	th'	exulting	knight.
	At	this,	pale	fear	oppress'd	the	drooping	maid,
	And	on	her	cheek	the	rose	began'	to	fade	:
	A	crystal	tear,	that	stood	prepar'd	to	fall,
	She	wip'd	in	silence,	and	conceal'd	ftvm	all	;
	From	all	but	Daphnis	:	he	remark'd	her	pain,
	And	saw	the	weakness	of	her	ebon	train	;
	Then	gently	spoke	.	"	Let	me	your	loss	supply,
	And	either	nobly	win,	or	nobly	die	;
	Me	oft	has	fortune	crown'd	with	fair	success,
	And	led	to	triumph	in	the	fields	of	Chess."
	He	said	:	the	willing	nymph	her	place	resign'd,
	And	sat	at	distance	on	the	bank	reclin'd.
	Thus,	when	Minerva	call'd	her	chief	to	arms,
	And	Troy's	high	turret	shook	with	dire	alarms,
	The	Cyprian	goddess,	wounded,	left	the	plain,
	And	Mars	engag'd	a	mightier	force	in	vain.
	Straight	Daphnis	leads	his	squadron	to	the	field	j
	(To	Delia's	arms	'tis	ev'n	a	joy	to	yield.)
	Each	guileful	snare,	and	subtle	art	he	tries,
	But	finds	his	art	less	pow'rful	than	her	eyes	:
	Wisdom	and	strength	superior	charms	obey	;
	And	beauty,	beauty,	wins	the	long-fought	day.
	By	this,	a	hoary	chief,	on	slaughter	bent,
	Approach'd	the	gloomy	king's	unguarded	tent	;
	Where,	late,	his	consort	spread	dismay	around,
	Now	her	dark	corse	lies	bleeding	on	the	ground.
	Hail,	happy	youth!	thy	glories	not	unsung
	Shall	live	eternal	on	the	poet's	tongue	j
	For	thou	shalt	soon	receive	a	splendid	change,
	And	o'er	the	plain	with	nobler	fury	range.
	The	swarthy	leaders	saw	the	storm	impend,
	And	strove	in	vain	their	sovereign	to	defend	:
	Th'	invader	wav'd	his	silver	lance	in	air,
	And	flew	like	lightning	to	the	fatal	square	;
	His	limbs,	dilated,	in	a	moment	grew
	To	stately	height,	and	widen'd	to	the	view	;
	More	fierce.	his	look,	more	lion-like	his	mien,
	Sublime	he	mov'd,	and	seem'd	a	warrior	queen.
	As	when	the	sage	on	some	unfolding	plant
	Has	caught	a	wandering	fly,	or	frugal	ant,
	His	hand	the	microscopic	frame	applies,
	And	lo	!	a	bright-hair'd	monster	meets	his	eyes	:
	He	sees	new	plumes	in	slender	cases	roll'd	;
	Here	stain'd	with	azure,	there	bedropp'd	with	gold;
	Thus,	on	the	alter'd	chief	both	armies	gaze,
	And	both	the	kings	are	fix'd	with	deep	amaze.
	The	sword,	which	arrn'd	the	snow-white	maid	before,
	He	now	assumes,	and	hurls	the	spear	no	more	j
	Then	springs	indignant	on	the	dark-rob'd	band,
	And	knights	and	archers	feel	his	deadly	hand.
	Now	flies	the	monarch	of	the	sable	shield,
	His	legions	vanquish'd,	o'er	the	lonely	field	;
	So	when	the	morn,	by	rosy	coursers	drawn	,
	With	pearls	and	rubies	sows	the	verdant	lawn,
	9	.	.	..	Medio	rex	aeqtiore	inermis
	Constitit	amissis	snciis	:	velut	aethere	in	alto
	Expulit	ardentes	flammas	ubi	lutea	bigis


454
	JONES'S	POEMS.
	And,	meekly	kneeling,	to	his	modest	hand
	They	gave	the	glittering	sceptre	of	command	;
	Then	on	six	smaller	thrones	they	sat	reclin'd,
	And	watch'd	the	rising	transports	of	his	mind	:
	When	thus	the	youth	a	blushing	nymph	address'd,
	And,	as	he	spoke,	her	hand	with	rapture	press'd	:
	"	Say,	gentle	damsel,	may	I	ask	unblam'd
	How	this	gay	isle,	and	splendid	seats	are	nam'd	?
