So on he passed, till he comen hath
To a small river, that full slow did glide,
As it uneath mote find its watry path
For stones and rubbish, that did choak its tide,
So lay the mouldering piles on every side,
Seem'd there a goodly city once had been,
Albeit now fallen were her royal pride,

Yet mote her auncient greatness still be seen, Still from her ruins prov'd the world's imperial queen.

For the rich spoil of all the continents,
The boast of Art and Nature there was brought,
Corinthian brass, Egyptian monuments,
With hieroglyphic sculptures all inwrought,
And Parian marbles, by Greek artists taught
To counterfeit the forms of heroes old,
And set before the eye of sober thought
Lycurgus, Homer, and Alcides bold;

All these and many more that may not here be told.
There in the middest of a ruin'd pile,
That seem'd a theatre of circuit vast,
Where thousands might be seated, he erewhile
Discover'd hath an uncouth trophy plac'd;
Seem'd a huge heap of stone together cast
In nice disorder and wild symmetry,
Urns, broken freezes, statues half defac'd,
And pedestals with antique imagery
Emboss'd, and pillars huge of costly porphyry.
Aloft on this strange basis was ypight',
With girlonds gay adorn'd, a golden chair,
In which, aye smiling with self-bred delight,
In careless pride reclin'd a lady fair,
And to soft music lent her idle ear;
The which with pleasure so did her enthral,
That for aught else she had but little care,
For wealth, or fame, or honour feminal,
Or gentle love, sole king of pleasures natural.
Als by her side, in richest robes array'd,
An eunuch sate, of visage pale and dead,
Unseemly paramour for royal maid!
Yet him she courted oft and honoured,
And oft would by her place in princely sted,
Though from the dregs of earth he springen were,
And oft with regal crowns she deck'd his head,
And oft, to sooth her vain and foolish ear,

She bade him the great names of mighty Kesars 3 bear.

Thereto herself a pompous title bore, For she was vain of her great auncestry, But vainer still of that prodigious store Of arts and learning, which she vaunts to lie In the rich archives of her treasury. These she to strangers oftentimes would show, With grave demean and solemn vanity, Then proudly claim as to her merit due, The venerable praise and title of Vertù. Vertù she was yclept 4, and held her court With outward shows of pomp and majesty, To which atheless few others did resort, But men of base and vulgar industry. Or such perdy as of them cozen'd be, Mimes, fidlers, pipers, eunuchs squeaking fine, Painters and builders, sons of masonry,

Who well could measure with the rule and line, And all the orders five right craftily detine.

But other skill of cumming architect,
How to contrive the house for dwelling best,
With self-sufficient scorn they wont neglect,
As corresponding with their purpose least;
And herein be they copied of the rest,
Who aye pretending love of science fair,
And generous purpose to adorn the breast
With liberal arts, to Vertù's court repair,
Yet nought but tunes and names, and coins away
do bear.

For long, to visit her once-honour'd seat
The studious sons of learning have forbore:
Who whilom thither ran with pilgrim feet
Her venerable reliques to adore,

And load their bosom with the sacred store,
Whereof the world large treasure yet enjoys.
But sithence5 she declin'd from wisdom's lore,
They left her to display her pompous toys
To virtuosi vain, and wonder-gaping boys.

Forthy to her a numerous train doth long Of ushers in her court well practised, Who aye about the moneyed stranger throng, Offering, with shows of courteous boantihed7, Him through the rich apartments all to lead, And show him all the wonders of her state, Whose names and price they wisely can areed, And tell of coins of old and modern date, And pictures false and true right well discriminate. Als are they named after him, whose tongue Shook the dictator in his curule chair, And, thundering through the Roman senate, ruang His bold Philippics in Antonius' ear; Which when the Fairy heard, he sigh'd full dear, And, casting round his quick discerning eye, At every deal 9 he dropt a manly tear, As he the stately buildings mote descry, Baths, theatres, and fanes, in mouldering fragments lie.

