Of ignorance, and eafe, and wanton play,
Soft harbingers of vice and premature decay.
A few, alas! how few! by Heaven's high will
With fubtle fpirits 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 thro' the waves, and forces new
Gath'ring from toil, and ardour from the throng
Of rival youths, outstript the lab'ring crew,
And to the true Parnafle † and heaven-throng'd
glory flow.

fore

Dire was the tumult and from every shore
Difcordant echoes ftruck the deafen'd ear,
Heart-thrilling cries,with fobs and fingults
Short interrupted, the imploring tear,
And furious ftripes and angry threats fevere,
Confus dly mingled with the jarring found
Of all the various fpeeches that whilere
On Shinars's widespread champaign did aftound
High Babel's builders vain, and their proud
works confound.

Much was the knight empaffion'd at the fcene;
But more his blooming fon, whofe tender breait
Empierced deep with Tympathizing teen
On his pale cheek the figns of drad imprefs'd,
And fill'd with tears his eyes, which fore dif-
Upto his fire he rais'd in mournful wife, [trefs'd,
Who with fweet fmiles paternal foon redrefs'd
His troublous thoughts, and clear'd each fad
furmife:

Then turns his ready fleed,and onhisjourneyhies.
But far he had not march'd ere he was stay'd
By a rude voice, that like th' united found
Of fhouting myriads thro the valley bray'd
And hook the groves, the floods, and folid
The distant hills rebellow'd all around.(ground;
"Arreft, fir Knight," it cried, "thy fond career,
"Nor with presumptuous difobedience wound
"That awful majefty which all revere!
"In my commands, fir Knight, the voice of
"nations hear."

Quick turn'd the knight, and faw upon the plain
Advancing towards him, with impetuous gait,
And vifage all inflam'd with fierce difdain,
A monftrous giant, on whofe 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 fovran
fceptre own.

Cuftom he hight, and aye in ev'ry land
Ufurp'd dominion with defpotic fway
O'er all he holds, and to his high coinmand

Conftrains ev'n stubborn Nature to obey,
Whom difpoffetfing oft he doth affay
To govern in her right; and with a pace
That the unwares is caught in his embrace;
So foft and gentle doth he win his way,
And tho' deflour'd and thrall'd nought feels her
foul difgrace.

For nurt'ring even from their tenderest age
The docile fons of men withouten pain,
By difciplines and rules to every stage
Of life accommodate, he doth them train
Infenfibly to wear and hug his chain;
Als his behefts or gentle or severe,
Or good or noxious, rational or vain,
He craftily perfuades them to revere
As inftitutions fage and venerable lear.
Protector therefore of that forked hill,
And mighty patron of thofe Sifters Nine,
Who there enthron'd with many a copious rill
Feed the full streams that thro' the valley thine,
He deemed was, and aye with rites divine,
Like thofe which Sparta's hardy race of yore
Were wont perform at fell Diana's fhrine,
He doth constrain his vaffals to adore
Perforce their facred names, and learn their fa-
cred lore.

And to the Fairy knight now drawing near
With voice terrific and imperious mien
(All was he wont lefs dreadful to appear [feen)
When known and practis'd than at ditance
And kingly stretching forth his fceptre theen,
Him he commandeth upon threaten'd pain
Of his difpleasure high and vengeance keen,
From his rebellious purpose to refrain, [train.
And all due honours pay to Learning's rev'rend
So faying, and foreftalling all reply,
His peremptory hand without delay,
As one who little car'd to justify
His princely will, long us'd to boundless fway,
Upon the Fairy youth with great difmay
In ev'ry quaking limb convuls'd he lay'd,
And proudly talking o'er the verdant lay ††,
Him to thofe scientific streams convey'd,
With many his young compeers, therein to be
embay`d‡‡.

The knight his tender fon's distressful stour §§
Perceiving, fwift to his affiflance flew,
Ne vainly ftay'd to deprecate that pow'r
Which from fubmiffion aye more haughty grew:
For that proud giant's force he wifely knew
¶Not to be meanly dreaded, nor defied

With rath prefumption; and with courage true,
Rather than step from virtue's path afide,
Oft had he fingly fcorn'd his all-difmaying
pride.

