dren h'd

35

40

In the warm fpouting gore; heaps driv'n on heaps
Promifcuous lie. Tonforio now advanc'd
On the rough edge of battle: his broad front
Beneath his fhining elm fecure, as erst
Was thine, Mambrino, ftout Iberian knight!
Defied the rattling ftorm, that on his head
Fell innocent. A table's ragged frame
In his right hand he bore, Herculcan club!
Crowds, pufh'd on crowds, before his potent arm,
Fled ignominious; havock, and dismay,
Hung on their rear. Collin a merry swain,
Blithe as the foaring lark, as fweet the strains
Of his foft warbling lips, that whistling chear
His labouring team, they tofs their heads well
pleas'd,

45

50

In gaudy plumage deck'd, with ftern difdain
Beheld this victor proud; his generous foul
Brook'd not the foul difgrace. High o'er his

head

55

He wields tremendous; like a mountain boar
In tails inclos'd, he dares his circling foes.
They fhrink aloof, or foon with shame repent 75
The rafh affault; the ruftic heroes fall

In heaps around. Cuddy, a dexterous youth,
When force was vain, on fraudful art rely'd:
Close to the ground low cowering, unperceiv'd,
Cautious he crept, and with his crooked bill 80
Cut fheer the frail fupport, prop of his age:
Reeling awhile he ftood, and menac'd fierce
Th' infidious fwain, reluctant now at length
Fell prone, and plough'd the duft. So the tall
oak,

Old monarch of the groves, that long had

ftood

90

The fhock of warring winds and the red bolts
Of angry Jove, fhorn of his leafy fhade
At last, and inwardly decay'd, if chance
The cruel woodman spy the friendly spur,
His only hold; that fever'd, foon he nods,
And fhakes th' incumber'd mountain as he falls.
When manly valour fail'd, a female arm
Reftor'd the fight. As in th' adjacent booth
Black Cindaraxa's bufy hand prepar'd
The fmoaky viands, the beheld, abash'd,
The routed hoft, and all her daftard friends
Far fcatter'd o'er the plain; their fhameful flight
Griev'd her proud heart, for hurried with the
fream

95

Ev'n Talgol too had fled, her darling boy.
A flaming brand from off the glowing hearth 100
The greafy heroine fnatch'd, o'er her pale foes
The threatening meteor fhone, brandish'd in air,
Or round their heads in ruddy circles play'd.
Across the proftrate Hildebrand the strode,
Dreadfully bright: the multitude appail'd
Fled different ways, their beards, their hair in
flanies,

105

ΙΙΟ

Imprudent the purfued, till on the brink
Of the next pool, with force united prefs'd,
And waving round with huge two-handed fway
Her blazing arms, into the muddy lake
The bold virago fell Dire was the fray
Between the warring elements; of old
Thus Mulciber, and Xanthus Dardan stream
In hideous battie join'd. Juft finking now
Into the boiling deep, with fuppliant hands 115
She begg'd for life; black oufe and filth obfcene
Hung in her matted hair; the fhouting crowd
Infult her woes, and, proud of their fuccefs,
The dripping Amazon in triumph lead.
Now, like a gathering ftorm, the rally'd

Backen'd the plain. Young Tagol from their front,

With a fond lover's hafte, fwift as the hind,
That, by the huntfman's voice alarm'd, had fled,
Panting returns, and fecks the gloomy brake,
Where her dear fawn lay hid, into the booth 125
Impatient rufh'd. But when the fatal tale
He heard, the dearest treasure of his foul
Purloin'd, his Cindy loft; ftiffen'd and pale
A while he stood; his kindling ire at length
Burft forth implacable, and injur'd love

U 2

130

Shot

Shot lightning from his eyes; a fpit he seiz'd,
Juft reeking from the fat furloin, a long,
Unwieldy fpear; then with impetuous rage
Prefs'd forward on th' embattled hoft, that shrunk
At his approach. The rich Avard first, 135
His fleshy rump bor'd with difhonest wounds,
Fied bellowing: nor could his numerous flocks,
Nor all th afpiring pyramids that grace
His yard well-ftor'd, fave the penurious clown.
Here Cubbin fell, and there young Collakin, 140
Nor his fond mother's prayers nor ardent vows
Of love-fick maids could move relentless Fate.
Where'er he rag'd, with his far-beaming lance
He thinn'd their ranks, and all their battle
fwerv'd

With many an inroad goar d. Then caft around
His furious eyes, if haply he might find
The captive fair; her in the duft he ipy'd
Groveling, difconfolate; thofe locks, that erst
So bright, fhone like the polith'd jet, defir'd
With mire impure; thither with cager hafte 150'
He ran, he few. But when the wretched maid
Proarate he view'd, deform'd with gaping
wounds

And weltering in her blood, his trembling hand Soon dropp'd the dreaded lance; on her pale cheeks

1,0

Lament around, and every generous heart
With active valour glows, and virtuous love. 165
How blind is popular fury! how perverse,
When broils inteftine rage, and force controuls
Reafon and law! As the torn vessel finks,
Between the burst of adverfe waves o'erwhelm'd;
So fares it with the neutral head, between
Contending parties bruis'd, inceffant peal'd
With random ftrokes that undiicerning fall;
Guildefs he suffers moft, who leaft offends.
Mundungo from the bloody field retir'd,
Clofe in a corner plied the peaceful bowl:
Incurious he, and thoughtlefs of events,
Now decm'd himself conceal'd, wrapt in the
cloud

175

That ifued from his mouth, and the thick fogs That hung upon his brow; but hoftile rage Inquifitive found out the rufty fwain.

