XXVI.

O'er every fource, protectress of the ftream,
One of those Virgin Sifters did prefide;
Who, dignifying with her noble name
Her proper flood, aye pour'd into the tide
The heady vapours of fcholaftick pride
Defpotical and abject, bold and blind,
Fierce in debate, and forward to decide ;
Vain love of praise, with adulation join'd,
And difingenuous fcorn, and impotence of mind.
XXVII.

Extending from the hill on every fide,
In circuit vast a verdant valley fpread;
Across whofe uniform flat bosom glide

Ten thousand ftreams, in winding mazes led,
By various fluices from one common head;
A turbid mafs of waters, vaft, profound,
Hight of Philology the lake; and fed

By that rude torrent, which with roaring found
Came tumbling from the hill, and flow'd the level round.
XXVIII.

And every where this fpacious valley o'er,

Faft by each stream was seen a numerous throng
Of beardless striplings to the birch-crown'd fhore,
By nurfes, guardians, fathers dragg'd along:

Who

Who helpless, meek, and innocent of wrong,
Were torn reluctant from the tender fide

Of their fond mothers, and by || faitours ftrong,
By pow'r made infolent, and hard by pride,

Were driv❜n with furious rage, and lash'd into the tide.
XXIX.

On the rude bank with trembling feet they ftood,
And cafting round their oft-reverted eyes,

If haply they mote 'scape the hated flood,
Fill'd all the plain with lamentable cries
es;
But far away th' unheeding father flies,
Conftrain'd his strong compunctions to repress;
While close behind, affuming the disguise

Of nurturing care, and fmiling tenderness,
With fecret fcourges arm'd thofe griefly faitours prefs.
XXX.

As on the steepy margin of a brook,

When the young fun with flowery Maia rides,
With innocent difmay a bleating flock

Croud back, affrighted at the rolling tides:
The shepherd-fwain at first exhorting chides
Their § feely fear; at length impatient grown,
With his rude crook he wounds their tender fides;
And all regardless of their piteous moan,

Into the dashing wave compels them furious down.

B 4

||Faitour, doer, from faire to do,

monly used by Spenfer in a bad fenfe.

XXXI. Thus

and fait deed, com

§ Seely, fimple.

XXXI.

Thus urg'd by maft'ring Fear and dol'rous § Teen
Into the current plung'd that infant croud.
Right piteous was the fpectacle, I ween,

Of tender ftriplings ftain'd with tears and blood,
Perforce conflicting with the bitter flood;

And labouring to attain the diftant shore,
Where holding forth the gown of manhood flood
The firen Liberty, and ever-more

Sollicited their hearts with her inchanting lore.
XXXII.

Irksome and long the paffage was, perplex'd
With rugged rocks on which the raving tide
By fudden bursts of angry tempefts vex'd
Oft dafh'd the youth, whose strength mote ill abide
With head up-lifted o'er the waves to ride.
Whence many wearied ere they had o'er-paft
The middle ftream (for they in vain have tried)
Again return'd || aftounded and aghast;

Ne one regardful look would ever backward caft.
XXXIII.

Some, of a rugged, more enduring frame,
Their toilfome courfe with patient pain purfu'd;
And tho' with many a bruise and ‡ muchel blame,
Eft hanging on the rocks, and eft embru'd

Deep

Teen, pain, grief. || Afounded, astonish'd. † Muchel, much.

Deep in the muddy ftream, with hearts fubdu'd
And quail'd by labour, gain'd the shore at last,
But in life's practick † lear unskill'd and rude,
Forth to that forked bill they filent pac'd;

Where hid in ftudious shades their fruitless hours they waste.
XXXIV.

Others of rich and noble lineage bred,

Though with the croud to pass the flood conftrain'd, Yet o'er the crags with fond indulgence led By hireling guides and in all depths fuftain'd, Skimm'd lightly o'er the tide, undipt, unstain'd, Save with the sprinkling of the wat'ry spray : And aye their proud prerogative maintain'd, Of ignorance and ease and wanton play, Soft harbingers of vice, and præmature decay. XXXV.

A few, alas, how few! by Heav'n's high will With fubtile fpirits endow'd and finews ftrong, *Albe foremated by the tempests shrill, That bellow'd fierce and rife the rocks among, By their own native vigour borne along Cut brifkly through the waves; and forces new Gathering from toil, and ardor from the throng Of rival youths, outftript the labouring crew, And to the true || Parnasse, and heav'n-thron'd glory flew. XXXVI. Dire

+ Lear, learning.

* Albe, although.

Mated, amazed, feared. Parnalje, Parnaffus.

XXXVI.

Dire was the tumult, and from every shore

Discordant ecchoes ftruck 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-ear
On Shinar's wide-spread 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, whofe tender breast
Empierced deep with fympathizing teen
On his pale cheek the figns of dread imprefs'd,
And fill'd his eyes with tears, which fore distress'd
Up to his fire he rais'd in mournful wife;

Who with sweet smiles paternal foon redrefs'd

His troublous thoughts, and clear'd each fad furmise; Then turns his ready fteed, and on his journey hies. XXXVIII.

But far he had not march'd ere he was ftay'd

By a rude voice, that like th' united found

Of shouting myriads, through the valley bray'd, And shook the groves, the floods, and folid ground:

The

+ Singults, fighs.

*While-ear, formerly.