+ Mated, amazed, scared.
Whilere, formerly.

• Albe, although. Singults, fighs. The Lacedemonians, in order to make their children hardy, and courage, were accustomed to cause them to be fcourged very feverely. an Lis Life of Lycurgus, “ have seen several of them endure whipping Diana, furnamed Othia." †† Lay, mead. ‡‡ Embay'd, bathed, dipt.

་

Parnaffe, Parnassus. ¶ Sovran, for fovereign. endure pain with conftancy and “And I myself," fays Plutarch, to death at the foot of the alta of §§ Stour, trouble, misfortune, &c.

And

And now, difdaining parle, his courfer hot
He fiercely prick'd, and couch'd his vengeful
fpear,

Wherewith the giant he fo rudely fmot,
That him perforce conftrain'd to wend arrear;
Who much abafh'd at fuch rebuke fevere,
Yet his accustom'd pride recov'ring soon,
Forthwith his massy fceptre 'gan uprear,
For other warlike weapon he had none,
Ne other him behov'd to quell his boldest fonet.
With that enormous mace the Fairy knight
So fore he bet that all his armour bray'd §,
To pieces well nigh riv'n with the might
Of fo tempestuous ftrokes; but he was ftay'd,
And ever with delib'rate valour weigh'd
The fudden changes of the doubtful fray,
From cautious prudence oft deriving aid,
When force unequal did him hard affay;
So lightly from his steed he leap'd upon the lay.
Then fwiftly drawing forth his trenchant || blade,
High o'er his head he held his fenceful fhield,
And warily forecasting to evade

The giant's furious arm about him wheel'd,
With reftlefs steps aye traverfing the field,
And eyer as his foe's intemp'rate pride
Thro' rage defenceless mote advantage yield,
With his fharp fword fo oft he did him gride,
That his gold fandal'd feet in crimson floods
were dy'd.

His bafer parts he maim'd with many a wound;
But far above his utmost reach were pight**
The fo.ts of life; ne never to confound
With utter ruin, and abolish quite
A pow'r fo puiffant, by his fingle might
Did he prefume to hope: himself alone
From lawless force to free in bloody fight
He stood, content to bow to custom's throne,
So reafon mote not blush his fovran rule to own.
So well he warded and fo fiercely preft
His foe, that weary wax'd he of the fray.
Yet nould he algates++ lower his haughty creft,
But making in contempt his fore difinay,
Ditdainfully releas'd the trembling prey
As one unworthy of his princely care;
Then proudly catting on the warlike Fay ‡‡
A fmile of fcorn and pity, thro' the air
'Gan blow his thrilling horn; the blast was heard
afar.

Eftfoons aftonish'd at th' alarming found,
The fignal of diftrefs and hoftile wrong,
Confus dly trooping from all quarters round,
Came pouring o'er the plain a numerous throng
Of ev'ry fex and order, old and young,
The valals of great Custom's wide domain,
Who to his lore inur'd by ufage long
His ev'ry fummons heard with pleasure fain,
And felt his ev'ry wound with fympathetic pain.

They, when their bleeding king they did behold
And faw an armed knight him ftanding near,
Attended by that palmer fage and bold,
Whofe vent'rous fearch of devious truth whilere
Spread thro' the realmsof learning horroursdrear,
Yfeized were at first with terrors great,
And in their boding hearts began to fear
Diffenfion factious, controversial hate,
And innovations strange, in Cuftom's peaceful
state.

But when theyfawthe knight his fauchion sheath,
And climbing to his steed march thence away
With all his hoftile train, they 'gan to breathe
With freer fpirit, and with afpect gay
Soon chac'd the gath'ring clouds of black afray:
Als their great monarch, cheered with the view
Of myriads who confefs his fovran sway,
His ruffled pride began to plume anew
And on his bugle clear a strain of triumph blew
Thereat the multitude that stood around
Sent up at once a univerfal roar
Of boiltrous joy: the fudden-bursting found,
Like the explosion of a warlike store

Of nitrous grain, th' afflicted welkin §§ tore:
Then turning tow'rds the knight with fcoffings
Heart-piercing infults and revilings fore, [lewd,
Loud bursts of laughter vain, and hiffes rude
As thro' the throng he pais'd his parting steps
pursued.

