By sudden bursts of angry tempefts vex'd Oft dash'd the youth, whofe ftrength mote ill abide Whence many wearied ere they had o'er-past Ne one regardful look would ever backward caft. Some, of a rugged, more enduring frame, XXXIV. Others of rich and noble lineage bred, [waste. Though with the crowd to pass the flood constrain'd, And And aye their proud prerogative maintain'd, A few, alas, how few! by heav'n's high will Cut brifkly through the waves; and forces: new Of rival youths, outstript the labouring crew, And to the true 'Parnasse, and heav'n-thron'd glory flew. Dire was the tumult, and from every shore Heart-thrilling cries, with fobs and fingults fore And furious ftripes, and angry threats fevere, On Shinar's wide-spread champain did astound High Babel's builders vain, and their proud works con[found. Albe, although. h Mated, amazed, feared. 1 Parnaffe, Parnaffus. * Singults, fighs. While-ere, formerly. XXXVII. Much XXXVII. Much was the KNIGHT empaffion'd at the fcene, On his pale cheek the signs of dread impress'd, Who with sweet smiles paternal foon redress'd His troublous thoughts, and clear'd each fad furmife; Then turns his ready fteed, and on his journey hies. XXXVIII. But far he had not march'd ere he was stay'd By a rude voice, that like th' united found "Arreft, Sir Knight, it cried, thy fond career, "In my commands, Sir Knight, the voice of nations hear!" XXXIX. Quick turn'd the KNIGHT, and faw upon the plain Advancing tow'rds him with impetuous gate, And visage all inflam'd with fierce difdain, A monstrous GIANT, on whofe brow elate VOL. IV. C Shone 'Shone the bright enfign of imperial state; But laws and kingdoms wont he oft create, m While fenates, priests and kings his fov'ran fceptre own. CUSTOM he hight; and aye in every land O'er all he holds; and to his high command And though deflowr'd and thrall'd nought feels her foul For nurt'ring, even from their tend'rest age, The docile fons of men withouten pain, XLII. Pro XLII. Protector therefore of that forked hill, And mighty patron of thofe Sifters Nine, Feed the full streams, that through the valley fhine, "Like thofe, which Sparta's hardy race of yore He doth constrain his vaffals to adore Perforce their facred names, and learn their facred lore. And to the FAIRY KNIGHT now drawing near, (All was he wont lefs dreadful to appear, When known and practised than at distance feen) And all due honours pay to Learning's rev'rend train. The Lacedemonians in order to make their children hardy and endure pain with conftancy and courage, were accustomed to cause them to be fcourged very feverely. And I myself (fays Plutarch, in his life of Lycurgus) have feen feveral of them endure whipping to death, at the foot of the altar of Diana furnamed Orthia. |