Oft weighty truths are in this garb ydrefs'd..
Grant that it fo may happen unto me;

Then joyance once again fhall footh this breast,
My pining foul fhall be from anguish free,

And I fhall tafte true blifs, dear Columbel, with thee.
XXIX.

Methought I faw a figure fair and tall,
And gentle fmiles fat dimpling on her face,
Yet feemed of a beauty nought at all,

'Till much beholding did improve each grace;
At length fhe feem'd too fair for human race.
Her kirtle white might vie with winter fnows,
Ne could you ought of her fair bosom trace,

Nought but her face would fhe to fight expofe,
So modest maiden wends, the frannion muchel shows.
XXX.

With visage bland methought fhe hail'd me oft:
"Ne fear, quoth fhe, a female's mild request.
"The bark by tempests that is whirl'd aloft,
"At length, the tempeft o'er, enjoyeth reft.
'My name is Chastity, though out of quest

With modern dames, yet thou fhalt still survey "A clime where beauty is with virtue bleft. "Good fortune fpeed you on your happy way;

"Go, gentle Squire of Dames, and here no longer stay.

XXXI. "To

XXXI.

"To Fairy lond your inftant journey bend,
"There Columbel may find her will obey'd;
"There Chastity may boast of many a friend,
"She vifits there each rofy-featur'd maid.

"Go on, nor be by former toils affray'd:

"Go where yon oaks display their verdant pride, ""Till, from the mountains torn and ftripp'd of fhade, "On Neptune's billows they triumphant ride, "Protect their happy lond, and conquer all befide. XXXII.

"Hail happy lond! for arms and arts renown'd, "For blooming virgins free from loose desire;

A Drake, a Bacon, there a birth-place found,
"And chafte Eliza time fhall e'er admire :
"The hero wields the sword and poet's lyre.

"This Sidney knew, who still with luftre fhines,
"For whom Dan Spenfer wak'd the warbling quire,
"And many more whofe names might grace his lines;
"There round the warriour's palm the lover's myrtle
[twines."

XXXIII.

At this I woke, and now refolv'd to brave

The utmost perils for my Columbel;
For, know, I mean to cross the briny wave,
Where Albion's chalky cliffs the fea repel:

And, if no mage have laid a magic spell,
Perchaunce my lot may be at length to find

Three hundred nymphs, who wicked love can quell;
If not, I must defert all womankind,

And, what me most amates, leave Columbel behind.
XXXIV.

The Squire of Dames furceafed here his fay,
And forth he yode to feek the British isle,
Sir Satyrane prick'd on his dapple-grey,
Ne ought forefwonk he travell'd many a mile
To spend his days in hardiment and toil:
But first in courteous guife they bid farewell,
As well befits men bred in courtly foil,

Now how the Squire has fped, or ill, or well,
A future canto may, perhaps, at leifure tell.
XXXV.

For fee, how Phoebus welketh in the weft,
My oxen from their yoke I must untye,
The collar much has chauf'd their tender cheft,
Who labours much the fweets of reft fhould try.
To their warm nefts the daws and ravens fly
Deep in the ruin'd dome or dufky wood;
And beasts and birds faft lock'd in flumber lye,
Save the fell bat, that flutters out for food,

And the foothfaying owl, with her unlovely brood.
CANTO

CANTO II.

ARGUMENT.

The Squire be lights on Bon-vivant,
Who wons in Fairy foil,

Then views in Merlin's magic glass
A fight that ends his toil.

I.

O gain the point to which our foul afpires

To gain the

We nourish toil, and reek hard labour fweet;" For this, thro' Greenland's frofts, or India's fires, The hardy failors death and dangers meet; And the prow chieftain, bolder than discreet, In blood imbru'd pursues the martial fray, And lovers eke through life's loud tempefts beat, Led on by hope, that never-dying ray;

Hope wantons in their breast, and strews with flow'rs the

II.

And fure of all mankind the Squire of Dames
Shall stand the first enfample of true love,
Who aye, untouch'd by any foreign flames,
Preferv'd his paffion for his gentle dove ;

K 3

[way.

Blush,

Blush, modern youths, whose pulses quickly move,
Fondly you glote upon the witching fair;

Yet, when a fweet enjoyment once you prove,
You leave the nymph intangled in the fnare,

Her tears flow trickling down, her fingults pierce the air.
III.

Oh think of transports which ye whilom tafted,
And let the glad remembrance charm your mind,
Be not the fruits of joyment quickly wafted,
And to your heart her happy image bind :
Think what the merits who whilear was kind,
Nor by inconftancy her peace destroy;
Inconftancy, that monfter fell and blind:
That vainly fond of every paffing toy,

Treads down its late delight, and poisons rapt'rous joy.
IV.

Return we now unto our gentle youth,

Whose little bark daunc'd lightly on the main,

His breast divided atween joy and ruth;

Now

gay ideas wanton in his brain,

Now woe-begon his heart is rent in twain,
On his fuccefs depends his Columbel;

And now he hopes, and now defponds again;

The various turns of mind, when thoughts rebel, Sure pen mote ne'er describe, and none but lovers tell V. Methinks