Als from that forked hill, the boafted feat
Of ftudious Peace and mild Philofophy,
Indignant murmurs mote be heard to threat,
Muft ring their rage; eke baleful Infamy,
Rous'd from her den of bafe obfcurity
By thofe fam'd Maidens Nine, began to found
Her brazen trump of black'ning obloquy,
While Satire, with darkclouds encompass'd round
Sharp fecret arrows shot, and aim'd his back to
wound.

But the brave Fairy knight no whit dismay`d,
Held on his peaceful journey o'er the plain,
With curious eye obferving, as he stray'd
Thro' the wide provinces of Cuftom's reign,
What mote afresh admonish him remain
Faft by his virtuous purpose; all around
So many objects mov'd his juft disdain,
Him feem'd that nothing ferious, nothing found,
In city, village, bow'r, or caftle, mote be found.
In village, city, caftle, bow'r, and hall,
Each fex, each age, each order and degree,
To vice and idle fport abandon'd all,
Kept one perpetual gen'ral jubilee,
Ne fuffer'd ought difturb their merry glee;
Ne fente of private lofs, ne public woes,
Reftraint of law, religion's drad decree,
Inteftine defolation, foreign foes, [vulfive throes.
NorHeaven'stempeftuousthreats,norearth's con-

* Wend arrear, move backwards.
+ Fane, focs.
Trenchant, cutting.
e Gride, cut, hack.
++ Nould tre algates, would not by any means.

Bet, heat.
** Fight, plac'd.

Fay, Fairy,

Bray'd, refounded.

( Welkin, fky.“

But

But chiefly they whom Heaven's difpofing hand
Had feated high on Fortune's upper itage,
And plac'd within their call the facred band
That waits on Nurture and Instruction lage,
If haply their wife hefts* mote them engage
To climb thro' knowledge to more noble praife,
And, as they mount, enlighten ev'ry age
With the bright influence of fair virtue's rays,
Which from the awful heights of grandeur
brighter blaze:

They, O perverfe and bafe ingratitude!
Defpifing the great ends of Providence,
For which above their mates they were endued
With wealth, authority, and eminence,
To the low fervices of brutal fente
Abus'd the means of pleasures more refin'd,
Of knowledge, virtue, and beneficence;
And, fett ring on her throne th' immortal Mind,
Theguidance of her realmto paffions wild refign'd.
Hence, thoughtless, thameless, reckless, fpiritlefs,
Nought worthy of their kind did they effay,
But, or benumb'd with palfied idleneis,
In merely living loiter'd life away,
Or by falfe tafte of pleasure led altray,
For ever wand'ring in the fenfual bow'rs
Of feverish Debauch and luftful Play,
Spent on ignoble toils their active pow'rs,
And with untimely blafts difeas'd their vernal
hours.

Een they to whom kind Nature did accord
A frame more delicate and purer mind,
The' the foul brothel and the wine-stain'd board
Of beaftly Comus loathing they declin'd,
Yet their foft hearts to idle joys refign'd;
Like painted infects thro' the fummer air
With random flight aye ranging uncontin'd,
And tasting ev'ry flow'r and bloffom fair
Withouten any choice, withouten any care.
For choice them needed none who only fought
With vain amusements to beguile the day,
Andwhereforethouldthey take or care or thought
Whom Nature prompts andFortune calls to play?
"Lords of the earth, be happy as ye may!'
So learn'd, fo taught, the leaders of mankind
Ta' unreafoning vulgar willingly obey,
And, leaving toil and poverty behind, [find.
Ran forth by diff'rent ways the blifsful boon to
Nor tedious was the fearch; for ev'ry where,
As nigh great Cuftom's royal tow'rs the knight
Pats'd thro' th' adjoining hamlets, mote he licar
The merry voice of feftival 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, [pow'rs.
On ring her ey`ning vows to Pleafore's joyous
And ever on the way mote he effy
Men, women, children, a promifcuous throng
Ot rich, poor, wife, and fimple, low and high,
By land, by water, paffing aye along
With murmurs, anticks, music, dance and fong,