180 His fhort black tube down his furr'd throat impell'd,

Staggering he reel'd, and with tenacious gripe
The bulky jordan, that before him stood,

Seiz'd falling; that its liquid freight difgorg'd
Upon the proftrate clown; floundering he lay
Beneath the muddy beverage whelm'd, fo late
His prime delight. Thus the luxurious wafp,
Voracious infect, by the fragrant dregs
Allur'd, and in the viscous nectar plung'd,

His filmy pennons ftruggling flaps in vain, 190
Loft in a flood of fweets. Still o'er the plain
Fierce onfet, and tumultuous battle spread;
And now they fall, and now they rile, incens'd
With animated rage, while nought around
Is heard, but clamour, fhout, and female cries,
And curfes mix'd with groans. Difcord on high
Shook her infernal fcourge, and o'er their heads
Scream'd with malignant joy; when lo! between
The warring hosts appear'd fage Rhadamanth,
A knight of high renown. Nor Quixote bold,
Nor Amidas of Gaul, nor Hudibras,

Mirror of knighthood, e'er could vie with thee,
Great fultan of the vale! thy front fevere,
As humble Indians to their pagods bow,
The clowns fubmifs approach. Themis to thee
Commits her golden balance, where the weighs
Th' abandon'd orphan's fighs, the widow's tears;
By thee gives fure redrefs, conforts the heart
Opprefs'd with woe, and rears the fuppliant
knee.

210

Each bold offender hides his guilty head,
Aftonish'd, when thy delegated arm
Draws her vindictive fword; at thy command,
Stern minißer of power fu¡ reme! each ward
Sends forth her brawny myrmidons, their clubs
Blazon'd with royal arms; difpatchful hatte 215
Sits earnell on each brow, and public care.
Encompass'd round with these his dreadful guards,
He fpurr'd his fober fleed, grizzled with age,
And venerably dull; his stirrups stretch'd
Beneath the knightly load; one hand he fix'd
Upon his faddle-bow, the other palm
Before him fpread, like fome grave orator
In Athens, or free Rome, when eloquence
Subcued mankind, and all the liftening crowd
Hung by their ears on his perfuafive tongue 225
He thus the jarring multitude addrefs'd.

Neighbours, and friends, and countrymen, the flower

"Of Kiftfgate! ah! what means this impious broil?

"Is then the haughty Gaul no more your care? "Are Landen's plains fo foon forgot, that thus "Ye fpill that blood inglorious, wafte that

ftrength,

Than half a Vatican. Hear me, my friends! "Hear me, my countrymen Oh fuffer not "This hoary head, employ'd for you alone, "To fink with forrow to the grave." He fpake,

|

290

And veil'd his bonnet to the crowd. As when
The fovereign of the floods o'er the rough deep
His awful trident fhakes, its fury falls,
The warring billows on each hand retive,
And foam, and rage no more. All now is huh'd,
The multitude appeas'd; a chearful dawn
Bailes on the fields, the waving throng fubfides,
And the loud tempeft finks, becalm'd in peace.
Gorgonius now with haughty ftrides advanc'd,
A gauntlet feiz'd, firm on his guard he stood
A formidable foe, and dealt in air
His empty blows, a prelude to the fight.
Slaughter his trade; full many a pamper'd ox
Fell by his fatal hand, the bulky beaft
Dragg'd by his horns, oft at one deadly blow,
His iron fit defcending crush'd his fkuil,
And left him fpurning on the bloody floor,
While at his feet the guiltlef axe was laid.
In dubious fight of late one eye he loft,
Bor'd from its orb, and the next glancing stroke
Bruis'd fore the rifing arch, and bent his nofe
Nathlefs he triumph'd on the well-fought stage,
Hockleian hero! Nor was more deform'd
The Cyclops blind, nor of more monstrous fize,
Nor his void orb more dreadful to behold,
Weeping the putrid gore, fevere revenge
Of fubtle ithacus Terrible gay
In his buff doublet, larded o'er with fat
Of laughter'd brutes, the well-oil'd champion

hone.

295

305

"In ancient days were fung from shore to fhore, "To British bards of old a copious theme; 320. "Too well, alas! in your pale cheeks I view "Your daftard fouls. O mean, degenerate race! "But fince on me you call, each fuppliant eye "Invites my fovereign aid, lo here I come, "The bulwark of your fame, tho' fearce my brows 325

"Are dry from glorious toils, just now atchiev'd, "To vindicate your werth. Lo here I fwear, "By all my great forefathers fair renown,

Forthwith the hilts he feiz'd; but on his arm Fond Ganderetta hung, and round his neck

Curl'd in a foft embrace. Honour and love A doubtful conteft wag'd, but from her foon 345 He fprung relentlefs, all her tears were vain, Yet oft he turn'd, oft figh'd, thus picafing mild "Ill fhould I merit thefe imperial robes, Enfigus of Majefty, by general voice Conferr'd, should pa n, or death itself, avail "To shake the ftady purpofe of my foul. "Peace, fair one! peace! Heaven will protect

Gorgonius, like a tower, whofe cloudy top
Invades the fkies, stood lowering; far beneath
The Atripling Hobbinol with careful eye
Each opening fans, and each unguarded space
Meatures intent. While, negligently bold,
The bulky combatant, whole heart elate
Dildain'd his puny for, now fondly deem'd
At one decifive ftroke to win, unhurt,
An eafy victory; down came at once
The ponderous plant, with fell malicious rage,
Aim'd at his head direct; but the tough halts,
Swift interpos'd, elud his effort vain.
The cautious Hobbinol, with ready feet,
Now fhifts his ground, retreating of then again
Advances

360