XLVI.

And now, difdaining parle, his courfer hot

He fiercely prick'd, and couch'd his vengeful spear; Where with the GIANT he fo rudely fmot, That him perforce constrain'd to ↳ wend arrear. Who, much abash'd at such rebuke severe, Yet his accuftom'd pride recov'ring foon, Forth-with his maffy fceptre 'gan up-rear; For other warlike weapon he had none, Ne other him behoved to quell his boldest fone. XLVII.

C

With that enormous mace the FAIRY KNIGHT
So fore he d bet, that all his armourd bray'd,
To pieces well-nigh riven with the might
Of fo tempestuous ftrokes: but He was ftay'd,
And ever with deliberate valour weigh'd
The fudden changes of the doubtful fray;
From cautious prudence oft deriving aid,
When force unequal did him hard affay:
So lightly from his fteed he leapt upon the lay.
XLVIII.

Then fwiftly drawing forth his

trenchant blade,

d

High o'er his head he held his fenceful shield;

And warily fore-cafting to evade

The GIANT's furious arm, about him wheel'd,

b Wend arrear, move backwards.

a Bet, beat; bray'd, refounded.

c Fone, foes. e Trencbant, cutting.

With reftless steps aye traverfing the field. And ever as his foe's intemperate pride, Through rage defenceless, mote advantage yield, With his sharp sword so oft he did him f gride, That his gold-fandal'd feet in crimson floods were dyed.

XLIX.

His bafer parts he maim'd with many a wound;

g

But far above his utmost reach were & pight

The forts of life: ne ever to confound
With utter ruin, and abolish quite

A power fo puiffant by his fingle might
Did he prefume to hope: Himself alone
From lawless force to free, in bloody fight

He ftood; content to bow to CUSTOM's throne,
SO REASON Mote not blush his fov'ran rule to own:

L.

So well he warded, and fo fiercely prefs'd His foe, that weary wex'd he of the fray; Yet nould he algates lower his haughty creft; But masking in contempt his fore dismay, Disdainfully releas'd the trembling prey, As one unworthy of his princely care; Then proudly cafting on the warlike fay A fmile of fcorn and pity, through the air 'Gan blow his fhrilling horn; the blaft was heard afar.

f Gride, cut, hack.

• Pight, placed. h Nould

he algates, would not by any means. i Fay, fairy.

LI. Eft

LI.

Eftfoons aftonish'd at th' alarming found,
The fignal of diftress and hoftile wrong,
Confufedly trooping from all quarters round;
Came pouring o'er the plain a numerous throng
Of every fex and order, old and young;
The vaffals of great CUSTOM's wide domain,
Who to his lore inur'd by ufage long,

His every fummons heard with pleasure fain,
And felt his every wound with sympathetick pain.
LII.

They, when their bleeding king they did behold,
And faw an armed KNIGHT him standing near,

Attended by that Palmer fage and bold;

Whofe vent'rous fearch of devious Truth while-ear
Spread through the realms of Learning horrors drear,
Y-feized were at firft with terrors great;

And in their boding hearts began to fear,
Diffention factious, controverfial hate,

And innovations ftrange in CUSTOM's peaceful ftate.

LIII.

But when they faw the KNIGHT his fauchion sheathe'

And climbing to his fteed march thence away,
With all his hoftile train, they 'gan to breathe
With freer fpirit, and with aspect gay

Soon

Soon chaced the gathering clouds of black affray.
Alfe their great monarch, cheared with the view
Of myriads, who confefs his fov'ran fway, T
His ruffled pride began to plume anew

And on his bugle clear a strain of triumph blew.
LIV.

There-at the multitude, that ftood around,
Sent up at once a univerfal roar,

Of boisterous joy: the fudden-bursting found,
Like the explosion of a warlike store

Of nitrous grain, th' afflicted welkin tore.
Then turning towards the KNIGHT, with fcoffings lewd,
Heart-piercing infults, and revilings fore,

Loud burfts of laughter vain, and hiffes rude,

As through the throng he pafs'd, his parting fteps purfued. LV.

Alfe from that forked hill the boasted feat Of ftudious Peace, and mild Philofophy, Indignant murmurs mote be heard to threat, Muftering their rage; eke baleful Infamy, Rouz'd from her den of bafe obfcurity By thofe fame Maidens Nine, began to found Her brazen trump of black'ning obloquy : While Satire, with dark clouds encompast round, Sharp, fecret arrows fhot, and aim'd his back to wound.

* Welkin, sky.

VOL. IV.

C

LVI. But

LVI. 2

But the brave FAIRY KNIGHT no whit difmay'd
Held on his peaceful journey o'er the plain;
With curious eye obferving, as he stray'd
Through the wide provinces of CUSTOM's reign,
What mote afresh admonish him remain
Faft by his virtuous purpose; all around
So many objects mov'd his juft difdain;

Him feem'd that nothing ferious, nothing found
In city, village, bow'r, or caftle mote be found.
LVII.

In village, city, caftle, bow'r and hall,
Each fex, each age, each order and degree,
To vice and idle sport abandon'd all,
Kept one perpetual general jubilee.
Ne fuffered ought difturb their merry glee;
Ne sense of private loss, ne publick woes,
Restraint of law, Religion's drad decree,
Inteftine defolation, foreign foes,

[throws.

Nor heav'n's tempestuous threats, nor earth's convulfive

LVIII.

But chiefly they whom Heav'n's difpofing hand
Had feated high on Fortune's upper stage;

And plac'd within their call the sacred band
That waits on Nature and Inftruction fage,