Her verdant crowns of peaceful victory,

e

The guerdons of bold strength, and swift activity.

IV.

So round their noble parents goodly rofe

These generous fcyons: they with watchful care
Still, as the swelling paffions 'gan disclose
The buds of future virtues, did prepare

With prudent culture the young shoots to rear:
And aye in this endearing pious toil

f

They by a Palmer fage instructed were,

Who from deep thought and ftudious fearch erewhile Had learnt to mend the heart, and till the human foil. V.

For by cœleftial Wisdom whilom led

Through all th' apartments of th' immortal mind,
He view'd the fecret ftores, and mark'd the sted
To judgment, wit, and memory assign'd;

And how fenfation and reflection join'd
To fill with images her darkfome grotte,
Where variously disjointed or combin'd,
As reason, fancy, or opinion wrought,

Their various masks they play'd, and fed her penfive thought..

e Guerdons, rewards.

↑ Palmer, pilgrim. The Perfon here fignified is Mr, Locke, characterized by his works.

Sted, place, ftation,

VI. Alfe

VI.

Alfe through the fields of Science had he stray'd
With eager fearch, and sent his piercing eye
Through each learn'd school, each philofophic shade,
Where Truth and Virtue erft were deem'd to lie;
If haply the fair vagrants he i mote fpy,
Or hear the mufic of their charming lore:
But all anable there to fatisfy

His curious foul, he turn'd him to explore

The facred writ of Faith; to learn, believe, adore.

VII.

Thence foe profefs'd of Falfhood and Deceit,
Those fly artificers of tyranny,

k Aye holding up before uncertain feet
His faithful light, to Knowledge, Liberty,
Mankind he led, to Civil Policy,
And mild Religion's charitable law;
That fram'd by Mercy and Benignity
The perfecuting fword forbids to draw,
And free-created fouls with penal terrours awe.
VIII.

1 Ne with thefe glorious gifts elate and vain
Lock'd he his wisdom up in churlish pride;
But, ftooping from his height, would even deign
The feeble steps of Infancy to guide.

n Alfe, alfo, further. * Aye, ever.

* Mote, might,

1 Ne, nor.

Eternal

Eternal glory Him therefore betide!

Let every generous youth bis praise proclaim!
Who, wand'ring through the world's rude foreft wide,
By him hath been y-taught his course to frame

To Virtue's fweet abodes, and heav'n-afpiring Fame!
IX.

For this the FAIRY KNIGHT with anxious thought,
And fond paternal care his counsel pray'd;
And him of gentleft courtefy befought
His guidance to vouchsafe and friendly aid;
The while his tender offspring he convey'd,
Through devious paths to that fecure retreat;
Where fage PÆDIA, with each tuneful maid,
On a wide mount had fix'd her rural feat,
'Mid flow'ry gardens plac'd, untrod by vulgar feet.
X.

And now forth-pacing with his blooming heir,
And that fame virtuous Palmer them to guide;

Arm'd all to point, and on a courfer fair
Y-mounted high, in military pride,

His little train before he flow did ride.

m

Him eke behind a gentle Squire enfues,

With his young lord aye marching fide by fide,
His counsellour and guard, in goodly "thews,

Who well had been brought up, and nurs'd by every Mufe.

Enfues, follows.

Thews, manners,

XI. Thus

XI.

Thus as their pleafing journey they purfued,
With chearful argument beguiling pain;
Ere long defcending from an hill they view'd
Beneath their eyes out-ftretch'd a spacious plain,
That fruitful fhew'd, and apt for every grain,
For paftures, vines and flow'rs; while Nature fair
Sweet-fmiling all around with count'nance fain
Seem'd to demand the tiller's art and care,
Her wildness to correct, her lavish waste repair.

XII.

Right good, I ween, and bounteous was the foil,
Aye wont in happy season to repay

With tenfold ufury the peasant's toil.

But now 'twas ruin all, and wild decay;
Untill'd the garden and the fallow lay,

The sheep-fhorne down with barren P brakes o'ergrown;
The whiles the merry peasants sport and play,

All as the public evil were unknown,

Or every public care from every breaft was flown.
XIII.

Aftonish'd at a fcene at once fo fair

And fo deform'd; with wonder and delight
At man's neglect, and Nature's bounty rare,
In ftudious thought awhile the Fairy Knight

• Fain, earnest, eager,

P Brakes, briars.

Bent

Bent on that goodly

lond his eager fight:

Then forward rush'd, impatient to descry

r

What towns and caftles therein were empight;

For towns him feem'd, and castles he did spy,

As to th' horizon round he ftretch'd his roaming eye.
XIV.

Nor long way had they travell'd, ere they came
To a wide stream, that with tumultuous roar
Emongst rude rocks its winding courfe did frame.
Black was the wave and fordid, cover'd c'er
With angry foam, and stain'd with infants' gore.
Thereto along th' unlovely margin stood

A birchen grove that waving from the shore,
Aye caft upon the tide its falling bud,

And with its bitter juice empoifon'd all the flood.
XV.

Right in the centre of the vale empight,
Not distant far a forked mountain rofe;
In outward form presenting to the fight

That fam'd Parnaffian hill, on whose fair brows
The Nine Aonian Sifters wont repose;

Lift'ning to sweet Caftalia's founding stream,

Which through the plains of Cirrha murm'ring flows,
But This to That compar'd mote justly seem

Ne fitting haunt for gods, ne worthy man's esteem.

Lond, land.

Empight, placed.

VOL. IV.

B

XVI. For