	And	you,	fair	queens	of	beauty	and	of	grace,
	Are	you	of	earthly	or	celestial	race	?
	To	me	the	world's	bright	treasures	were	unknown,
	Where	late	I	wander'd,	pensive	and	alone	;
	And,	slowly	winding	on	my	native	shore,
	Saw	the	vast	ocean	roll,	but	saw	no	more	;
	Till	from	the	waves	with	many	a	charming	song,
	A	barge	arose,	and	gayly	mov'd	along	;
	The	jolly	rowers	reach'd	the	yielding	sands,
	Allur'd	my	steps,	and	wav'd	their	shining	hands	:
	I	went,	saluted	by	the	vocal	train,
	And	the	swift	pinnace	cleav'd	the	waves	again	;
	When	on	this	island	struck	the	gilded	prow,
	1	landed	full	of	joy	:	the	rest	you	know.
	Short	is	the	story	of	my	tender	years	:	fears."
	Now	speak,	sweet	nymph,	and	charm	my	listening
	"	These	are	the	groves,	for	ever	deck'd	with
	flowers,"
	The	maid	replied,	"	and	these	the	fragrant	bowers,
	Where	Love	and	Pleasure	hold	their	airy	court,
	The	seat	of	bliss,	of	sprightliness,	and	sport	;
	And	we,	dear	youth	!	are	nymphs	of	heavenly	line;
	Our	souls	immortal,	as	our	forms	divine	:
	For	Maia,	fill'd	with	Zephyr's	warm	embrace,
	In	caves	and	forests	cover'd	her	disgrace	:
	At	last	s.he	rv.ted	on	this	peaceful	shore,
	Where,	in	yon	grot,	a	lovely	boy	she	bore,
	Whom,	fresh	and	wi'd	and	frolique	from	his	birth,
	She	nurs'd	in	myrtle	bowers,	and	call'd	him	Mirth.
	He	on	a	summer's	morning	chanc'd	to	rove
	Through	the	green	labyrinth	of	some	shady	grove,
	Where,	by	a	dimpled	rivulet's	verdaTit	side,
	A	rising	bank,	with	woodbine	edsj'd,	he	spied	:
	There,	veil'd	with	flowerets	of	a	thousand	hues,
	A	nymph	lay	bath'd	in	slumber's	balmy	dews	;
	(This	maid	by	some,	for	some	our	race	defame,
	Was	Folly	call'd,	but	Pleasure	was	her	name	:)
	Her	mantle,	like	the	sky	in	April,	blue,
	Hung	on	a	blossom'd	branch	that	near	her	grew	J
	For,	long	disporting	in	the	silver	stream,
	She	shunn'd	the	blazing	day-star's	sultry	beam	j
	And,	ere	she	could	conceal	her	naked	charms,
	Sleep	caught	her	trembling	in	his	downy	arms	:
	Borne	on	the	wings	of	Love,	he	flew,	and	press'd
	Her	breathing	bosom	to	his	eager	breast.
	At	his	wild	theft	the	rosy	morning	blush'd,
	The	rivulet	sinil'd,	and	all	the	woods	were	hush'd.
	Of	these	fair	parents,	on	this	blissful	coast,
	(Parents	like	Mirth	and	Pleasure	who	can	boast	!)
	I	with	five	sisters,	ou	one	happy	morn,
	All	fair	alike,	behold	us	now	!	were	born.
	When	they	to	brighter	regions	took	their	way,
	By	Love	invited	to	the	realms	of	day,
	To	us	they	gave	this	large,	this	gay	domain,
	And	said	departing^	'	Here	let	beauty	reign.*
	Then	reign,	fair	prince	!	in	thee	all	beauties	shioe,
	And,	ah	!	we	know	thee	of	no	mortal	line."
	She	said	:	the	king	with	rapid	ardour	glow'd,
	And	the	swift	poison	through	his	bosom	flow'd	:
	But,	while	she	spoke,	he	cast	his	eyes	around
	To	view	the	dazzling	roof,	and	spangled	ground;
	Then,	turning	with	amaze	from	side	to	side,
	Seven	golden	doors,	that	richly	shone,	he	spied,
	And	said,	"	Fair	nymph,	(but	let	me	not	be	bold)
	What	mean	those	doors	that	blaze	with	burnish'd
	gold	?"
