LVI. But the brave FAIRY KNIGHT no whit dismay'd Him feem'd that nothing ferious, nothing found In village, city, caftle, bow'r and hall, Nor heav'n's tempeftuous threats, nor earth's convulfive But chiefly they whom Heav'n's difpofing hand That waits on Nurture and Inftruction fage, If If happy their wife hefts mote them engage To climb through knowledge to more noble praise; With the bright influence of fair Virtue's rays; Which from the aweful heights of Grandeur brighter LIX. They, O perverse and base ingratitude! Defpifing the great ends of Providence, [blaze. For which above their mates they were endued To the low fervices of brutal fenfe Abused the means of pleasures more refin'd, And fettering on her throne th' immortal mind, The guidance of her realm to paffions wild refign'd. LX. Hence thoughtless, fhameless, reckless, fpiritless, Nought worthy of their kind did they affay; But or benumb'd with palfied Idleness In meerly living loiter'd life away. Or by false taste of pleasure led aftray, And with untimely blafts difeas'd their vernal hours. Hefts, behefts, precepts, commands. LXI. Ev'n LXI. Ev'n they, to whom kind Nature did accord A frame more delicate, and purer mind, Though the foul brothel and the wine-ftain'd board Of beaftly Comus loathing they declin❜d, Yet their foft hearts to idle joys refign'd; Like painted infects, through the fummer-air. With random flight aye ranging unconfin'd; And tafting every flower and bloffom fair, Withouten any choice, withouten any care. LXII. For choice them needed none, who only fought And leaving toil and poverty behind, Ran forth by different ways the blissful boon to find. LXIII. Nor tedious was the fearch; for every where, As nigh great CUSTOM's royal tow'rs the KNIGHT Pass'd through th' adjoining hamlets, mote he hear The merry voice of feftival Delight Saluting Saluting the return of morning bright In cover'd theatres, or leafy bow'rs Offering her evening-vows to Pleafure's joyous pow'rs. LXIV. And ever on the way mote he efpy Men, women, children, a promifcuous throng And every gay defire with various joys fupplied. LXV. For there each heart with diverse charms to move, To wanton motions, and the lover's figh, And thought-beguiling fhew, and masking revelry. LXVI. Un LXVI. Unmeet affociates there for noble youth, The which avizing well, the cautious fire 'Or ere the sweet contagion mote attain His fon's unpractis'd heart, yet free from vicious stain. LXVII. So turning from that beaten road aside, Through many a devious path at length he paced, As that experienc'd Palmer did him guide, 'Till to a mountain hoare they come at last; Whose high-rais'd brows with filvan honours graced, Majestically frown'd upon the plain, And over all an aweful horror caft. Seem'd as thofe villas gay it did disdain, Which spangled all the vale like Flora's painted train. LXVIII. The hill afcended ftrait, ere-while they came To a tall grove, whofe thick-embow'ring fhade, Ev'n at mid-noon a dubious twilight made; Or ere, before. Like |