Backward they move, but scorn their pace to mend ;
Then seek the stairs, and with slow haste descend.
Fierce Pasimond, their passage to prevent,
Thrust full on Cymon's back in his descent,
The blade return'd unbath'd, and to the handle
bent.

Stout Cymon soon remounts, and cleft in two 640
His rival's head with one descending blow:
And as the next in rank, Ormisda, stood,

He turn'd the point; the sword, inur'd to blood,
Bor'd his unguarded breast, which pour'd a purple(

flood.

646

With vow'd revenge the gath'ring crowd pursues,
The ravishers turn head, the fight renews;
The hall is heap'd with corps; the sprinkled gore
Besmears the walls, and floats the marble floor.
Dispers'd at length, the drunken squadron flies,
The victors to their vessel bear the prize; 650
And hear behind loud groans and lamentable cries.
The crew with merry shouts their anchors weigh,
Then ply their oars, and brush the buxom sea,
While troops of gather'd Rhodians crowd the key.
What should the people do, when left alone? 655
The governor and government are gone.
The public wealth to foreign parts, convey'd ;
Some troops, disbanded; and the rest, unpaid.
Rhodes is the sovereign of the sea no more;
Their ships, unrigg'd; and spent, their naval store;
They neither could defend, nor can pursue, 661
But grinn'd * their teeth, and cast a helpless view :

Should not this be grind ?

In vain with darts a distant war they try,
Short, and more short, the missive weapons fly.
Mean while the ravishers their crimes enjoy; 663
And flying sails and sweeping oars employ:
The cliffs of Rhodes in little space are lost,
Jove's isle they seek; nor Jove denies his coast.
In safety, landed on the Candian shore,
With gen'rous wines their spirits they restore :
There Cymon with his Rhodian friend resides,
Both court, and wed at once the willing brides. 672
A war ensues; the Cretans own their cause,
Stiff to defend their hospitable laws:

Both parties lose by turns; and neither wins, 675
Till peace, propounded by a truce, begins.
The kindred of the slain forgive the deed,
But a short exile must for show precede :
The term expir'd, from Candia they remove;
And, happy, each, at home, enjoys his love. 680

END.

CONTENTS.

TALES FROM CHAUCER-continued.

THE Cock and the Fox; or the Tale of the

Nun's Priest -

The Flower and the Leaf; or the Lady in

the Arbour-a Vision

The Wife of Bath's Tale

THE

POETS

OF

GREAT BRITAIN,

IN ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR VOLUMES.

VOL. XLII.

DRYDEN. VOL. VI