	'	To	six	gay	bowers,"	the	maid	replied,	"	they	lead,
	Where	spring	eternal	crowns	the	glowing	mead	;
	Six	fountains	there,	that	glitter	as	they	play,
	Rise	to	the	Sun	with	many	a	color'd	ray."
	"	But	the	seventh	door,"	said	he,	"	what	beauties
	grace	?"
	O,	'tis	a	cave	;	a	dark	and	joyless	place,
	A	scene	of	nameless	deeds,	and	magic	spells,
	Where	day	ne'er	shines,	and	pleasure	never	dwells	:
	Think	not	of	that.	But	come,	my	royal	friend,
	And	see	what	joys	thy	favou^d	steps	attend."
	She	spoke	j	and	pointed	to	the	nearest	door	:
	Swift	he	descends	;	the	damsel	flies	before	j
	She	turns	the	lock	;	it	opens	at	command	;
	The	maid	and	stripling	enter	hand	in	hand.
	The	wondering	youth	beheld	an	opening	glade,
	Where	in	the	midst	a	crystal	fountain	play'd	5	;
	The	silver	sands,	that	on	its	bottom	grew,
	Were	strown	with	pearls	and	gems	of	varied	hue	j
	The	diamond	sparkled	like	the	star	of	day,
	And	the	soft	topaz	shed	a	golden	ray	;
	Clear	amethysts	combin'd	their	purple	gleam
	With	the	mild	emerald's	sight-refreshing	beam	;
	The	sapphire	smil'd	like	yon	blue	plain	above,
	And	rubies	spread	the	blushing	tint	of	love.
	"	These	are	the	waters	of	eternal	light,"
	The	damsel	said,	"	the	stream	of	heavenly	sight;
	See,	in	this	cup,"	(she	spoke,	and	stoop'd	to	fill	y
	A	vase	of	jasper	with	the	sacred	rill),
	"	See,	how	the	living	waters	bound	and	shine,
	Which	this	well-polish'd	gem	can	scarce	confine!"
	From	her	soft	hand,	the	lucid	urn	he	took,
	And	quafPd	the	nectar	with	a	tender	look	:
	Straight	from	his	eyes	a	cloud	of	darkness	flew,
	And	all	the	scene	was	open	to	his	view	;
	Not	all	the	groves,	where	ancient	bards	have	told,
	Of	vegetable	gems,	and	blooming	gold	;
	Not	all	the	bowers	which,	oft,	in	flowery	lays
	And	solemn	tales	Arabian	poets	praise
	Though	streams	of	honey	flow'd	through	every
	mead,
	Though	balm	and	amber	dropp'd	from	every	reed
	Held	half	the	sweets	that	Nature's	ample	hand
	Had	pour'd	luxuriant	o'er	this	wondrous	land	:
	All	flowerets	here	their	mingled	rays	diffuse,
	The	rainbow's	tints	to	these	were	vulgar	hues	;
	All	birds	that	in	the	stream	their	pinion	dip,
	Or	from	the	brink	the	liquid	crystal	sip,
	Or	show	their	beauties	to	the	sunny	skies,
	Here	wav'd	their	plumes	that	shone	with	varying
	But	chiefly	he,	that	o'er	the	verdant	plain	[dyes	;
	Spreads	the	gay	eyes	which	grace	his	spangled
	train;
	And	he,	who,	proudly	sailing,	loves	to	show
	His	mantling	wings	and	neck	of	downy	snow	;
	Nor	absent	he,	who	learns	the	human	sound,
	With	wavy	gold	and	moving	emeralds	crown'd	;
	Whose	head	and	breast	with	polish'd	sapphires
	And	on	whose	wing	the	gems	of	Indus	grow,	[glow,
	The	monarch	view'd	their	beauties	o'er	and	o'er,
	He	was	all	eye,	and	look'd	from	every	pore.
	But	now	the	damsel	calls	him	from	his	trance	;
	And	o'er	the	lawn,	delighted,	they	advance	:
	5	Sight.


THE	SEVEN	FOUNTAINS.
	455
	They	pass	the	hall	adorn'd	with	royal	state,
	And	enter	now	with	joy,	the	second	gate	6	.