"And, oh! imperial city!" then he said, "How art thou tumbled from thine Alpine throne! Whereon, like Jove on high Olympus' head, Thou sittedst erst unequal'd and alone, And madest through the world thy greatness known:

While from the western isles, to Indus' shore, From seven-mouth'd Nilus, to the frozen Don, Thy dradded bolts the strong-pounc'd eagle bore, And taught the nations round thy fasces to adore. "And doth among thy reliques nought remain, No little portion of that haughty spright, Which made thee whilom scorn soft Pleasure's

"Arise, thou genuine Cicero, and declare That all these mighty ruins scatter'd wide The sepulchres of Roman virtue were, And trophies vast of luxury and pride, Those fell diseases whereof Rome erst dy'd. And do you then with vile mechanic thought Your course, ye sons of Fairy, hither guide, That refinements may be taught, those gay ye Which Liberty's fair lond to shame and thraldom brought?

"Let Rome those vassal arts now meanly boast, Which to her vanquish'd thralls she erst resign'd; Ye who enjoy that freedom she has lost, That great prerogative of human-kind, Close to your hearts the precious jewel bind, And learn the rich possession to maintain, Learn virtue, justice, constancy of mind, Not to be mov'd by fear or pleasure's train; Be these your arts, ye brave; these only are humane." As he thus spake, th' enchaunter half-asham'd Wist not what fitting answer to devise, Als was his caitive heart well-nigh inflam'd, By that same knight so virtuous, brave, and wise, That long he doubts him farther to entice. But he was harden'd and remorseless grown, Through practice old of villainy and vice; So to his former wiles he turns him soon, As in another place hereafter shall be shown.

Where Happiness heart-felt, Contentment sweet, Philosophy divine, aye hold their blest retreat. Thou, most belov'd, most honour'd, most rever'd! Accept this verse, to thy large merit due! And blame me not, if, by each tye endear'd, Of nature, gratitude, and friendship true, The whiles this moral thesis I pursue, And trace the plan of goodly nurture1 o'er, I bring thy modest virtues into view;

And proudly boast that from thy precious store, Which erst enrich'd my heart, I drew this sacred lore.

And thus, I ween, thus shall I best repay
The valued gifts thy careful love bestow'd;
If, imitating thee, well as I may,

I labour to diffuse th' important good,
Till this great truth by all be understood,
"That all the pious duties which we owe,
Our parents, friends, our country, and our God;
The seeds of every virtue here below,
From discipline alone, and early culture, grow.*

CANTO I

ARGUMENT.

The knight, as to Pædia's house
He his young son conveys,

Is staid by Custom; with him fights,
And his vain pride disdays.

A GENTLE knight there was, whose noble deeds
O'er Fairy-land by Fame were blazon'd round:
For warlike enterprize, and sage areeds 3,
Among the chief alike was he renown'd;
Whence with the marks of highest honours crown'd
By Gloriana, in domestic peace,

That port, to which the wise are ever bound,
He anchor'd was, and chang'd the tossing seas
Of bustling busy life, for calm sequester'd ease.
There, in domestic virtue rich and great
As erst in public, 'mid his wide domain,
Long in primeval patriarchal state,
The lord, the judge, the father of the plain,
He dwelt; and with him, in the golden chain
Of wedded faith y-link'd, a matron sage
Aye dwelt; sweet partner of his joy and pain,
Sweet charmer of his youth, friend of his age,
Skill'd to improve his bliss, his sorrows to assuage.
From this fair union, not of sordid gain,
But merit similar and mutual love,
True source of lineal virtue, sprung a train
Of youths and virgins; like the beauteous grove,
Which round the temple of Olympic Jove,
Begirt with youthful bloom the parent tree,
The sacred olive; whence old Elis wove

The noble seat of Learning's goodly train. Thereto, the more to captivate the sight, It like a garden fair most curiously was dight 1. In figur'd plots with leafy walls enclos'd, By measure and by rule it was out-lay'd; With symmetry so regular dispos'd, That plot to plot still answer'd, shade to shade; Each correspondent twain alike array'd With like embellishments of plants and flowers, Of statues, vases, spouting founts, that play'd Through shells of Tritons their ascending showers, And labyrinths involv'd, and trelice-woven bowers. There likewise mote be seen on every side The yew obedient to the planter's will, And shapely box of all their branching pride Ungently shorne, and, with preposterous skill, To various beasts and birds of sundry quiil Transform'd, and human shapes of monstrous size; Huge as that giant-race, who, high on hill High-heaping, sought with impious vain emprize", Despite of thundering Jove, to scale the steepy skies. Alse other wonders of the sportive shears Fair Nature misadorning there were found: Globes, spiral columns, pyramids and piers With sprouting urns and budding statues crown'd; And horizontal dials on the ground

