Deep in the muddy ftream, with hearts fubdu'd Where hid in ftudious fhades their fruitless hours they wafte. Others of rich and noble lineage bred, Though with the crowd to pass the flood constrain'd, Yet o'er the crags with fond indulgence led By hireling guides and in all depths fuftain'd, Skimm'd lightly o'er the tide, undipt, unftain'd, Save with the fprinkling of the wat'ry spray: And aye their proud prerogative maintain'd, Of ignorance and eafe and wanton play, Soft harbingers of vice, and præmature decay. XXXV. 3 A few, alas, how few! by heav'n's high will With fubtile fpirits endow'd and finews ftrong, P Albe fore 9 mated by the tempefts fhrill, That bellow'd fierce and rife the rocks among, By their own native vigour borne along Cut brifkly through the waves; and forces new Gathering from toil, and ardor from the throng Of rival youths, outftript the labouring crew, And to the true Parnasse, and heav'n-thron'd glory flew. • Lear, learning. Albe, although. 4 Mated, amaz'd, scared. r Parnale, Parnaffus. XXXVI. Dire was the tumult, and from every shore 8 Heart-thrilling cries, with fobs and fingults fore And furious ftripes, and angry threats fevere, Much was the KNIGHT empaffion'd at the scene, On his pale cheek the figns of dread imprefs'd, Who with fweet fmiles paternal foon redress'd His troublous thoughts, and clear'd each fad surmise ; Then turns his ready fteed, and on his journey hies. XXXVIII. But far he had not march'd ere he was stay'd ! Singults, fighs. t While-ere, formerly. The The diftant hills rebellow'd all around. "In my commands, Sir Knight, the voice of nations hear! XXXIX. Quick turn'd the KNIGHT, and faw upon the plain But laws and kingdoms wont he oft create, While fenates, priests and kings his " sov'ran fceptre own. CUSTOM he hight; and aye in every land O'er all he holds; and to his high command And tho'deflowr'd and thrall'd nought feels her foul difgrace. u Sev'ran, for fovereign. XLI. For XLI. For nurt'ring, even from their tend'reft ags; Protector therefore of that forked hill, And mighty patron of thofe Sifters Nine, Who there enthron'd, with many a copious rill Feed the full ftreams, that through the valley fhine, He deemed was; and aye with rites divine, * Like thofe, which Sparta's hardy race of yore Were wont perform at fell Diana's fhrine, He doth constrain his vaffals to adore Perforce their facred names, and learn their facred lore. And to the FAIRY KNIGHT now drawing near, (All was he wont lefs dreadful to appear, When known and practifed than at diftance feen) And The Lacedemonians in order to make their children bardy and endure pain with conftancy and courage, were accuftomed to cause them to be fcourged very feverely. And I myfelf And kingly ftretching forth his fceptre sheen, And all due honours pay to Learning's rev'rend train. So faying and foreftalling all reply, His princely will, long us'd to boundless fway, In every quaking limb convuls'd, he lay'd: XLV. The KNIGHT his tender fon's diftrefsful flour Perceiving, fwift to his affiftance flew : Ne vainly ftay'd to deprecate that pow'r, myself (Says Plutarch, in his life of Lycurgus) have feen feveral of them endure whipping to death, at the foot of the altar of Diana furnamed Orthia. Ꮓ y Lay, mead. Embay'd, bathed, dipt. trouble, misfortune, &.. a Stours |