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XXXIV.

The Squire of dames deep enters in the cell:
What will not valiant heart for beauty dare?
His borrel fere here bids his friend farewell,
And home he wends renewing cark and care.
When, louting low with a becoming air,

The youth cry'd out, "O thrice renowned mage,
"Vouchsafe to cure me of my black dispair ;
"For thou not only art grown wife thro' age,
'But art of mortal man by far the wisest sage.”
XXXV.

Then Merlin with a look benign reply'd,
(For he was bred with ev'ry courteous thew)
"I know to make fair Columbel your bride
"The blatant-beaft you thro' the lond pursue ;
"The fate of empires now demands my view,
"And for a while denys my presence here;
"Soon in this cell I'll thee again falew,

"What most thou lik'ft partake withouten fear,

"Share all my cave affords, nor think I grudge my cheer XXXVI.

"Yet mark my counfel, open not that door,

"Left thou repent thy follies when too late, "Ten thousand pangs shall make thy heart full fore, For horror fcouls behind that heben gate,

"And

"And future ills fhall thy dear peace amate;
"There ftands a mirror, wrought by magick leer,
"In which are read the dark decrees of fate,

"And whom you wish to fee will ftreit

appear,

"Devoid of art's false mask, to human eye-fight clear. XXXVII.

"Ah how unlike the godlike man he seem'd
"In this my glass the patriot I've decry'd,
"By the vile rabblement a faint esteem'd ?
"He's oft a wretch compos'd of sloth and pride:
"And Kefars too, not seldom deify'd,

"With other men their vice and follies share ;
"And by my mirror if the nymph be try'd,
"It will without reserve the truth declare,

"Ne flatter head that's crown'd, ne flatter face that's fair. XXXVIII.

"Once more let me advise thee, gentle Squire, "Forbear to look at this fame magick glass; "Do not too rafhly into fate enquire"But I to foreign ftronds a while must pass." Th' unweeting youth cry'd to himself, "Alas! "Would I could know the lot to me affign'd." "Patience, quoth Merlin, doth all things surpass." Then to his car were winged dragons join'd,

With which he fails thro' air, and far outftrips the wind. XXXIX. And

XXXIX.

And now the Squire furveys the lonesome cave,
His wav'ring mind is in a whirlwind toft,
And now the mirror he refolves to brave,
And now he finds his boafted courage loft.
At length determin'd whatsoe'er it coft,
To fee the glass, he darts into the cell;
And, left his eyes by vild retrait be croft,
Thrice he invokes his lovely Columbel.

As Adam fell of yore, the Squire of dames yfell.
XL.

The heben doors full widely he difplay'd,
And faw the lovely queen of all his heart,
Fair as the lilly in the watry glade,
Bright as the morn, and bright withouten art.
Thro' ev'ry vein he feels a thrillant fmart:
For the dear maid lay on her bed undrefs'd,
And, may I unreprov'd the truth impart,
She hugg'd a lufty stripling to her breast,
Whom the full clofely clipp'd, and wantonly carefs'd.
XLI.

"O faytor falfe, o wicked imp of night!
"Exclaim'd the Squire aftoun'd, ah! wealaway!
"Let Erebus inpitchy ftole bedight

With fouleft fprites the fons of men affray,

" And

"And blot for ever the fair face of day.
"Ye haggard fifters, found my paffing-bell ;
"Oh! ne'er believe, ye youths, what women fay.
"O lofel loose, o impious Columbel!"

Then like a stean to earth full heavily he fell.

XLII.

There shall we leave him, for my leaky boat

Lets in the water, and I must recure

Her much-worn hulk, that scarcely now can float,
And moor'd in harbour she shall ride secure;
Then if I can a pilot wife procure,

Mayhap I may again hoist forth my fail,

And other hardy voyages endure

Thro' fhelves and fhallows: now the adverse gale

Gives me fome time to reft, and lond with joy I hail.

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L

THE

Tenth Satire of JUVENAL,

IMITATED

By SAMUEL JOHNSON.

ET* obfervation with extenfive view,

Survey mankind, from China to Peru;
Remark each anxious toil, each eager ftrife,
And watch the busy scenes of crouded life;
Then say how hope and fear, defire and hate,
O'erfpread with fnares the clouded maze of fate,
Where wav'ring man, betray'd by vent'rous pride,
To tread the dreary paths without a guide;
As treach'rous phantoms in the mist delude,
Shuns fancied ills, or chafes airy good.

How rarely reafon guides the stubborn choice,

Rules the bold hand, or promps the fuppliant voice,

* Ver. 1. --- [ 1 .

How

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