In living box by cunning artists trac'd ;
And gallies trim, on no long voyage bound,
But by their roots there ever anchor'd fast,
All were their bellying sails out-spread to every blast.
O'er all appear'd the mountain's forked brows
With terrasses on terrasses up-thrown;
And all along arrang'd in order'd rows,
And vistos broad, the velvet slopes adown
The ever-verdant trees of Daphne shone.
But, aliens to the clime, and brought of old
From Latian plains, and Grecian Helicon,
They shrunk and languish'd in a foreign mould,
By changeful Summers starv'd, and pinch'd by
Winter's cold.

Amid this verdant grove with solemn state,
On golden thrones of antique forın reclin'd,
In mimic majesty nine Virgins sate,
In features various, as unlike in mind:
Alse boasted they themselves of heavenly kind,
And to the sweet Parnassian nymphs allied;
Thence round their brows the Delphic bay they
twin'd,

And matching with high names their apish pride, O'er every learned school aye claim'd they to preside.

In antique garbs (for modern they disdain'd)
By Greek and Roman artists whilom 4 made,
Of various woofs, and variously distain'd
With tints of every hue, were they array'd;
And here and there ambitiously display'd
A purple shred of some rich robe, prepar'd
Erst by the Muses or th' Aonian maid,
To deck great Tullius or the Mantuan bard;
Which o'er each motley vest with uncouth splen-
dour glar'd.

And well their outward vesture did express
The bent and habit of their inward mind,

Affecting Wisdom's antiquated dress, And usages by time cast far behind. Thence, to the charms of younger Science blind, The customs, laws, the learning, arts, and phrase Of their own countries they with scorn declin'd; Ne sacred Truth herself would they embrace, Unwarranted, unknown in their forefathers' days. Thus ever backward casting their survey To Rome's old ruins and the groves forlorn Of elder Athens, which in prospect lay [turn Stretch'd out beneath the mountain, would they Their busy search, and o'er the rubbish mourn. Then, gathering up with superstitious care Each little scrap, however foul or torn, In grave harangues they boldly would declare, This Ennius, Varro; this the Stagyrite did wear. Yet, under names of venerable sound, [rod; While o'er the world they stretch'd their awful Through all the provinces of Learning own'd For teachers of whate'er is wise and good. Alse from each region to their drad 5 abode Came youth unnumber'd crowding all to taste The streams of Science; which united flow'd Adown the mount, from nine rich sources cast; And to the vale below in one rude torrent pass'd. O'er every source, protectress of the stream, One of those virgin sisters did preside; Who, dignifying with her noble name Her proper flood, aye pour'd into the tide The heady vapours of scholastic pride Despotical and abject, bold and blind, Fierce in debate, and forward to decide; Vain love of praise, with adulation join'd, And disingenuous scorn and impotence of mind Extending from the hill on every side, In circuit vast a verdant valley spread, Across whose uniform flat bosom glide Ten thousand streams, in winding mazes led, By various sluices from one common head; A turbid mass of waters, vast, profound, Hight, of Philology the Lake; and fed

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

And every where this spacious valley o'er,
Fast by each stream was seen a numerous throng
Of beardless striplings, to the birch-crown'd shore,
By nurses, guardians, fathers, dragg'd along:
Who, helpless, meek, and innocent of wrong,
Were torn reluctant from the tender side

Of their fond mothers, and by faitours strong, By power made insolent, and hard by pride, Were driven with furious rage, and lash'd into the tide.

On the rude bank with trembling feet they stood, And, casting round their oft-reverted eyes, If haply they mote 'scape the hated flood, Fill'd all the plain with lamentable cries; But far away th' unheeding father flies, Constrain'd his strong compunctions to repress; While close behind, assuming the disguise Of nurturing care, and smiling tenderness, With secret scourges arm'd, those griesly faitours press.

