XLIV. So faying and foreftalling all reply, His princely will, long us'd to boundless sway, With many his young compeers therein to be Pembay'd. XLV. The KNIGHT his tender fon's diftrefsful' ftour Ne vainly stay'd to deprecate that pow'r, Which from fubmiffion aye more haughty grew. And now, difdaining parle, his courfer hot He fiercely prick'd, and couch'd his vengeful spear; 1 Where-with the GIANT he fo rudely fmot, Ne other him behoved to quell his boldeft' fone. With that enormous mace the FAIRY KNIGHT t So fore he bet, that all his armour' bray'd, To pieces well-nigh riven with the might Then swiftly drawing forth his " trenchant blade, The GIANT's furious arm, about him wheel'd With restless steps aye traversing the field. Wend arrear, move backwards. C 3 • Fone, foes. "Trenchant, cutting. And And ever as his foe's intemperate pride, With his sharp sword so oft he did him ˇ gride, That his gold-fandal'd feet in crimson floods were dyed. XLIX. His bafer parts he maim'd with many a wound; But far above his utmost reach were * pight The forts of life: ne ever to confound With utter ruin, and abolish quite A power so puissant by his fingle might He stood; content to bow to CUSTOM's throne, L. So well he warded, and fo fiercely prefs'd His foe, that weary wex'd he of the fray; A fmile of fcorn and pity, through the air 'Gan blow his shrilling horn; the blast was heard afar. * Pight, placed. Fay, fairy. * Gride, cut, hack. LI. Eftfoons aftonish'd at th' alarming found, young; The vaffals of great CUSTOM's wide domain, Who to his lore inur'd by ufage long, His every fummons heard with pleasure fain, They, when their bleeding king they did behold, Whofe vent'rous fearch of devious Truth while-ere And in their boding hearts began to fear, And innovations ftrange in CUSTOM's peaceful state. LIII. But when they faw the KNIGHT his fauchion fheathe, And climbing to his fteed march thence away, With all his hoftile train, they 'gan to breathe With freer fpirit, and with aspect gay Soon chaced the gathering clouds of black affray, There-at the multitude, that stood around, Of boisterous joy: the fudden-bursting found a Of nitrous grain, th' afflicted welkin tore. Then turning towards the KNIGHT, with fcoffings lewd, Heart-piercing infults, and revilings fore, Loud bursts of laughter vain, and hiffes rude, As through the throng he pass'd, his parting fteps pur LV. Alfe from that forked bill the boasted seat By those fame Maidens Nine, began to found [fued. While Satire, with dark clouds encompaft round, Sharp, fecret arrows fhot, and aim'd his back to wound. |