	A	soothing	sound	he	heard,	(but	tasted	first
	The	gushing	stream	that	from	the	valley	burst,)
	And	in	the	shade	beheld	a	youthful	quire
	That	touch'd	with	flying	hands	the	trembling	lyre:
	Melodious	notes,	drawn	out	with	magic	art,
	Caught	with	sweet	ecstasy	his	ravish'd	heart;
	An	hundred	nymphs	their	charming	desi-ants	play'd,
	And	melting	voices	died	along	the	glade	;
	The	tuneful	stream	that	murmur'd	as	it	rose,
	The	birds	that	on	the	trees	bewail'd	their	woes,
	The	boughs,	made	vocal	by	the	whispering	gale,
	Join'd	their	soft	strain,	and	warbled	through	the	vale.
	The	concert	ends	:	and	now	the	stripling	hears
	A	tender	voice	that	strikes	his	wondering	ears	;
	A	beauteous	bird,	in	our	rude	climes	unknown,
	That	on	a	leafy	arbour	sits	alone,
	Strains	his	sweet	throat,	and	waves	his	purple	wings,
	And	thus	in	human	accents	softly	sings	:
	"	Rise,	lovely	pair,	a	sweeter	bower	invites
	Your	eager	steps,	a	bower	of	new	delights	;
	Ah	!	crop	the	flowers	of	pleasure	while	they	blow,
	Ere	winter	hides	them	in	a	veil	of	snow.
	Youth,	like	a	thin	anemone,	displays
	His	silken	leaf,	and	in	a	morn	decays.
	See,	gentle	youth	!	a	lily-bosom'd	bride	;
	See,	nymph	!	a	bloomins	stripling	by	thy	side.
	Then	haste,	and	bathe	your	souls	in	soft	delights,
	A	sweeter	bow'r	your	wandering	steps	invites."
	He	ceas'd	;	the	slender	branch,	from	which	he
	Bent	its	fair	head,	and	sprinkled	pearly	dew.	[flew,
	The	damsel	smil'd;	the	blushing	youth	was	pleas'd,
	And	by	her	willing	hand	his	charmer	seiz'd	:
	The	lovely	nymph,	who	sigh'd	for	sweeter	joy,
	To	the	third	gate	7	conducts	the	amorous	boy	;
	She	turns	the	key,	her	cheeks	like	roses	bloom,
	And	on	the	lock	her	fingers	drop	perfume.
	His	ravish'd	sense	a	scene	of	pleasure	meets,
	A	maze	of	joy,	a	paradise	of	sweets	;
	But	first	his	lips	had	touch'd	th'	alluring	stream,
	That	through	the	grove	display'd	a	silver	gleam.
	Through	jasmine	bowers,	and	violet-scented	vales,
	On	silken	pinions	flew	the	wanton	gales,
	Arabian	odours	on	the	plants	they	left,
	And	whisper'd	to	the	woods	their	spicy	theft	:
	Beneath	the	shrubs,	that	spread	a	trembling	shade
	The	musky	roes,	and	fragrant	civets	play'd	.
	As	wben,	at	eve,	an	eastern	merchant	roves
	From	Hadramut	to	Aden's	spikenard	groves,
	Where	some	rich	caravan,	not	long	before,
	Has	pass'd,	with	cassia	fraught,	and	balmy	store,
	Charm'd	with	th*	scent	that	hills	and	vales	diffuse,
	His	grateful	journey	gayly	he	pursues	;
	Thus	pleas'd,	the	monarch	fed	his	eager	soul,
	And	from	each	breeze	a	cloud	of	fragrance	stole.
	Soon	the	fourth	door	8	he	pass'd	with	eager	haste.
	And	the	fourth	stream	was	nectar	to	his	taste.
	Before	his	eyes,	on	agate	columns	rear'd,
	On	high	a	purple	canopy	appear'd	;
	And	under	it,	in	stately	form,	was	plac'd
	A	table	with	a	thousand	vaees	grac'd	;
	Laden	with	all	the	dainties	that	are	found
	In	air,	in	seas,	or	on	the	fruitful	ground.
	Here	the	fair	youth	reclin'd	with	decent	pride,
	His	wanton	nymph	was	seated	by	his	side	:
	6	Hearing.	r	>	Smell.	Taste.
	All	that	could	please	the	taste	the	happy	pair
	Cull'd	from	the	loaded	board	with	curious	care	:
	O'er	their	enchanted	heads,	a	mantling	vine
	His	curling	tendrils	wove	with	amorous	twine	;
	From	the	green	stalks	the	glowing	clusters	hung,
	Like	rubies	on	a	thread	of	emeralds	strung;
	With	these	were	other	fruits	of	every	hue,
	The	pale,	the	red,	the	golden,	and	the	blue.
