XXV.

The Squire purfu'd his tale; 'tis now three years
Since curft Avara's visage first I saw ;

Convents I've try'd, but there the luscious freers
The fair-fac'd nuns to fornication draw;
Nor palaces are free from Cupid's law;
His darts are fiercer than the levin-brond;
Few, very few, there 'scape his mighty paw,
And thofe in golden palls, who proudly ftond,
Had lever kifs their love's, than Keyfar's royal hond.
XXVI.

Fair Jenny of the mill I ftrove to win,
And her benempt Pastora of the dale;

But they bilive agreed with me to fin;

One ask'd an owch, and one a watchet veil.
Some wish o'er ev'ry female to prevail;

My hope, my conqueft is to be deny'd.

The ftage I've try'd, but there my projects fail;

For there is scarce a fingle wedded bride

But doth her husband's noul with horns of ront provide. XXVII.

As couthful fishers at the benty brook,

By various arts affot the feely fry,

Now wriggling worms, now paste conceals the hook, And now they hide it with a colour'd fly;

This takes the perch, and that the tench's eye;
So diff'rent nymphs a diff'rent charm invites,
Some yield for vantage, fome for vanity,

A fong this one, a daunce that maid delights :
Man throws the wimble bait, and greedy woman bitess
XXVIII.

With forrow overhent, the other day
I laid my weary limbs adown to rest,
Where a tall beech o'erfpread the dusky way;
My noyous thoughts a dream awhile fupprefs'd,
Oft weighty truths are in this garb ydrefs'd.
Grant that it fo may happen unto me;

Then joyance once again fhall footh this breaft,
My pining foul fhall be from anguish free,

And I fhall tafte true blifs, dear Columbel, with thee.
XXIX.

Methought I faw a figure fair and tall,

And gentle fmiles fat dimpling on her face,
Yet feemed of a beauty nought at all,
'Till much beholding did improve each grace;
At length the feem'd too fair for human race.
Her kirtle white might vie with winter fnows,
Ne could you ought of her fair bosom trace,
Nought but her face would fhe to fight expofe,
So modeft maiden wends, the frannion muchel fhows.

66

XXX.

With vifage bland, methought, fhe hail'd me oft;
"Ne fear, quoth fhe, a female's mild request.
"The bark by tempefts that is whirl'd aloft,
"At length, the tempeft o'er, enjoyeth.reft.

My name is Chastity, tho' out of queft

"With modern dames, yet thou shalt still survey
"A clime where beauty is with virtue bleft.
"Good fortune speed you on your happy way;

Go, gentle Squire of dames, and here no longer ftay.
XXXI.

"To Fairy lond your inftant journey bend, "There Columbel may find her will obey'd; "There Chastity may boaft of many a friend, "She vifits there each rofy-featur'd maid. "Go on, nor be by former toils affray'd: "Go where yon oaks difplay their verdant pride, " "Till, from the mountains torn and stripp'd of shade,

"On Neptune's billows they triumphant ride,

"Protect their happy lond, and conquer all befide.

XXXII.

"Hail happy lond! for arms and arts renown'd,
"For blooming virgins free from loose defire;
"A Drake, a Bacon, there a birth-place found,
"And chafte Eliza time shall e'er admire :

"The

"The hero wields the fword and poet's lyre: "This Sidney knew, who ftill with luftre fhines, "For whom Dan Spenfer wak'd the warbling quire, "And many more whofe names might grace his lines There round the warriour's palm the lover's myrtle XXXIII.

[twines."

At this I woke, and now refolve to brave
The utmoft perils for my Columbel;
For, know, I mean to cross the briny wave,
Where Albion's chalky cliffs the fea repel:
And, if no mage have laid a magick spell,
Perchaunce my
lot may be at length to find
Three hundred nymphs, who wicked love can quell;
If not, I must desert all womankind,

And, what me most amates, leave Columbel behind.
XXXIV.

The Squire of dames furceafed here his fay,
And forth he yode to feek the British isle,
Sir Satyrane prick'd on his dapple-grey,
Ne ought forefwonk he travell'd many a mile
To spend his days in hardiment and toil :
But firft in courteous guise they bid farewell,
As well befits men bred in courtly foil.
Now how the Squire has fped, or ill, or well,
A future canto may, perhaps, at leifure tell.

;

XXXV.

For fee, how Phoebus welketh in the west,
My oxen from their yoke I muft untye,
The collar much has chauf'd their tender cheft,
Who labours much the sweets of reft should try.
To their warm nefts the daws and ravens fly
Deep in the ruin'd dome or dusky wood;
And beasts and birds faft lock'd in flumber lye,
Save the fell bat, that flutters out for food,
And the foothfaying owl, with her unlovely brood.

T

CANTO II.

ARGUMENT.

The Squire be lights on Bon-vivant,

Who wons in Fairy foil,

Then views in Merlin's magick glafs

A fight that ends his toil.

I.

O gain the point to which our foul afpires

We nourish toil, and reek hard labour fweet; For this, thro' Greenland's frofts, or India's fires, The hardy failors death and dangers meet;

And