Dire was the tumult, and from every shore
Difcordant echoes struck 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 speeches 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 fon, whose tender breast
Empierced deep with sympathizing teen
On his pale cheek the figns of dread impress'd,
And fill'd his eyes with tears, which fore distress'd
Up to his fire he rais'd in mournful wise;
Who with sweet smiles paternal foon redrefs'd
His troublous thoughts, and clear'd each fad furmife; 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 disobedience 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 visage all inflam'd with fierce disdain,
A monftrous GIANT, on whofe 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 m fov'ran fceptre own.
XL.
CUSTOM he hight; and aye in every land
Ufurp'd dominion with defpotic sway
O'er all he holds; and to his high command
Conftrains ev'n 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 the unwares is caught in his embrace,
And tho' deflowr'd and thrall'd nought feels her foul disgrace.
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 bill,
And mighty patron of those Sisters Nine,
Who there enthron'd, with many a copious rill,
Feed the full ftreams, that through the valley shine,
He deemed was; and aye with rites divine,
" Like those, which Sparta's hardy race of yore
Were wont perform at fell Diana's fhrine,
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 terrific and imperious mien,
(All was he wont lefs dreadful to appear,
When known and practised than at distance seen)
n The Lacedemonians in order to make their children hardy and endure pain with conftancy and courage, were accustomed to cause them to be fcourged very feverely. And I myself (fays Plutarch, in his life of Lycurgus)
And kingly stretching 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 foreftalling all reply,
His peremptory hand without delay,
As one who little cared 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 lay,
Him to those scientific ftreams convey'd,
With many his young compeers therein to be rembay'd.
XLV.
The KNIGHT his tender fon's distressful 9 ftour
Perceiving, swift to his affiftance flew :
Ne vainly stay'd to deprecate that pow'r,
Which from fubmiffion aye more haughty grew.
For that proud GIANT's force he wifely knew,
Not to be meanly dreaded, nor defy'd
With rash prefumption; and with courage true,
Rather than step from Virtue's paths afide,
Oft had he fingly scorn'd his all-dismaying pride.
have seen several of them endure whipping to death, at the foot of the altar of Diana furnamed Orthia.
And now, difdaining parle, his courfer hot
He fiercely prick'd, and couch'd his vengeful spear;
Where-with the GIANT he fo rudely fmot,
That him perforce constrain❜d to wend arrear.
Who, much abash'd at such rebuke severe,
Yet his accuftom'd pride recov'ring soon,
Forth-with his maffy fceptre 'gan up-rear;
For other warlike weapon he had none,
Ne other him behoved to quell his boldest fone.
XLVII.
With that enormous mace the FAIRY KNIGHT
So fore het bet, that all his armour' bray'd,
To pieces well-nigh riven with the might
Of fo tempeftuous ftrokes; but He was stay'd,
And ever with deliberate valour weigh'd
The fudden changes of the doubtful fray;
From cautious prudence oft deriving aid,
When force unequal did him hard assay:
So lightly from his steed he leapt upon the lay.
XLVIII.
Then swiftly drawing forth his " trenchant blade,
High o'er his head he held his fenceful shield;
And warily fore-casting to evade
The GIANT's furious arm, about him wheel'd
Wend arrear, move backwards.
z Bet, beat; bray'd, refounded.
• Fone, foes.
a Trenchant, cutting.
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