Hefts, behefts, precepts, command,,

To Pleafure's num'rous temples, that befide
The glift'ning ftreams, or tufted groves among,
To ev'ry idle foot stood open wide,
And ev'ry gay defire with various joys supplied.
For there each heart with diverfe charms to move

The fly enchantress fummon'd 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 Phoebus, tuning his foft Lydian strain
To wanton motions and the lover's figh, [ry.
| And thought-beguiling fhew and masking revel-
Unmeet allociates thefe for noble youth
Who to true honour meaneth to afpire,
And for the works of virtue, faith and truth,
The which avizing well the cautious fire
Would keep his manly faculties entire;
From that foft Siren land of pleafaunce vain
With timely hafte was minded to retire,
Or ere the fweet contagion mote attain [ftain.
His fon's unpractis'd heart, yet free from vicious
So turning from that beaten road aside,
Thro' many a devious path at length he pac'd,
As that experienc'd palmer did him guide
Till to a mountain hoare they came at last,
Whofe high-rais'd brows, with fylvan honours
Majestically frown'd upon the plain, [grac'd,
And over all an awful horror caft;

Seem'd as thofe villas gay it did disdain, [train.
Which fpangled all the vale like Flora's painted
The hill afcended straight, erewhile they came
To a tall grove, whole thick embow'ring fhade,
Impervious to the fun's meridian flame,
E'en at mid-noon a dubious twilight made,
Like to that fober light which, difarray'd
Of all its gorgeous robe, with blunted beams
Thro' windows dim with holy acts pourtray'd
Along fome cloister'd abbey faintly gleams,
Abitracting the rapt thought from vain earth-
muting themes.

Beneath this high o'erarching canopy
of cutt'ring oaks, a fylvan colonnade,
Aye liftning to the native melody

Of birds fweet echoing thro' the lonely fhade,
On to the centre of the grove they stray'd;
Which in a fpacious circle op'ning round,
Within its feltring arms fecurely laid,
Difclos'd to fudden view a vale profound,
With Nature's artlets fmiles and tranquil beau-
ties crown'd.

There on the bafis of an ancient pile,
Whofe crois-furmounted fpire o'erlook'd the
A venerable matron they erewhile [wood,
Discover'd have beside a murm'ring flood,
Reclining in right fad and penfive mood:
Retir'd within her own abtracted breast,
She teem'd o'er various woes by turns to brood,
Thewhich her changing cheer by turns exprefs'd,"
Now glowing with difdain, with grief now over
kelt.t

Her thus immers'd in anxiousthoughtsprofound" Contempt of order, manners profligate, [state-
When as the knight perceiv'd, he nearer drew, "The symptoms of a foul, difeas'd and bloated
To weet what bitter bale did her attound,
"Ev'n Wit and Genius, with their learned train

And whence th' occafion of her anguish grew;" Of Arts and Mufes, tho' from heav'n above For that right noble matron well he knew, "Defcended, when their talents they profane. And many perils huge and labours fore "To varnih folly, kindle wanton love, Had for her fake endur'd, her vaffal true, "And aid eccentric fceptic pride to rove Train'd in her love, and practis'd evermore Beyond celeftial truth's attractive fphere, Her honour to refpect, and reverence her lore. This moral fyftem's central fun, aye prove "O deareft Drad!" he cried, "fair Ifland Queen! "To their fond votaries a curse fevere, "Mother of heroes! Emprefs of the main! "And only make mankind more obftinately err. "What means that itoriny brow of troublous" And ftand my fons herein from cenfure clear? "teen, [train" Have they confider'd well and understood "Sith heaven-born Peace, with all her fmiling" The ufe and import of those bleffings dear "Of Sciences and Arts, adorns thy reign "Which the great Lord of Nature hath bestow'd "With wealth and knowledge, fplendour and " As well to prove as to reward the good? plain!" Whence are these torrents then, thefe billowy "Each port how throng'd! how fruitful ev'ry" Of vicé, in which as in his proper flood [feas "How blithe the country! and how gay the" The fell Leviathan licentious plays, "And upon fhipwreck'd Faith and finking Vir"tue preys?

