With large Expence, and with a pompous Train, Provided, as to vifit France or Spain,
Or for fome diftant Voyage o'er the Main.
But Love had clipp'd his Wings, and cut him fhort,
Confin'd within the Purlieus of his Court:
Three Miles he went, nor farther could retreat;
His Travels ended at his Country-Seat:
To Chaffis pleafing Plains he took his way,
There pitch'd his Tents, and there resolv'd to stay.
The Spring was in the Prime; the neighb'ring
Supply'd with Birds, the Chorifters of Love:
Mufick unbought, that minister'd Delight
To Morning-walks, and lull'd his Cares by Night:
There he discharg'd his Friends;but not th'Expence
Of frequent Treats, and proud Magnificence.
He liv'd as Kings retire, tho' more at large,
From publick Business, yet with equal Charge;
With House, and Heart ftill open to receive;
As well content, as Love would give him leave:
He would have liv'd more free; but many a Gueft,
Who could forfake the Friend, purfu'd the Feast.
It happ'd one Morning, as his Fancy led, Before his ufual Hour, he left his Bed; To walk within a lonely Lawn, that stood On ev'ry fide, furrounded by the Wood: Alone he walk'd, to please his penfive Mind, And fought the deepest Solitude to find: 'Twas in a Grove of spreading Pines he stray'd; The Winds within the quiv'ring Branches plaid, And Dancing-Trees a mournful Mufick made. The Place it felf was fuiting to his Care, Uncouth, and Savage, as the cruel Fair. He wander'd on, unknowing where he went, Loft in the Wood, and all on Love intent: The Day already half his Race had run, And fummon'd him to due Repast at Noon, But Love could feel no Hunger but his own.
While lift'ning to the murm'ring Leaves he stood, More than a Mile immers'd within the Wood, At once the Wind was laid; the whisp'ring Sound Was dumb; a rifingEarthquake rock'd theGround: With deeper Brown the Grove was overspread A fudden Horror feiz'd his giddy Head, And his Ears tinckled, and his Colour fled.
Nature was in alarm; fome Danger nigh
Seem'd threaten'd, though unfeen to mortal Eye:
Unus'd to fear, he fummon'd all his Soul,
And stood collected in himself, and whole;
Not long: For foon a Whirlwind rofe around,
And from afar he heard a screaming Sound,
As of a Dame diftrefs'd, who cry'd for Aid,
And fill'd with loud Laments the fecret Shade.
A Thicket close befide the Grove there stood,
With Briers and Brambles choak'd, and dwar-
fish Wood:
[near,
From thence the Noife: Which now approaching
With more diftinguish'd Notes invades his Ear:
He rais'd his Head, and saw a beauteous Maid,
With Hair dishevell'd, iffuing through the Shade;
Stripp'd of her Cloaths,and e'en thofe Parts reveal'd,
Which modeft Nature keeps from Sight conceal'd.
Her Face, her Hands, her naked Limbs were torn,
With paffing thro' the Brakes, and prickly Thorn:
Two Mastiffs gaunt and grim her Flight pursu'd,
And oft their fasten'd Fangs in Blood embru❜d:
Oft they came up and pinch'd her tender Side,
Mercy, O Mercy, Heav'n, fhe ran, and cry'd;
When Heav'n was nam'd they loos'd their Hold
Then sprung the forth, they follow'd her amain.
Not far behind, a Knight of fwarthy Face,
High on a Cole-black Steed purfu'd the Chace;
With flafhing Flames his ardent Eyes were fill'd,
And in his Hands a naked Sword he held:
He chear'd the Dogs to follow her who fled,
And vow'd Revenge on her devoted Head.
As Theodore was born of noble Kind,
The brutal Action rowz'd his manly Mind:
Mov'd with unworthy Ufage of the Maid,
He, though unarm'd, refolv'd to give her Aid.
A Saplin Pine he wrench'd from out the Ground,
The readiest Weapon that his Fury found.
Thus furnish'd for Offence, he cross'd the way
Betwixt the graceless Villain, and his Prey.
The Knight came thund'ring on, but from afar,
Thus in imperious Tone forbad the War:
Ceafe, Theodore, to proffer vain Relief,
Nor stop the Vengeance of so just a Grief;
But give me leave to seize my destin❜d Prey,
And let eternal Juftice take the way:
I but revenge my Fate; difdain'd, betray'd,
And fuff'ring Death for this ungrateful Maid.
He say'd; at once difmounting from the Steed; For now the Hell-hounds with fuperior Speed Had reach'd the Dame, and fast'ning on her Side, The Ground with iffuing Streams of Purple dy'd. Stood Theodore furpriz'd in deadly Fright,
With chatt'ring Teeth and bristling Hair upright;
Yet arm'd with inborn Worth, Whate'er, faid he,
Thou art, who know'it me better than I thee;
Or prove thy rightful Caufe, or be defy'd:
The Spectre, fiercely staring, thus reply'd.
Know, Theodore, thy Ancestry I claim,
And Guido Cavalcanti was my Name.
One common Sire our Fathers did beget,
My Name and Story fome remember yet:
Thee, then a Boy, within my Arms I laid,
When for my Sins I lov'd this haughty Maid;
Not lefs ador'd in Life, nor ferv'd by Me,
Than proud Honoria now is lov'd by Thee.
What did I not her stubborn Heart to gain?
But all my Vows were answer'd with Difdain;
She fcorn'd my Sorrows, and defpis'd my Pain.
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