;

Thus urg'd by mastering fear and dolorous teen 2 Into the current plung'd that infant crowd. Right piteous was the spectacle, I ween, Of tender striplings stain'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 syren Liberty, and evermore Solicited their hearts with her enchanting lore. Irksome and long the passage was, perplex'd With rugged rocks, on which the raving tide, By sudden bursts of angry tempests vext, [abide Oft dash'd the youth, whose strength mote ill With head-uplifted o'er the waves to ride. Whence many wearied ere they had o'erpast The middle stream (for they in vain have tried) Again return'd astounded 3 and aghast; Ne one regardful look would ever backward cast. Some, of a rugged, more enduring frame, Their toilsome course with patient pain pursued; And, though with many a bruise and muchel blame,

Eft hanging on the rocks, and eft embrued Deep in the muddy stream, with hearts subdued And quail'd by labour, gain'd the shore at last, But in life's practic lear 5 unskill'd and rude, Forth in that forked hill they silent pac'd; Where hid in studious shades their fruitless hours they waste.

Others, of rich and noble lineage bred, [strain'd,
Though with the crowd to pass the flood con-
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, unstain'd,
Save with the sprinkling of the watery spray,
And aye their proud prerogative maintain❜d,
Of ignorance and ease, and wanton play,
Soft harbingers of vice, and premature decay.
A few, alas, how few! by Heaven's high will
With subtle spirits endow'd and sinews strong,
Albesore mated 7 by the tempests shrill,
That bellow'd fierce and rife the rocks among,
By their own native vigour borne along
Cut briskly 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 8 and heaven-throng'd
glory flew.

Dire was the tumult, and from every shore
Discordant echoes struck the deafen'd ear,
Heart-thrilling cries, with sobs and singults 9 sore
Short-interrupted, the imploring tear,

And furious stripes, and angry threats severe,
Confus'dly mingled with the jarring sound

Of all the various speeches that while-ere 10
On Shinar's wide-spread champain did astound
High Babel's builders vain, and their proud works
confound.

Much was the knight empassion'd at the scene,
But more his blooming son, whose tender breast
Empierced deep with sympathizing teen
On his pale cheek the signs of drad imprest,
And fill'd his eyes with tears, which, sore distrest,
Up to his sire he rais'd in mournful wise;
Who with sweet smiles paternal soon redress'd
His troublous thoughts, and clear'd each sad
surmise;

Then turns his ready steed, and on his journey hies.
But far he had not march'd, ere he was stay'd
By a rude voice, that like th' united sound
Of shouting myriads, through the valley bray'd,
And shook the groves, the floods, and solid ground;
The distant hills rebellow'd all around.
"Arrest, sir Knight," it cried, "thy fond career,
Nor with presumptuous disobedience wound
That awful majesty which all revere!

[hear!"
In my commands, sir Knight, the voice of nations
Quick turn'd the knight, and saw upon the plain,
Advancing tow'rds him with impetuous gait,
And visage all inflam'd with fierce disdain,
A monstrous giant, on whose brow elate
Shone the bright ensign 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, [own. While senates, priests and kings his sovran" sceptre Custom he hight; and aye in every land Usurp'd dominion with despotic sway O'er all he holds; and to his high command Constrains even stubborn Nature to obey; Whom dispossessing oft, he doth assay To govern in her right: and with a pace So soft and gentle doth he win his way, That she unwares is caught in his embrace, And, though deflower'd and thrall'd, nought feels

her foul disgrace.

For nurturing, even from their tenderest age,
The docile sons of men withouten pain,
By disciplines and rules to every stage
Of life accommodate, he doth them train
Insensibly to wear and hug his chain.
Alse his behests or gentle or severe,
Or good or noxious, rational or vain,
He craftily persuades them to revere,
As institutions sage, and venerable lear.

Protector, therefore, of that forked hill,
And mighty patron of those Sisters nine,
Who, there enthron'd, with many a copious rill
Feed the full streams, that through the valley
shine,

He deemed was; and aye with rites divine,
Like those which Sparta's hardy race 12 of yore