"renown?

" town!

While Liberty fecures and heightens ev'ry "boon!"

To you, ye noble, opulent, and great! "With friendly voice I call and honeft zeal; Upon your vital influences wait

Awaken'd from her trance of penfive wo By thefe fair flatt ring words, the rais'd her head," And bending on the knight her frowning brow," The health and sickness of the common weal: "Mock it thou my forrows, Fairy Son?" the faid; "Or is thy judgment by thy heart misled "To deem that certain which thy hopes fuggeft?" To deem them full of life and luffihead + "Whole checks in Hebe's vivid tints are drefs'd," "And with joy's careless mien and dimpled "fmiles imprefs'd!

The maladies you caufe yourselves must heal. "In vain to the unthinking harden'd crowd Will truth and reafon make their juft appeal, "In vain will facred wifdom cry aloud, [blood. And justice drench invain her vengeful fwordin « With you must reformation first take place: "You are the head, the intellectual mind Thy unfufpecting heart how nobly good "Of this vaft body politic, whofe base "I know, how fanguine in thy country's caufe," And vulgar limbs to drudgery confign'd, And mark'd thy virtue fingly how it stood "All the rich ftores of fcience have refign'd "Th' affaults of mighty cuftom, which o'erawes" To you, that, by the craftíman's various toil, "The faint and tim rous mind,and oft withdraws" The fea-worn mariner and fweating hind, "From Reafon's lore th'ambitious and the vain," In peace and affluence maintain'd, the while By the fweet lure of popular applause, "You for yourselves and them may dress the "Against their better knowledge to maintain "mental foil. "The lawlefs throne of Vice or Folly's childish "reign.

Bethink you then, my children! of the truft "In you repos'd; ne let your heaven-born mind Confume in pleafure or unactive ruft,

"How vaft his influence, how wide his fway," Thyfelf erewhile by proof didft understand," But nobly roufe you to the task allign'd, "And faw it, as thro' his realms thou took it thy" The godlike task, to teach and inend mankind! "Learn, that ye may infruct: to virtue lead "Yourselves the way; the herd will crowd be«hind,

40 way,

"How vice and folly had o'erfpread the land: "And canft thou then, O Fairy Son! demand "The reafon of my wo? or hope to ease "And gather precepts from each worthy deed: "The throbbings of my heartwithfpeechesbland," Example is a leflon that all men can read. "And words more apt my forrows to increase," But if (to all or moft I do not fpeak) "The once-dear names of wealth, and liberty," In vain and fenfual habits now grown old

"and peace?

"Peace, wealth, and liberty that nobleft boon,
"Are bleffings only to the wife and good;
"To weak and vicious minds their worth un-
"known,

"The ftrong Circaan charm you cannot break,
"Nor reaffuine at will your native mould 1,
"Yet envy not the state you could not hold,
"And take compaffion on the rifing age,
"In them redeem your errors manifold,
And by due difcipline and nurture fage
"In virtue's lore betimes your docilefonsengage.
You chiefly who like me in fecret mourn
"The prevalence of cuftom lewd and vain,

"And thence abus'd, but ferve to furnish food"
"For riot and debauch, and fire the blood
"With high-fpic'd luxury,whence ftrife,debate,"
"Ambition, envy, Faction's vip'rous brood,

• Sith, fince. + Luftihead, strong health, vigour.

"And you who tho' by the rude torrent borne" Thro' the world's intricate or rugged ways, "Unwillingly along, you yield with pain "To his behefts, and act what you disdain,

"Conducted by Religion's facred rays,
"Whofe foul-invigorating influence

"Yet nourish in your hearts the gen'rous love" Shall purge their minds from all impure allays "Of piety and truth, no more reftrain "Of fordid felfishness, and brutal fenfe; [lence. "The manly zeal, but all your finews move "Andfwell th'ennobled heart with bleft benevo"The prefcat to reclaim, the future race im-« Then alfo fhall this emblematic pile,

