Ev'n they, to whom kind Nature did accord
A frame more delicate, and purer mind,
Though the foul brothel and the wine-ftain'd board
Of beastly Comus loathing they declin'd,
Yet their foft hearts to idle joys refign'd;
Like painted infects, through the fummer-air
With random flight aye ranging unconfin'd;
And tasting every flower and blossom fair,
Withouten any choice, withouten any care.
LXII.
For choice them needed none, who only fought
With 'vain amusements to beguile the day;
And wherefore fhould they take or care or thought,
Whom Nature prompts, and Fortune calls to play?
"Lords of the earth, be happy as ye may!"
So learn'd, fo taught the leaders of mankind;
Th' unreafoning vulgar willingly obey,
And leaving toil and poverty behind,
Ran forth by different ways the blissful boon to find.
LXIII.
Nor tedious was the fearch; for every where,
As nigh great CUSTOM's royal tow'rs the KNIGHT
Pafs'd through th' adjoining hamlets, mote he hear
The merry voice of festival Delight.
Saluting the return of morning bright
With matin-revels, by the mid-day hours.
Scarce ended; and again with dewy night,
In cover'd theatres, or leafy bow'rs
Offering her evening-vows to Pleafure's joyous pow'rs.
LXIV.
And ever on the way mote he efpy
Men, women, children, a promifcuous throng
Of rich, poor, wife and fimple, low and high,
By land, by water, paffing aye along
With mummers, antics, mufic, dance and fong,
To Pleafure's numerous temples, that befide
The glistening ftreams, or tufted groves among,
To every idle foot flood open wide,
And every gay defire with various joys fupplied.
For there each heart with diverfe charms to move
The fly inchantrefs fummoned all her train :
Alluring Venus, queen of vagrant love,
The boon companion Bacchus loud and vain,
And tricking Hermes, god of fraudful gain,
Who, when blind Fortune throws, directs the die,
And Phabus tuning his foft Lydian strain
To wanton motions, and the lover's figh,
And thought-beguiling fhew, and masking revelry.
Unmeet affociates there for noble youth,
Who to true honour meaneth to aspire;
And for the works of virtue, faith, and truth
Would keep his manly faculties entire.
The which avizing well, the cautious fire
From that foft firen land of Pleasaunce vain,
With timely hafte was minded to retire,
Or ere the sweet contagion mote attain
His fon's unpractis'd heart, yet free from vicious ftain.
LXVII.
So turning from that beaten road afide,
Through many a devious path at length he paced,
As that experienc'd Palmer did him guide,
'Till to a mountain hoare they come at laft;
Whofe high-rais'd brows with filvan honours graced,
Majestically frown'd upon the plain,
And over all an aweful horrour cast.
Seem'd as thofe villas gay it did disdain,
Which spangled all the vale like Flora's painted train.
LXVIII.
The hill afcended strait, ere-while they came
To a tall grove, whofe thick-embow'ring fhade,
Impervious to the fun's meridian flame
Ev'n at mid-noon a dubious twilight made;
Like to that fober light, which difarray'd
Of all its gorgeous robe, with blunted beams,
Through windows dim with holy acts pourtray'd,
Along fome cloister'd abby faintly gleams,
Abstracting the rapt thought from vain earth-mufing themes.
LXIX.
Beneath this high o'er-arching canopy
Of cluft'ring oaks, a filvan colonnade,
Aye lift'ning to the native melody
Of birds sweet-echoing through the lonely shade,
On to the centre of the grove they stray'd;
Which, in a spacious circle opening round,
Within its fhelt'ring arms fecurely laid,
Disclos'd to fudden view a vale profound,
With Nature's artless smiles and tranquil beauties crown'd.
There, on the bafis of an ancient pile,
Whose cross furmounted spire o'erlook'd the wood,
A venerable MATRON they ere-while
Discover'd have, befide a murm'ring flood
Reclining in right fad and penfive mood.
Retir'd within her own abftracted breast,
She feem'd o'er various woes by turns to brood;
The which her changing chear by turns expreft,
Now glowing with difdain, with grief now & over-keft.
Over-keft, for over-caft.
Her thus immers'd in anxious thought profound
When-as the Knight perceiv'd, he nearer drew;
To weet what bitter bale did her aftound,
And whence th' occafion of her anguish grew,
For that right noble MATRON well he knew ;
And many perils huge, and labours fore
Had for her fake endured; her vaffal true,
Train'd in her love, and practiced evermore
Her honour to refpect, and reverence her lore.
LXXII.
O deareft drad! he cried, fair island queen!
Mother of heroes! empress of the main!
What means that ftormy brow of troubles teen?
Sith heav'n-born Peace, with all her smiling train
Of fciences and arts, adorns thy reign
With wealth and knowledge, fplendour and renown?
Each port how throng'd! how fruitful every plain!
How blithe the country! and how gay the town!
While Liberty fecures and heightens every boon!
LXXIII.
Awaken'd from her trance of penfive woe
By these fair flattering words, fhe rais'd her head;
And bending on the KNIGHT her frowning brow,
Mock'st thou my forrows, Fairy's Son? she said.
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