His falling tears increas'd the fwelling brook : And he did figh as he would break his heart. "O thou deep-read in forrow's baleful book, "The Squire exclaim'd, areed thy burning fmart; "Our dolors grow more light when we the tale impart.” XXVII.

To whom the fwain reply'd, "O gentle youth, "Yon fruitful meads my num'rous herds poffefs'd, "My days roll'd on unknown to pain or ruth, "And one fair daughter my old age yblefs'd. "Oh, had you seen her for the wake ydrefs'd "With kirtle ty'd with many a colour'd ftring, "Thy tongue to all the world had then confefs'd "That she was sheener than the pheafant's wing, "And, when the rais'd her voice, ne lark fo foot could fing. XXVIII.

"In virtue's thews I bred the lovely maid, "And the right well the lessons did pursue; "Too wife fhe was to be by man betray'd; "But the curft blatant-beast her form did view, "And round our plains did spread a tale untrue, "That Rofabella, fpurning marriage band, "Had felt those pangs which virgin never knew, "And that Sir Topas my poor girl trepann'd; "He, who in fable stole doth in our pulpit stand. XXIX.

"Nay, more, the hellish monfter has invented, • How a young swain on Shannon's banks yborn VOL. IV.

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"(Had

(Had not my care the deep-laid plot prevented)
"Would from my arms my Rosabel have born.
"Have I not cause to weep from rising morn
" "Till Phoebus welketh in the western main,
"To fee my dearling's fame thus vildly torn?
"Have I not caufe to nourish endless pain?"
At this he deeply figh'd, and wept full fore again.
XXX.

"Curft be this blatant-beast, reply'd the Squire,
"That thus infects your fea-begirted ifle;
"Shew me his face, that I may wreak mine ire
Upon this imp of hell, this monster vile.”

Away from hence not paffing fure a mile,

Might I advise you, you had better wend,"

Return'd the fwain, "Deep-read in magick-style

"There Merlin wons, fue him to be your friend;

"And left you miss your way, myself will you attend.” XXXI.

Together now they feek the hermitage

Deep in the covert of a dufky glade,

Where in his dortour wons the hoary fage.

The mofs-grown trees did form a gloomy fhade,
Their rustling leaves a folemn mufick made,
And fairies nightly tripp'd the awful green,
And if the tongue of fame have truth display'd,
Full many a spectre was at midnight seen,
Torn from his earthly grave, a horrid fight! I ween.

XXXII. Ne

XXXII.

Ne rofe, ne vi'let glads the chearless bow'r,
Ne fringed pink from earth's green bofom grew;
But hemlock dire, and ev'ry baleful flow'r
Might here be found, and knots of myftick rue.
Close to the cell fprong up an auncient yew,
And store of imps were on it's boughs ypight,
At his behefts they from it's branches flew,
And, in a thousand various forms bedight,

Frisk'd to the moon's pale wain, and revell'd all the night.
XXXIII.

Around the cave a clustring ivy spread
In wide embrace his over-twining arms,
Within, the walls with characters bespread
Declar'd the pow'rful force of magick charms.
Here drugs were plac'd deftructive of all harms,
And books that deep futurity could scan:
Here stood a fpell that of his rage difarms
The mountain lyon 'till he yields to man ;
With many

fecrets more, which fcarce repeat I can.
XXXIV.

The Squire of dames deep enters in the cell:
What will not valiant heart for beauty dare?
His borrel fere here bids his friend farewell,
And home he wends renewing cark and care.
When, louting low with a becoming air,
The youth cry'd out, "O thrice renowned mage,
"Vouchsafe to cure me of my black dispair;
"For thou not only art grown wife thro' age,
“But art of mortal man by far the wisest fage."

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XXXV.

XXXV.

Then Merlin with a look benign reply'd,
(For he was bred with ev'ry courteous thew)
"I know to make fair Columbel your bride
"The blatant-beaft you thro' the lond pursue;
"The fate of empires now demands my view,
"And for awhile denys my presence here;
"Soon in this cell I'll thee again falew,

"What most thou lik'st partake withouten fear,

"Share all my cave affords, nor think I grudge my chear.. XXXVI.

"Yet mark my counsel, open not that door, "Left thou repent thy follies when too late, "Ten thousand pangs fhall make thy heart full fore, "For horror fcouls behind that heben gate, "And future ills fhall thy dear peace amate; "There stands a mirror, wrought by magick leer, "In which are read the dark decrees of fate, "And whom you wish to fee will streit appear, "Devoid of art's falfe mask, to human eye-fight clear. XXXVII.

"Ah how unlike the godlike man he seem'd
"In this my glass the patriot I've decry'd,
"By the vile rabblement a faint esteem'd ?
"He's oft a wretch compos'd of floth and pride:
"And Kefars too, not feldom deify'd,

"With other men their vice and follies share;
"And by my mirror if the nymph be try'd,.

"It will without reserve the truth declare,

"Ne flatter head that's crown'd, ne flatter face that's fair.

XXXVIII.

XXXVIII.

"Once more let me advise thee, gentle Squire, "Forbear to look at this fame magick glass; "Do not too rafhly into fate enquire "But I to foreign fronds awhile muft pafs." Th' unweeting youth cry'd to himself, “Alas! "Would I could know the lot to me affign'd." "Patience, quoth Merlin, doth all things furpafs." Then to his car were winged dragons join'd,

With which he fails thro' air, and far outftrips the wind.
XXXIX.

And now the Squire furveys the lonesome cave,
His wav'ring mind is in a whirlwind toft,
And now the mirror he resolves to brave,
And now he finds his boafted courage loft.
At length determin'd whatsoe'er it cost,
To fee the glafs, he darts into the cell;
And, left his eyes by vild retrait be croft,
Thrice he invokes his lovely Columbel.
As Adam fell of yore, the Squire of dames yfell.
XL.

The heben doors full widely he display'd,
And faw the lovely queen of all his heart,
Fair as the lilly in the watry glade,
Bright as the morn, and bright withouten art.
Thro' ev'ry vein he feels a thrillant smart:
For the dear maid lay on her bed undrefs'd,
And, may I unreprov'd the truth impart,
She hugg'd a lufty ftripling to her breast,
Whom the full closely clipp'd, and wantonly carefs'd.

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XLI.