	An	hundred	smiling	pages	stood	around,
	Their	shining	brows	with	wreaths	of	myrtle	bound	:
	They,	in	transparent	cups	of	agate,	bore
	Of	sweetly-sparkling	wines	a	precious	store	;
	The	stripling	sipp'd	and	revel'd,	till	the	Sun
	Down	Heaven's	blue	vault	his	daily	course	had	run	j
	Then	rose,	and,	follow'd	by	the	gentle	maid,
	Op'd	the	fifth	door	9	:	a	stream	before	them	play'd.
	The	king,	impatient	for	the	cooling	draught,
	In	a	full	cup	the	mystic	nectar	quaff'd	;
	Then	with	a	smile,	(he	knew	no	higher	bliss)
	From	her	sweet	lip	he	stole	a	balmy	kiss	:
	On	the	smooth	bank	of	violets	they	reclin'd	;
	And,	whilst	a	chaplet	for	his	brow	she	twin'd,
	With	his	soft	cheek	her	softer	cheek	he	press'd	j
	His	pliant	arms	were	folded	round	her	breast.
	She	smil'd;	soft	lightning	darted	from	her	eyes,
	And	from	his	fragrant	seat	she	bade	him	rise	;
	Then,	while	a	brighter	blush	her	face	o'erspread,
	To	the	sixth	gate	10	her	willing	guest	she	led.
	The	golden	lock	she	softly	turn'd	around	;
	The	moving	hinges	gave	a	pleasing	sound	:
	The	boy	delighted	ran	with	eager	haste,
	And	to	his	lips	the	living	fountain	plac'd	j
	The	magic	water	pierc'd	his	kindled	brain,
	And	a	strange	renom	shot	from	vein	to	vein.
	Whatever	charms	he	saw	in	other	bowers,
	Were	here	combin'd,	fruits,	music,	odours,	flowers	j
	A	couch	besides,	with	softest	silk	o'erlaid	;
	And,	sweeter	still,	a	lovely	yielding	maid,
	Who	now	more	charming	seem'd.	and	not	so	coy,
	And	in	her	arms	infolds	the	blushing	boy	;
	They	sport	and	wanton,	till,	with	sleep	oppress'd,
	Like	two	fresh	rose-buds	on	one	stalk,	they	rest.
	When	morning	spread	around	her	purple	flame,
	To	the	sweet	couch	the	five	fair	sisters	came	;
	They	hail'd	the	bridegroom	with	a	cheerful	voice,
	And	bade	him	make,	with	speed,	a	second	choice.
	Hard	task	to	choose,	when	all	alike	were	fair	!
	Now	this,	now	that,	engag'd	his	anxious	care	;
	Then	to	the	first	who	spoke,	his	hand	he	lent	;
	The	rest	retir'd,	and	whisper'd	as	they	went.
	The	prince	enamour'd	view'd	his	second	bride	;
	They	left	the	bower,	and	wander'd	side	by	side	;
	With	her	he	charm'd	his	ears,	with	her	his	sight	;
	With	her	he	pass'd	the	day,	with	her	the	night.
	Thus,	all	by	turns	the	sprightly	stranger	led,
	And	all	by	turns	partook	his	nuptial	bed	;
	Hours,	days,	and	months,	in	pleasure	flow'd	away	j
	All	laugh'd,	all	sweetly	sung,	and	all	were	gay.
	So	had	he	wanton'd	threescore	days	and	seven,
	More	blest,	he	thought,	than	any	son	of	Heaven	:
	Till	on	a	morn,	with	sighs	and	streaming	tears,
	The	train	of	nymphs	before	his	bed	appears;
	And	thus	the	youngest	of	the	sisters	speaks,
	Whilst	a	sad	shower	runs	trickling	down	her	cheeks	:
	"	A	custom	which	we	cannot,	dare	not	fail,
	(Such	are	the	laws	that	in	our	isle	prevail,)
	a	Touch.
	10	The	sensual	pleasures	united.


TALES.
	Fled	were	his	slaves,	and	fled	his	yielding	fair,
	And	each	gay	phantom	was	dissolv'd	in	air	!