"By magic whilom fram'd to fympathife

" prove. "Eftfoons by your joint efforts fhall be quell'd" With all the fortunes of this changeful ifle, "Yon haughty giant, who fo proudly sways "Still as my fons in fame and virtue rife, [fkies "A fceptre by repute alone upheld, "Grow with their growth, and to th' applauding "Who where he cannot dictates straight obeys: "It's radiant crofs uplift; the while to grace "Accuftom'd to conform his flatt'ring phrafe" The multiplying niches freth fupplies" "Of worthies fhall fucceed, with equal pace

"To numbers and light-plac'd authority

"Your party he will join, your maxims praife," Aye following their fires in virtue's glorious "And, drawing after all his menial fry, "race."

"Soon teach the gen'ral voice your act to ratify. Fir'd with th' idea of her future fame, "Ne for thatchievement of this great emprize She rofe majestic from her lowly ftead, "The want of means or counfel may ye dread; While from her vivid eyes a sparkling flame "From my twin-daughters fruitful wombs fhall Outbeaming, with unwonted light o'erfpread "A race of letter'd fages deeply read [rife That monumental pile, and, as her head In learning's various writ, by whom yled To ev'ry front the turn'd, difcover'd round "Thro' each well-cultur'd plot, each beauteous The venerable forms of heroes dead, "grove, Who for their various merit, erst renown'd, In this bright faneofgloryfhrinesofhonourfound. On these that royal dame her ravish'd eyes Would often feaft; and ever as the fpied [rife, Forth from the ground the length'ning structure With new-plac'd ftatues deck'd on ev'ry fide, Her parent breast would fwellwithgen'rous pride. And now with her in that fequefter'd plain The knight a while conftraining to abide, She to the Fairy youth with pleafure fain Thofe fculptur'd chiefs did fhew, and their great lives explain.

Where antic wisdom whilom wont to tread, "With mingled glee and profit may ye rove, "And culi each virtuous plant, each tree of "knowledge prove.

"Yourselves with virtue thus and knowledge
"fraught,

"Of what in ancient days of good or great
Hiftorians, bards, philofophers, have taught,
"Join'd with whatever elfe of modern date
"Maturer judgment, search more accurate,
"Discover'd have of Nature, Man and God,
"May by new laws reform the time-worn ftate
"Of cell-bred difcipline, and smoothe the road
"That leads thro' learning's vale to wifdom's
"bright abode.

"By you invited to her fecret bow'rs,
"Then fhall Pædia re-afcend her throne,
"With vivid laurels girt and fragrant flow'rs;
"Whilefromtheirforkedmountdefcendingdown
* Yon fupercilious pedant train fhall own
"Her empire paramount, ere long by her
"Ytaught a leflon in their schools unknown,
"To learning's richest treasure to prefer
"The knowledge of the world and man's great
"business there.

"On this prime science, as the final end
"Of all her difcipline and nurt'ring care,
"Her eye Padia fixing, aye' fhall bend
"Her ev'ry thought and effort to prepare
"Her tender pupils for the various war
"Which vice and folly fhall upon them wage
"As on the perilous march of life they fare,
"With prudent lore fore-arming ev'ry age.
Gainft Pleasure's treach'rous joys and Pain's
“embattled rage.

"Then fhall my youthful fons, to wisdom led
"By fair example and ingenuons praife,
"With willing feet the paths of duty tread,

$59. A Birth-Day Thought.
CAN I, all-gracious Providence!
Can I deferve thy care?
Ah! no: I've not the leaft pretence
To bounties which I fhare.
Have I not been defended still

From dangers and from death;
Been fafe preferv'd from ev'ry ill

E'er fince thou gave me breath?
I live once more, to see the day

That brought me firit to light;
O! teach my willing heart the way
To take thy mercies right.
Tho' dazzling fplendor, pomp, and fhow,
My fortune has denied;
Yet more than grandeur can befstow
Content hath well supplied.

No ftrife has e'er difturb'd my peace,
No mis`ries have 1 known;

And, that I'm blefs'd with health and ease,
With humble thanks I own.

I envy no one's birth or fame,
Their titles, train, or drefs;
Nor has my pride e'er stretch'd its aim
Beyond what I poffefs.

I ask