XXVI. Fair Jenny of the mill I ftrove to win, But they bilive agreed with me to fin; One afk'd an owch, and one a watchet veil. My hope, my conqueft is to be deny'd. The stage I've try'd, but there my projects fail; But doth her husband's noul with horns of ront provide. As couthful fishers at the benty brook, By various arts affot the feely fry, Now wriggling worms, now paste conceals the hook, This takes the perch, and that the tench's eye: A fong this one, a daunce that maid delights: Man throws the wimble bait, and greedy woman bites. XXVIII. With forrow overhent, the other day I laid my weary limbs adown to rest, Where a tall beech o'erspread the dusky way; VOL. IV. K Oft Oft weighty truths are in this garb ydress'd. Then joyance once again fhall footh this breaft, And I fhall tafte true blifs, dear Columbel, with thee. Methought I faw a figure fair and tall, 'Till much beholding did improve each grace; XXX. With visage bland methought she hail'd me oft: "Ne fear, quoth fhe, a female's mild requeft. "The bark by tempefts that is whirl'd aloft, ર At length, the tempeft o'er, enjoyeth reft. My name is Chastity, though out of quest "With modern dames, yet thou shalt ftill furvey "A clime where beauty is with virtue bleft. "Good fortune fpeed you on your happy way; "Go, gentle Squire of Dames, and here no longer stay. XXXI. "To XXXI. "To Fairy lond your inftant journey bend, "Go on, nor be by former toils affray'd: "Go where yon oaks display their verdant pride, ""Till, from the mountains torn and ftripp'd of fhade, "On Neptune's billows they triumphant ride, "Protect their happy lond, and conquer all befide. XXXII. "Hail happy lond! for arms and arts renown'd, "For blooming virgins free from loose defire; "A Drake, a Bacon, there a birth-place found, "And chafte Eliza time fhall e'er admire : "The hero wields the fword and poet's lyre. "This Sidney knew, who ftill with luftre fhines, "For whom Dan Spenfer wak'd the warbling quire, "And many more whofe names might grace his lines; "There round the warriour's palm the lover's myrtle [twines." XXXIII. At this I woke, and now refolv'd to brave The utmost perils for my Columbel; And, if no mage have laid a magic fpell, And, what me most amates, leave Columbel behind. The Squire of Dames furceafed here his fay, And forth he yode to feek the British isle, Now how the Squire has fped, or ill, or well, For fee, how Phoebus welketh in the west, And the foothfaying owl, with her unlovely brood. 10 CANTO II. ARGUMENT. The Squire be lights on Bon-vivant, Then views in Merlin's magic glafs I. To gain the point to which our soul aspires We nourish toil, and reek hard labour sweet; For this, thro' Greenland's frofts, or India's fires, The hardy failors death and dangers meet; And the prow chieftain, bolder than discreet, In blood imbru'd pursues the martial fray, And lovers eke through life's loud tempests beat, Led on by hope, that never-dying ray; Hope wantons in their breast, and strews with flow'rs the II. And fure of all mankind the Squire of Dames [way. Blush, |