	Whilst	in	their	place	was	left	a	ruthless	train,
	Despair,	and	grief,	remorse,	and	raging	pain.
	Aside	the	damsel	turns	her	weeping	eyes,
	And	sad	reflections	in	her	bosom	rise	;
	To	whom	thus,	mildly,	speaks	the	radiant	queen	:
	"	Take	sage	example	from	this	moral	scene	;
	See	!	how	vain	pleasures	sting	the	lips	they	kiss,
	How	asps	are	hid	beneath	the	bowers	of	bliss	!
	Whilst	ever	fair	the	flow'r	of	temperance	blows,
	Unchang'd	her	leaf,	and	without	thorn	her	rose	;
	Smiling	she	darts	her	glittering	branch	on	high,
	And	spreads	her	fragrant	blossoms	to	the	sky."
	Next,	tow'rd	the	throne	she	saw	a	knight	2	ad
	vance	;
	Erect	he	stood,	and	shook	a	quiv'ring	lance	;
	A	fiery	dragon	on	his	helmet	shone	;
	And	on	his	buckler	beam'd	a	golden	sun	;
	O'er	his	broad	bosom,	blaz'd	his	jointed	mail
	With	many	a	gem,	and	many	a	shining	scale	;
	He	trod	the	sounding	floor	with	princely	mien,
	And	thus	with	haughty	words	address'd	the	queen	:
	"	Let	falling	kings	beneath	my	javelin	bleed,
	And	bind	my	temples	with	a	victor's	meed	;
	Let	every	realm	that	feels	the	solar	ray,
	Shrink	at	my	frown,	and	own	my	regal	sway	:
	Let	Ind's	rich	banks	declare	my	deathless	fame,
	And	trembling	Ganges	dread	my	potent	name."
	The	queen	consented	to	the	warrior's	pray'r	;
	And	his	bright	banners	floated	in	the	air;
	He	bade	his	darts	in	steely	tempests	fly,
	Flames	burst	the	clouds,	and	thunder	shake	the	sky	;
	Death	aim'd	his	lance,.	Earth	trembled	at	his	nod,
	And	crimson	conquest	glow'd	where'er	he	trod.
	And	now,	the	damsel,	fix'd	in	deep	amaze,
	Th'	enchanted	glass	with	eager	look	surveys	:
	She	sees	the	hero	in	his	dusky	tent,
	His	guards	retir'd,	his	glimmering	taper	spent	;
	His	spear,	vain	instrument	of	dying	praise,
	On	the	rich	floor,	with	idle	state,	he	lays	;
	His	gory	falchion	near	his	pillow	stood,
	And	stain'd	the	ground	with	drops	of	purple	blood	;
	A	busy	page	his	nodding	helm	unlac'd,
	And	on	the	couch	his	scaly	hauberk	plac'd	:
	Now	on	the	bed	his	weary	limbs	he	throws,
	Bath'd	in	the	balmy	dew	of	soft	repose	:
	In	dreams	he	rushes	o'er	the	gloomy	field,
	He	sees	new	armies	fly,	new	heroes	yield	;
	Warm	with	the	vigorous	conflict	he	appears,
	And	ev'n	in	slumber	seems	to	move	the	spheres.
	But	lo	!	the	faithless	page,	with	stealing	tread,
	Advances	to	the	champion's	naked	head	;
	With	his	sharp	dagger	wounds	his	bleeding	breast,
	And	steeps	his	eyelids	in	eternal	rest	:	[gore)
	Then	cries,	(and	waves	the	steel	that	drops	with
	"	The	tyrant	dies	;	oppression	is	no	more."
	Now	came	an	aged	sire	3	,	with	trembling	pace	;
	Sunk	were	his	eyes,	and	pale	his	ghastly	face	;
	A	ragged	weed	of	dusky	hue	he	wore,
	And	on	his	back	a'ponderous	coffer	bore.
	The	queen	with	faltering	speech	he	thus	addrest	:
	"	O,	fill	with	gold	thy	true	adorer's	chest	!"
	"	Behold,"	said	she,	and	wav'd	her	pow'rful	hand,
	"	Where	yon	rich	hills	in	glittering	order	stand	:
	There	load	thy	coffer	with	the	golden	store	j
	Then	bear	it	full	away,	and	ask	no	more."
	*	Glory.
