High on his pointed lance his pennon bore
His Cretan fight, the conquer'd Minotaure :
The foldiers shout around with gen'rous rage,
And in that victory their own presage.
He prais'd their ardor: inly pleas'd to fee
His hoft the flow'r of Grecian chivalry.
All day he march'd; and all th' ensuing night;
And faw the city with returning light.
The process of the war I need not tell,
How Theseus conquer'd, and how Creon fell:
Or after, how by storm the walls were won,
Or how the victor sack'd and burn'd the town:
How to the ladies he restor'd again
The bodies of their lords in battle flain :
And with what ancient rites they were interr'd;
All these to fitter times shall be deferr'd :
I spare the widows tears, their woful cries,
And howling at their husband's obfequies;
How Theseus at these fun'rals did assist,
And with what gifts the mourning dames dismiss'd.

Thus when the victor chief had Creon flain,
And conquer'd Thebes, he pitched upon the plain
His mighty camp, and, when the day return'd,
The country wasted, and the hamlets burn'd,
And left the pillagers, to rapine bred,
Without controul to strip and spoil the dead.

There, in a heap of flain among the reft
Two youthfulknights they found beneath a load oppress'd
Of flaughter'd foes, whom first to death they fent
The trophies of their strength, a bloody monument.
Both fair, and both of royal blood they seem'd,
Whom kinsmen to the crown the heralds deem'd;
That day in equal arms they fought for fame;
Their swords, their shields, their furcoats were the fame.
Close by each other laid they press'd the ground,
Their manly bosoms pierc'd with many agriefly wound;

Nor

Nor well alive, nor wholly dead they were,
But some faint signs of feeble life appear :
The wandring breath was on the wing to part,
Weak was the pulse, and hardly heav'd the heart.
These two were fifter's fons; and Arcite one,
Much fam'd in fields, with valiant Palamon.
From these their costly arms the spoilers rent,
And foftly both convey'd to Theseus' tent:
Whom known of Creon's line, and cur'd with care,
He to his city sent as pris'ners of the war,
Hopeless of ranform, and condemn'd to lie
In durance, doom'd a lingring death to die.
This done, he march'd away with warlike found,
And to his Athens turn'd with laurels crown'd,
Where happy long he liv'd, much lov'd, and more

renown'd.

But in a tow'r, and never to be loos'd,
The woeful captive kinsmen are inclos'd :

}

Thus year by year they pass, and day by day, Till once, 'twas on the morn of chearful May, The young Emilia fairer to be seen Than the fair lily on the flowry green, More fresh than May herself in blossoms new, For with the rofy color strove her hue, Wak'd, as her custom was, before the day, To do th' obfervance due to sprightly May : For fprightly May commands our youth to keep The vigils of her night, and breaks their sluggard sleep; Each gentle breast with kindly warmth the moves; Inspires new flames, revives extinguish'd loves. In this remembrance Emily ere day Arose, and dress'd herself in rich array; Fresh as the month, and as the morning fair: Adown her shoulders fell her length of hair : A ribband did the braided tresses bind, The rest was loose, and wanton'd in the wind:

Aurora

Aurora had but newly chas'd the night,
And purpled o'er the sky with blushing light,
When to the garden walk she took her way,
To sport and trip along in cool of day,
And offer maiden vows in honor of the May.

At ev'ry turn, she made a little stand,
And thrust among the thorns her lily hand
To draw the rose, and ev'ry rose she drew
She shook the stalk, and brusn'd away the dew:
'Then party-color'd flow'rs of white and red
She wove, to make a garland for her head:
This done, she sung and caroll'd out so clear,
That men and angels might rejoice to hear:
Ev'n wond'ring Philomel forgot to fing;
And learn'd from her to welcome in the spring.
The tow'r, of which before was mention made,
Within whose keep the captive knights were laid,
Built of a large extent, and strong withal,
Was one partition of the palace wall:
The garden was inclos'd within the square,
Where young Emilia took the morning-air.

It happen'd Palamon the pris'ner knight,
Restless for woe, arose before the light,
And with his jailor's leave defir'd to breathe
An air more wholsome than the damps beneath.
This granted, to the tower he took his way,
Chear'd with the promise of a glorious day :
Then cast a languishing regard around,
And faw with hateful eyes the temples crown'd
With golden spires, and all the hoftile ground.
He figh'd, and turn'd his eyes, because he knew
'Twas but a larger jail he had in view:
Then look'd below, and from the castle's height
Beheld a nearer and more pleasing fight:
The garden, which before he had not seen,

In spring's new livery clad of white and green,
Fresh flow'rs in wide parterres, and shady walks between.

}

}

}

This view'd, but not enjoy'd, with arms acrofa
He stood, reflecting on his country's loss;
Himself an object of the public scorn,
And often wish'd he never had been born.
At last, for so his destiny requir'd,
With walking giddy, and with thinking tir'd,
He thro' a little, window caft his fight,
Tho' thick of bars, that gave a scanty light:
But ev'n that glimmering serv'd him to descry
Th' inevitable charms of Emily.

Scarce had he seen, but seiz'd with sudden smart,
Stung to the quick, he felt it at his heart;
Struck blind with over-pow'ring light he stood,
Then started back amaz'd, and cry'd aloud.

Young Arcite heard; and up he ran with haste, To help his friend, and in his arms embrac'd; And ask'd him why he look'd so deadly wan, And whence and how his change of cheer began? Or who had done th' offence? But if, said he, Your grief alone is hard captivity; For love of heav'n with patience undergo A cureless ill, since fate will have it so: So ftood our horoscope in chains to lie, And Saturn in the dungeon of the sky, Or other baleful aspect, rul'd our birth, When all the friendly stars were under earth : Whate'er betides, by destiny 'tis done; And better bear like men, than vainly feek to fhun

Nor of my bonds, faid Palamon again,
Nor of unhappy planets I complain;

But when my mortal anguish caus'd my cry,
That moment I was hurt through either eye;
Pierc'd with a random shaft, I faint away,

And perish with insensible decay:

A glance of some new goddess gave the wound,

Whom, like Acteon, unaware I found.

Look

Look how the walks along yon shady space,
Not Juno moves with more majestic grace;
And all the Cyprian queen is in her face.
If thou art Venus, for thy charms confess
That face was form'd in heav'n, nor art thou less;
Disguis'd in habit, undisguis'd in shape,
O help us captives from our chains to 'scape;
But if our doom be past in bonds to lie
For life, and in a loathsome dungeon die,
Then be thy wrath appeas'd with our disgrace,
And thew compassion to the Theban race,
Oppress'd by tyrant power! While yet he spoke,
Arcite on Emily had fix'd his look;
The fatal dart a ready passage found,
And deep within his heart infix'd the wound:
So that if Palamon were wounded fore,
Arcite was hurt as much as he, or more :
Then from his inmost soul he sigh'd, and faid,
The beauty I behold has struck me dead :
Unknowingly she strikes; and kills by chance;
Poison is in her eyes, and death in ev'ry glance.
O, I must ask; nor ask alone, but move
Her mind to mercy, or must die for love.

Thus Arcite: and thus Palamon replies,
(Eager his tone, and ardent were his eyes.)
Speak'st thou in earnest, or in jefting vein?
Jesting, faid Arcite, suits but ill with pain.
It suits far worse, (faid Palamon again,
And bent his brows) with men who honor weigh,
Their faith to break, their friendship to betray;
But worst with thee, of noble lineage born,
My kinsman, and in arms my brother sworn.
Have we not plighted each our holy oath,
That one should be the common good of both;
One foul should both inspire, and neither prove
His fellow's hindrance in pursuit of love?

}

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