XLII. Protector therefore of that forked hill, And mighty patron of thofe Sifters Nine, Who, there enthron'd, with many a copious rill yore Perforce their facred names, and learn their facred lore. XLIII. And to the fairy Knight now drawing near, With voice terrific and imperious mien. (All was he wont lefs dreadful to appear, And all due honours pay to Learning's reverend train. So faying, and foreftalling all reply, His peremptory hand without delay, His princely will, long us'd to boundless sway, * The Lacedemonians, in order to make their children hardy, and endure pain with conftancy and courage, were accustomed to caufe them to be fcourged very feverely. And I myself (fays 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. Upon the Fairy Youth with great dismay ** With many his young compeers therein to be † embay’d. XLV. The Knight his tender fon's distressful four Ne vainly stay'd to deprecate that power, With rafh prefumption; and with courage true, XLVI. And now, difdaining parle, his courfer hot That him perforce conftrain'd to || wend arrear. Lay, mead. XLVII. With + Embay'd, bathed, dipt. * Stour, trouble, misfortune, &c. Fone, foess XLVII. With that enormous mace the Fairy Knight XLVIII. Then swiftly drawing forth his † trenchant blade, High o'er his head he held his fenceful shield; And warily forecasting to evade The giant's furious arm about him wheel'd, With reftlefs fteps aye traverfing the field. And ever as his foe's intemperate pride, Through rage defenceless, mote advantage yield, With his fharp fword so oft he did him || gride, That his gold-fandal'd feet in crimfon floods were dy'd. XLIX. His bafer parts he maim'd with many a wound; But far above his utmost reach were § pight *Bet, beat. + Bray'd, refounded. ↑ Trenchant, cutting. Pight, placed. A power Gride, cut, hack. A power fo puiffant by his fingle might L.. So well he warded, and fo fiercely prefs'd His foe, that weary vex'd he of the fray; Yet nould he algates lower his haughty creft; But making in contempt his fore dismay, Difdainfully 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 blast was heard afar. LI. Eftfoons aftonith'd at th' alarming found, The fignal of distress and hoftile wrong, Confus'dly 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 usage long, His every fummons heard with pleasure fain, And felt his every wound with fympathetic pain.. LII. They, *Nould he algates, would not by any means. Fay, fairy. LII. They, when their bleeding king they did behold, Whofe venturous fearch of devious truth while-ere And in their boding hearts began to fear, Diffention factious, controverfial hate, And innovations ftrange in Custom's peaceful state. But when they faw the Knight his fauchion fheathe, "Soon chac'd the gathering clouds of black affray. And on his bugle clear a strain of triumph blew. There-at the multitude, that food around, Of boisterous joy: the fudden-burfting found, Of nitrous grain, th' afflicted * welkin tore. Loud bursts of laughter vain, and hisses rude, As through the throng he pafs'd, his parting fteps purfued, • Welkin, fky. LV. Alk |