	3	Riches.
	With	eager	steps	he	took	his	hasty	way,
	Where	the	bright	coin	in	heaps	unnumber'd	lay	j
	There	hung	enamour'd	o'er	the	gleaming	spoil,
	Scoop'd	the	gay	dross,	and	bent	beneath	the	toil.
	But	bitter	was	bis	anguish,	to	l>ehold
	The	coffer	widen,	and	its	sides	unfold	:
	And,	every	time	he	heap'd	the	darling	ore,
	His	greedy	chest	grew	larger	than	before	;
	Till,	spent	with	pain,	and	falling	o'er	his	hoard,
	With	his	sharp	steel	his	maddening	breast	he	gor'd	:
	On	the	lov'd	heap	he	cast	his	closing	eye,
	Contented	on	a	golden	couch	to	die.
	A	stripling,	with	the	fair	adventure	pleas'd,
	Stepp'd	forward,	and	the	massy	coffer	seiz'd	;
	But	with	surprise	he	saw	the	stores	decay,
	And	all	the	long-sought	treasures	melt	away:
	In	winding	streams	the	liquid	metal	roll'd,
	And	through	the	palace	ran	a	flood	of	gold.
	Next	to	the	shrine	advanc'd	a	reverend	sage	*,
	Whose	beard	was	hoary	with	the	frost	of	age	;
	His	few	grey	locks	a	sable	fillet	bound,
	And	his	dark	mantle	flow'd	along	the	ground	:
	Grave	was	his	port,	yet	show'd	a	bold	neglect,
	And	fill'd	the	young	beholder	with	respect;
	Time's	envious	hand	had	plough'd	his	wrinkled	face,
	Yet	on	those	wrinkles	sat	superior	grace	;
	Still	full	of	fire	appear'd	his	vivid	eye,
	Darted	quick	beams,	and	seem'd	to	pierce	the	sky.
	At	length	with	gentle	voice	and	look	serene,
	He	wav'd	his	hand,	and	thus	address'd	the	queen	:
	"	Twice	forty	winters	tip	my	beard	with	snow,	^
	And	age's	chilling	gusts	around	me	blow	:
	In	early	youth,	by	contemplation	led,
	With	high	pursuits	my	flatter'd	thoughts	were	fed	;
	To	nature	first	my	labours	were	confin'd,
	And	all	her	charms	were	open'd	to	my	mind,
	Each	flower	that	glisten'd	in	the	morning	dew,
	And	every	shrub	that	in	the	forest	grew	:
	From	Earth	to	Heaven	I	cast	my	wond'ring	eyes,
	Saws	suns	unnumber'd	sparkle	in	the	skies,
	Mark'd	the	just	progress	of	each	rolling	sphere,
	Describ'd	the	seasons,	and^reform'd	the	year.
	At	length	subliiner	studies	I	began,
	And	fix'd	my	level'd	telescope	on	man	;
	Knew	all	his	powers,	and	all	his	passions	trac'd,
	What	virtue	rais'd	him,	and	what	vice	debas'd	:
	But	when	I	saw	his	knowledge	so	confin'd,
	So	vain	his	wishes,	and	so	weak	his	mind,
	His	soul,	a	bright	obscurity	at	best,
	And	rough	with	tempests	his	afflicted	breast,
	His	life,	a	flower	ere	evening	sure	to	fade,
	His	highest	joys,	the	shadow	of	a	shade	;
	To	thy	fair	court	I	took	my	weary	way,
	Bewail	my	folly,	and	Heaven's	laws	obey,
	Confess	my	feeble	mind	for	prayers	unfit,
	And	to	my	Maker's	will	ray	soul	submit	:
	Great	empress	of	yon	orb	that	rolls	below,
	On	me	the	last	best	gift	of	Heaven	bestow."
	He	spoke	:	a	sudden	cloud	his	senses	stole,
	And	thickening	darkness	swam	o'er	all	his	soul	;
	His	vital	spark	her	earthly	cell	forsook,
	And	into	air	her	fleeting	progress	took.
	Now,	from	the	throng	a	deafening	sound	was	heard,
	And	all	at	once	their	various	prayers	preferr'd	;
	The	goddess,	wearied	with	the	noisy	crowd,
	Thrice	wav'd	her	silver	wand,	and	spoke	aloud	:
	"	Our	ears	no	more	with	vain	petitions	tire,
	But	take	unheard	whate'er	you	first	desire."
	*	Knowledge.