Deep in the muddy ftream, with hearts fubdu'd
And quail'd by labour, gain'd the shore at last,
But in life's practick ° lear unskill'd and rude,
Forth to that forked hill they filent pac'd;
Where hid in studious fhades their fruitless hours they waste.
XXXIV.
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 bireling guides and in all depths fuftain'd,
Skimm'd lightly o'er the tide, undipt, unftain'd,
Save with the sprinkling of the watʼry spray :
And aye their proud prerogative maintain❜d,
Of ignorance and ease and wanton play,
Soft harbingers of vice, and præmature decay.
XXXV.
A few, alas, how few! by heav'n's high will
With fubtile spirits endow'd and finews strong,
▸ 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 briskly 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 Parnaffe, and heav'n-thron'd glory flew,
Dire was the tumult, and from every shore
Difcordant echoes ftruck the deafen'd ear,
Heart-thrilling cries, with fobs and fingults fore
Short-interrupted, the imploring tear,
And furious ftripes, and angry threats fevere,
Confus'dly mingled with the jarring found
Of all the various fpeeches that while-ere
On Shinar's wide-fpread, champain did astound
High Babel's builders vain, and their proud works confound.
XXXVII.
Much was the KNIGHT empaffion'd at the scene,
But more his blooming son, whose tender breast
Empierced deep with sympathizing teen
On his pale cheek the figns of dread imprefs'd,
And fill'd his eyes with tears, which fore distress'd
Up to his fire he rais'd in mournful wife;
Who with sweet smiles paternal foon redress'd
His troublous thoughts, and clear'd each sad surmise ; Then turns his ready fteed, and on his journey hies, XXXVIII.
But far he had not march'd ere he was stay'd
By a rude voice, that like th' united found
Of shouting myriads, through the valley bray'd,
And fhook the groves, the floods, and folid ground:
The diftant hills rebellow'd all around.
"Arreft, Sir Knight, it cried, thy fond career,
"Nor with prefumptuous difobedience wound
"That aweful majefty which all revere !
"In my commands, Sir Knight, the voice of nations hear! XXXIX.
Quick turn'd the KNIGHT, and faw upon the plain
Advancing tow'rds him with impetuous gate,
And vifage all inflamed with fierce disdain,
A monftrous GIANT, on whose brow elate
Shone the bright enfign of imperial state;
Albeit lawful kingdom he had none ;
But laws and kingdoms wont he oft create,
And oft' times over both erect his throne,
While fenates, priests and kings his "fov'ran fceptre own.
XL.
CUSTOM he hight; and aye in every land
Ufurp'd dominion with defpotick sway
O'er all he holds; and to his high command
Constrains even ftubborn Nature to obey;
Whom difpoffeffing oft, he doth affay
To govern in her right: and with a pace
So foft and gentle doth he win his way,
That she unwares is caught in his embrace,
And tho' deflowr'd and thrall'd nought feels her foul difgrace.
For nurt'ring, even from their tend'rest age,
The docile fons of men withouten pain,
By difciplines and rules to every stage
Of life accommodate, he doth them train
Infenfibly to wear and hug his chain.
Alfe his behefts or gentle or fevere,
Or good or noxious, rational or vain,
He craftily perfuades them to revere,
As inftitutions fage, and venerable lear.
XLII.
Protector therefore of that forked hill,
And mighty patron of those 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 those, which Sparta's hardy race of yore
Were wont perform at fell Diana's shrine,
He doth constrain his vaffals to adore
Perforce their facred names, and learn their facred lore.
XLIII.
And to the FAIRY KNIGHT now drawing near,
With voice terrifick and imperious mien,
(All was he wont lefs dreadful to appear,
When known and practised than at distance feen)
* The Lacedemonians in order to make their children hardy and endure pain with conftancy and courage, were accustomed to caufe them to be Scourged very feverely. And I myself (Jays
And kingly ftretching forth his fceptre sheen,
Him he commandeth, upon threat'ned pain
Of his displeasure high and vengeance keen,
From his rebellious purpose to refrain,
And all due honours pay to Learning's rev'rend train.
XLIV.
So faying and forestalling all reply,
His peremptory hand without delay,
As one who little car'd to justify
His princely will, long us'd to boundless sway,
Upon the Fairy Youth with great dismay
In every quaking limb convuls'd, he lay'd:
And proudly stalking o'er the verdant y lay,
Him to those scientifick ftreams convey'd,
With many his young compeers therein to be embay'd.
XLV.
The KNIGHT his tender fon's distressful 2 ftour
Perceiving, fwift to his affiftance flew :
Ne vainly flay'd to deprecate that pow'r,
Which from fubmiflion aye more haughty grew.
For that proud GIANT's force he wisely knew,
Not to be meanly dreaded, nor defy'd
With rash prefumption; and with courage true,
Rather than step from Virtue's paths aside,
Oft had he fingly fcorn'd his all-difmaying pride.
Plutarch, in his life of Lycurgus) have seen several of them endure whipping to death, at the foot of the altar of Diana furnamed Orthia.
y Lay, mead. trouble, misfortune, &c.
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