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
Crowd back, affrighted at the rolling tides:
The fhepherd-fwain at firft 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 dafhing wave compels them furious down.
Thus urg'd by maft'ring Fear and dol'rous Teen
Into the current plung'd that infant crowd.
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 distant shore,
Where holding forth the gown of manhood stood
The firen Liberty, and ever-more
Sollicited their hearts with her inchanting lore.
Irkfome and long the paffage was, perplex'd
With rugged rocks on which the raving tide • Seely, fimple. Teen, pain, grief.
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 stream (for they in vain have tried)
Again return'd astounded 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 though with many a bruise and muchel blame,
Eft hanging on the rocks, and eft embru'd
Deep in the muddy ftream, with hearts fubdu'd
And quail'd by labour, gain'd the shore at last,
But in life's practic lear unskill'd and rude,
Forth to that forked bill they filent pac'd;
Where hid in studious fhades their fruitless hours they
Others of rich and noble lineage bred,
Though with the crowd to pass the flood constrain'd,
Yet o'er the crags with fond indulgence led
By hireling guides and in all depths sustain❜d,
Skimm'd lightly o'er the tide, undipt, unftain'd,
Save with the sprinkling of the wat❜ry spray:
4 Aftounded, aftonished. Muchel, much. f Lear, learning.
And aye their proud prerogative maintain'd,
Of ignorance and eafe and wanton play,
Soft harbingers of vice, and præmature decay.
XXXV.
A few, alas, how few! by heav'n's high will
With fubtile spirits endow'd and finews ftrong,
* Albe fore" mated 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 ardour from the throng
Of rival youths, outstript the labouring crew,
And to the true 'Parnasse, and heav'n-thròn'd glory flew,
XXXVI.
Dire was the tumult, and from every shore
Discordant echoes ftruck the deafen'd ear,
Heart-thrilling cries, with fobs and fingults fore
Short-interrupted, the imploring tear,
And furious stripes, and angry threats fevere,
Confus'dly mingled with the jarring found
Of all the various fpeeches that' while-ere
On Shinar's wide-spread champain did astound
High Babel's builders vain, and their proud works con
Albe, although. h Mated, amazed, scared. i Parnaffe, Parnaffus. k Singults, fighs.
Much was the KNIGHT empaffion'd at the scene,
But more his blooming fon, whose tender breaft
Empierced deep with sympathizing teen
On his pale cheek the signs of dread imprefs'd,
And fill'd his eyes with tears, which sore distress'd
Up to his fire he rais'd in mournful wife;
Who with sweet smiles paternal foon redress'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 stay'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 diftant hills rebellow'd all around.
"Arreft, Sir Knight, it cried, thy fond career,
"Nor with prefumptuous difobedience wound
"That aweful majesty which all revere !
"In my commands, Sir Knight, the voice of nations hear!"
Quick turn'd the KNIGHT, and faw upon the plain
Advancing tow❜rds him with impetuous gate,
And visage all inflam'd with fierce disdain,
A monftrous GIANT, on whose brow elate
Shone the bright enfign of imperial state;
Albeit lawful kingdom he had none;
But laws and kingdoms wont he oft create,
And oft'times over both erect his throne,
While fenates, priests and kings his "fov'ran fceptre own.
CUSTOM he hight; and in every land
Ufurp'd dominion with defpotic fway
O'er all he holds; and to his high command
Constrains ev'n ftubborn Nature to obey;
Whom difpoffeffing oft, he doth affay
To govern in her right: and with a pace
So foft and gentle doth he win his way,
That the unwares is caught in his embrace,
And though deflowr'd and thrall'd nought feels her foul
For nurt'ring, even from their tend'reft age,
The docile fons of men withouten pain,
By disciplines and rules to every stage
Of life accommodate, he doth them train
Infenfibly to wear and hug his chain.
Alfe his behefts or gentle or fevere,
Or good or noxious, rational or vain,
He craftily perfuades them to revere,
As inftitutions fage, and venerable lear.
Sov'ran, for fovereign.
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