nd Truth fevere, by Fairy Fiction dreft. bufkin'd measures move || e Grief, and pleasing Pain, ith Horror, tyrant of the throbbing breast. 130 oice § as of the cherub-choir les from blooming Eden bear, d diftant warblings ¶ leffen on my ear, at loft in long futurity expire. nd impious man! think'ft thou yon' fanguine cloud, 135 s'd by thy breath, has quench'd the orb of day? -morrow he repairs the golden flood, d warms the nations with redoubled ray. ough for me: with joy I fee e diff'rent doom our Fates affign: thine despair and feeptred care; triumph and to die are mine.' 140 poke, and, headlong from the mountain's height, in the roaring tide, he plung'd to endless night, Shakespeare. $ Milton. The fucceffion of Poets after Milton's time. E 3 ADVERTISEMENT. THE Author once had thoughts (in Concert with a Friend) of giving a Hiftory of English Poetry. In the introduction to it he meant to have produced fome Specimens of the Style that reigned in ancient Times among the neighbouring Nations, or those who had fubdued the greater Part of this Island, and were our Progenitors: the following three Imitations made a Part of them. He afterwards dropped his Defign; especially after he had heard that it was already in the Hands of a Perfon well qualified to do it Juftice both by his Tafte and his Researches into Antiquity. ODE VII. THE FATAL SISTERS. FROM THE NORSE TONGUE. To be found in the Orcades of Thermodus Terfæus, Haf nia, 1679, Folio; and alfo in Bartholinus. Vitt er orpit fyrir Valfalli, &c. PREFACE. IN the 11th Century, Sigurd, Earl of the Orkney Islands, went with a Fleet of Ships, and a confiderable Body of Troops, into Ireland, to the Affiftance of Sigtryg with the filken Beard, who was then making War on his Father-in-Law, Brian, King of Dublin. The Earl and all his Forces were cut to Pieces, and Sigtryg was in Danger of a total Defeat; but the Enemy had a greater Lofs by the Death of Brian, their King, who fell in the Action. On Chriftmasday (the Day of the Battle) a Native of Caithnefs, in Scotland, faw, at a Distance, a Number of Perfons on Horfeback riding full speed towards a Hill, and feeming to enter into it. Curiofity led him to follow them, till, looking through an opening in the Rock, he faw Twelve gigantic Figures, resembling Women: they were all employed about a Loom; and as they wove, they fung the following dreadful Song, which, when they had finifhed, they tore the Web into twelve Pieces, and each taking her Portion, galloped Six to the North, and as many to the South. NOW the form begins to lowr, Glitt'ring lances are the loom 4 Note The Valkyriur were female divinities, fervants of Odin (or Wodin) in the Gothic mythology. Their name fignifies Chufers of the Slain. They were mounted on fwift horfes, with drawn swords in their hands, and in the throng of battle selected fuch as were defined to flaughter, and conducted them to Valkalla, (the Hall of Odin, or Paradife of the Brave,) where they attended the banquet, and ferved the departed heroes with horns of mead and ale. How quick they wheel'd, and flying, behind them fhot Sharp fleet of arrowy fhower Milt. Par. Reg. The noife of battle hurtled in the air. Shak. Jul. Caf. Mifta, black terrific maid! Join the wayward work to zid; Ere the ruddy fun be fet Pikes must fhiver, jav'lins fing, Blade with clatt'ring buckler meet, (Weave the crimson web of war) Let us go, and let us fly, Where our friends the conflict share, As the paths of Fate we tread, 20 24 28 O'er the youthful king your shield. 32 We the reins to flaughter give, Spite of danger he shall live; (Weave the crimson web of war.) They whom once the defert beach Low the dauntless earl is laid, Soon a king fhall bite the ground. 36 40 44 |