VII. Thence foe profefs'd of Falfhood and Deceit, * Aye holding up before uncertain feet VIII. + Ne with the glorious gifts elate and vain Eternal glory him therefore betide, Let every generous youth his praise proclaim; Who, wandering through the world's rude foreft wide, By him hath been y-taught his courfe to frame To Virtue's fweet abodes, and heaven-afpiring Fame! IX. For this the Fairy Knight with anxious thought, His guidance to vouchfafe and friendly aid ; The * Aye, ever. † Ne, nor. The while his tender offspring he convey'd, Through devious paths to that fecure retreat; Where fage Pædîa, with each tuneful maid, On a wide mount had fix'd her rural feat, "Mid flowery gardens plac'd, untrod by vulgar feet. X. And now forth-pacing with his blooming heir, His little train before he flow did ride. Mufe. XI. Thus as their pleafing journey they purfued, With chearful argument beguiling pain : Ere long defcending from an hill they view'd Beneath their eyes out-ftretch'd a fpacious plain. That fruitful fhew'd, and apt for every grain, For paftures, vines, and flowers; while Nature fair Sweet-fmiling all around with countenance fain Seem'd to demand the tiller's art and care, Her wildness to correct, her lavish waste repair. XII. Right * Enfues, follows. † Thews, manners. Fain, earnest, eager. XII. Right good, I ween, and bounteous was the foil, With tenfold ufury the peasant's toil. The sheep fhorne down with barren * brakes o'er grown The whiles the merry peasants fport and play, Or every public care from every breast was flown. XIII. Aftonish'd at a fcene at once fo fair And fo deform'd; with wonder and delight At man's neglect, and Nature's bounty rare, In ftudious thought a while the Fairy Knight Bent on that goodly lond his eager fight: Then forward rush'd, impatient to defcry What towns and castles there-in were § empight; For towns him feem'd, and caftles he did spy, As to th' horizon round he stretch'd his roaming eye. XIV. Nor long way had they travell`d, ere they came To a wide ftream, that with tumultuous roar Amongst rude rocks its winding course did frame. Black was the wave and fordid, cover'd o'er With *Brakes, briars. + Lond, land, With angry foam, and ftain'd with infants' gore. A birchen grove that, waving from the shore, And with its bitter juice empoifon'd all the flood. XV. Right in the centre of the vale empight, Liftening to fweet Caftalia's founding ftream, XVI. For this nor founded deep, nor fpredden wide, XVII. In figur'd plots with leafy walls inclos'd, That plot to plot ftill anfwer'd, fhade to fhade; With like embellishments of plants and flowers, XVIII. There likewife mote be feen on every fide The yew obedient to the planter's will, And shapely box of all their branching pride Ungently fhorne, and with prepofterous skill To various beafts and birds of fundry quill Transform'd, and human shapes of monftrous fize; Huge as that giant-race, who, hill on hill High-heaping, fought with impious vain emprize, Despite of thundering Jove, to fcale the steepy skies. XIX. * Alfe other wonders of the sportive shears And * Emprize, enterprize, attempt.. 4 |