On him the glory of the day depends,

He once imprifon'd, all the conflict ends.

The queens exulting near their conforts ftand,

Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand

;

Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride,

And thin the trembling ranks from fide to fide,

Swift as Camilla flying o'er the main,

Or lightly skimming o'er the dewy plain :

Fierce as they seem, some bold Plebeian spear
May pierce their fhield, or stop their full career,

The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent, Fill the next squares, and watch the royal tent; Though weak their spears, though dwarfish be their height, ‡ Compact they move, the bulwark of the fight.

NOT E.

The chief art in the Tacticks of Chefs confifts in the nice conduct of the royal pawns; in fupporting them against every attack; and, if they are taken, in fupplying their places with others equally fupported: a principle, on which the fuccess of the game in great measure depends, though it feems to be omitted by the very accurate Vida.

To right and left the martial wings display
Their fhining arms, and ftand in close array.
Behold, four archers, eager to advance,

Send the light reed, and rush with fidelong glance,
Through angles ever they affault the foes,

True to the colour, which at first they chose.
Then four bold knights for courage fam'd and speed,
Each knight exalted on a prancing steed:

*Their arching courfe no vulgar limit knows,
Tranfverfe they leap, and aim infidious blows:

IMITATIONS.

*Il cavallo leggier per dritta lista,

Come gli altri, l'arringo unqua non fende,
Mà la lizza attraverfa, e fiero in vista
Curvo in giro, e lunato il falto ftende,
E fempre nel faltar due cafe acquista,
Quel colore abbandona, e quefto prende.

Marino, Adone. 15.

Nor

Nor friends, nor foes, their rapid force restrain,

By one quick bound two changing squares they gain;
From varying hues renew the fierce attack,

And rush from black to white, from white to black.

Four folemn elephants the fides defend;

Beneath the load of pond'rous tow'rs they bend:

In one unalter'd line they tempt the fight,

Now crush the left, and now o'erwhelm the right.
Bright in the front the dauntlefs foldiers raise
Their polish'd fpears; their steely helmets blaze:
Prepar'd they stand the daring foe to strike,

Direct their progrefs, but their wounds oblique.

Now fwell th' embattled troops with hoftile rage,
And clang their shields, impatient to engage;
When Daphnis thus: A varied plain behold,
Where fairy kings their mimick tents unfold,
As Oberon, and Mab, his wayward queen,
Lead forth their armies on the daified green.

No

No mortal hand the wondrous fport contriv'd,
By Gods invented, and from Gods deriv'd,
* From them the British nymphs receiv'd the game,

And play each morn beneath the cryftal Thame;
Hear then the tale, which they to Colin fung,
As idling o'er the lucid wave he hung.

A lovely Dryad rang'd the Thracian wild,
Her air enchanting, and her aspect mild ;
To chafe the bounding hart was all her joy,
Averfe from Hymen, and the Cyprian boy;
O'er hills and valleys was her beauty fam'd,
And fair Caïffa was the damfel nam'd.

IMITATIONS.

* Quæ quondam fub aquis gaudent spectacla tueri Nereides, vaftique omnis gens accola ponti;

Siquando placidum mare, et humida regna quierunt.

Vida.

Mars

Mars faw the maid; with deep surprize he gaz'd,

Admir'd her shape, and ev'ry gesture prais❜d :
His golden bow the child of Venus bent,
And through his breast a piercing arrow fent:
The reed was Hope; the feathers, keen Defire;
The point, her eyes; the barbs, ethereal fire.
Soon to the nymph he pour'd his tender ftrain;
The haughty Dryad fcorn'd his am'rous pain:

He told his woes, where'er the maid he found,

And ftill he prefs'd, yet ftill Caïffa frown'd,

But ev'n her frowns (ah, what might smiles have done!) Fir'd all his foul, and all his senses won.

He left his car, by raging tigers drawn,

And lonely, wander'd o'er the dusky lawn;
Then lay desponding near a murm'ring stream,

And fair Caïffa was his plaintive theme.

A Naiad heard him from her moffy bed,

And through the crystal rais'd her placid head;

Then mildly spake: "O thou, whom love infpires,

"Thy tears will nourish, not allay thy fires.

"The