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By sudden bursts of angry tempefts vex'd

Oft dash'd the youth, whofe ftrength mote ill abide
With head up-lifted o'er the waves to ride.

Whence many wearied ere they had o'er-past
The middle stream (for they in vain have tried)
Again return'd astounded and aghaft;

Ne one regardful look would ever backward caft.
XXXIII.

Some, of a rugged, more enduring frame,
Their toilfome course with patient pain purfu'd
And though with many a bruise and muchel blame,
Eft hanging on the rocks, and eft embru'd
Deep in the muddy ftream, with hearts fubdu'd
And quail'd by labour, gain'd the shore at last,
But in life's practic lear unfkill'd and rude,
Forth to that forked bill they filent pac'd;
Where hid in ftudious fhades their fruitless hours they

XXXIV.

Others of rich and noble lineage bred,

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Though with the crowd to pass the flood constrain'd,
Yet o'er the crags with fond indulgence led
By bireling guides and in all depths fuftain'd,
Skimm'd lightly o'er the tide, undipt, unftain'd,
Save with the sprinkling of the wat'ry spray:
Aftounded, aftonifhed. Muchel, much. f Lear, learning.

And

And aye their proud prerogative maintain'd,
Of ignorance and ease and wanton play,
Soft harbingers of vice, and præmature decay.
XXXV.

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A few, alas, how few! by heav'n's high will
With fubtile spirits endow'd and finews ftrong,
Albe foremated by the tempefts fhrill,..
That bellow'd fierce and rife the rocks among,
By their own native vigour borne along

Cut brifkly through the waves; and forces: new
Gathering from toil, and ardour from the throng

Of rival youths, outstript the labouring crew,

And to the true 'Parnasse, and heav'n-thron'd glory flew.
XXXVI.

Dire was the tumult, and from every shore
Difcordant echoes ftruck the deafen'd ear,

Heart-thrilling cries, with fobs and fingults fore
Short-interrupted, the imploring tear,

And furious ftripes, and angry threats fevere,
Confus'dly mingled with the jarring found
Of all the various fpeeches that while-ere

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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,
But more his blooming fon, whose tender breast
Empierced deep with fympathizing teen

On his pale cheek the signs of dread impress'd,
And fill'd his eyes with tears, which fore diftrefs'd
Up to his fire he rais'd in mournful wife;

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
Of shouting myriads, through the valley bray'd,
And shook the groves, the floods, and folid ground:
The diftant hills rebellow'd all around.

"Arreft, Sir Knight, it cried, thy fond career,
"Nor with prefumptuous difobedience wound
"That aweful majefty which all revere !

"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;
Albeit lawful kingdom he had none;

But laws and kingdoms wont he oft create,
And oft'times over both erect his throne,

m

While fenates, priests and kings his fov'ran fceptre own.
XL.

CUSTOM he hight; and aye in every land
Ufurp'd dominion with defpotic sway

O'er all he holds; and to his high command
Constrains ev'n ftubborn Nature to obey;
Whom difpoffeffing oft, he doth affay
To govern in her right: and with a pace
So foft and gentle doth he win his way,
That she unwares is caught in his embrace,

And though deflowr'd and thrall'd nought feels her foul

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For nurt'ring, even from their tend'rest age,

The docile fons of men withouten pain,
By difciplines and rules to every stage
Of life accommodate, he doth them train
Infenfibly to wear and hug his chain.
Alfe his behefts or gentle or fevere,
Or good or noxious, rational or vain,
He craftily perfuades them to revere,
As inftitutions fage, and venerable lear.
an Sov'ran, for fovereign.

XLII. Pro

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XLII.

Protector therefore of that forked hill,

And mighty patron of thofe Sifters Nine,
Who there enthron'd, with many a copious rill

Feed the full streams, that through the valley fhine,
He deemed was; and aye with rites divine,

"Like thofe, which Sparta's hardy race of yore
Were wont perform at fell Diana's fhrine,

He doth constrain his vaffals to adore

Perforce their facred names, and learn their facred lore.
XLIII.

And to the FAIRY KNIGHT now drawing near,
With voice terrific and imperious mien,

(All was he wont lefs dreadful to appear,

When known and practised than at distance feen)
And kingly stretching forth his fceptre sheen,
Him he commandeth, upon threat'ned pain
Of his displeasure high and vengeance keen,
From his rebellious purpose to refrain,

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.

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