With each bright Virtue that adorns the mind! And THOU, whofe pious and maternal care, To the smooth walks of Truth and Innocence; THOU, most belov'd, most honour'd, moft rever'd! a And trace the plan of goodly Nurture o'er, I bring thy modeft virtues into view; And proudly boaft that from thy precious ftore, Which erft enrich'd my heart, I drew this facred lore. a Nurture, Education. And And thus, I ween, thus fhall I beft repay The valued gifts, thy careful love bestow'd; I labour to diffufe th' important good CANTO I. ARGUMENT. The Knight, as to b PÆDIA's house He his young Son conveys, Is fiaid by CUSTOм; with him fights, A And his vain pride dismays. Gentle KNIGHт there was, whofe noble deeds O'er Fairy Land by Fame were blazon'd round: For warlike enterprize, and fage areeds Emong the chief alike was he renown'd; b Pædîa is a Greek word, fignifying Education. Whence Whence with the marks of highest honours crown'd That port, to which the wife are ever bound, There in domeftick virtue rich and great The lord, the judge, the father of the plain, Aye dwelt; fweet partner of his joy and pain, From this fair union, not of fordid gain, But merit fimilar and mutual love, True fource of lineal virtue, fprung a train Of youths and virgins; like the beauteous grove, a Parent true, the facred olive.] This tree grew in the Altis, or facred grove of Olympick Jupiter at Olympia, having, as the Eleans pretended, been originally planted there by Hercules. It was efteemed facred, and from that avere taken the Olympick crowns. See Paufanias. Eliac. and the Differtation on the Olympick Games. Her Her verdant crowns of peaceful victory, e The guerdons of bold strength, and swift äctivity. So round their noble parents goodly rofe Thefe generous feyons; they with watchful care The buds of future virtues, did prepare With prudent culture the young shoots to rear: They by a f Palmer sage instructed were, Who from deep thought and ftudious search erewhile Had learnt to mend the heart, and till the human foil. V. For by cœleftial Wisdom whilom led Through all th' apartments of th' immortal mind, And how fenfation and reflection join'd Their various masks they play'd,and fed her penfive thought. e Guerdons, rewards. Palmer, pilgrim. The perfon here fignified is Mr. Locke, characteriz'd by his works. Sted, place, ftation. VI. Alfe through the fields of Science had he stray'd Or hear the mufick of their charming lore: His curious foul, he turn'd him to explore The facred writ of Faith; to learn, believe, adore. Thence foe profefs'd of Falfhood and Deceit, Those fly artificers of tyranny, Aye holding up before uncertain feet The perfecuting sword forbids to draw, And free-created fouls with penal terrours awe. : "Ne with thefe glorious gifts elate and vain But, ftooping from his height, would even deign Alfe, alfo, further. k Aye, ever. i Mote, might. I Ne, nor. Eternal |