"A fullen, dire, inhofpitable cell, "Where deathful spirits and magicians dwell. The king, who found it useless to complain, The youth, unknowing how to pass the day, Review'd the bow'rs, and heard the fountains play; By hands unseen whate'er he wish'd was brought, And pleasures rofe obedient to his thought. Yet all the fweets that ravifh'd him before Were tedious now, and charm'd his foul no more: Less lovely still, and still less gay they grew; He figh'd, and wifh'd, and long'd for fomething new: Back to the hall he turn'd his weary feet, And fat repining on his royal feat. Now Now on the fev❜nth bright gate he cafts his eyes, “The nymph, said he, was sure dispos'd to jest, "Where deathful fpirits and magicians dwell? "If dark or foul, I need not pass the door; "If new or ftrange, my foul defires no more." He said, and rofe; then took the golden keys, And op'd the door; the hinges mov'd with ease, Before his eyes appear'd a fullen gloom, Thick, hideous, wild; a cavern, or a tomb, Yet as he longer gaz'd, he saw afar A light that sparkled like a shooting star. He paus'd: at last, by some kind angel led, He enter'd, and advanc'd with cautious tread. Still as he walk'd, the light appear'd more clear ; At At length an aged fire surpriz'd he saw, Who fill'd his bofom with a facred awe : * A book he held, which, as reclin'd he lay, He read, affifted by a taper's ray; His beard, more white than fnow on winter's breast, A pleafing calmness on his brow was seen, Then spoke: "O fon, what chance has turn'd thy feet To whom the youth; "First, holy father, tell, This day they left me joyless and alone, * Religion. But But, ere three morns with roses strow the skies, Youth, faid the fire, on this aufpicious day "Some angel hither led thy erring way: “Hear a strange tale, and tremble at the snare, "Which for thy fteps thy pleafing foes prepare. "Know, in this ifle prevails a bloody law; "Lift, ftripling, lift! (the youth ftood fix'd with awe :) "But sev❜nty days the hapless monarchs reign, "Then close their lives in exile and in pain, "Doom'd in a deep and frightful cave to rove, "Than this vain clime, or this gay palace knows, The life of man. Heaven. "Which "Which if you tafte, whate'er was sweet before "Will bitter feem, and steal foul no more. your "But, ere these happy waters thou canst reach, "Thy weary steps must pass yon rugged beech, "Where the dark fea with angry billows raves, "If to my words obedient thou attend, "Behold in me thy pilot and thy, friend. "A bark I have, fupplied with plenteous store, "That now lies anchor'd on the rocky shore; "And, when of all thy regal toys bereft, "In the rude cave an exile thou art left, 66 Myfelf will find thee on the gloomy lea, "And waft thee fafely o'er the dang'rous fea." The boy was fill'd with wonder as he spake, And from a dream of folly seem'd to wake : All day the fage his tainted thoughts refin'd; His reafon brighten'd, and reform'd his mind : * Death. Through |