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Her verdant crowns of peaceful victory,

e

The guerdons of bold ftrength, and fwift activity.

IV.

So round their noble parents goodly rose

These generous fcyons: they with watchful care
Still, as the fwelling paffions 'gan disclose

The buds of future virtues, did

did prepare

With prudent culture the young shoots to rear ;
And aye in this endearing pious toil

They by af Palmer fage inftructed were,

Who from deep thought and studious search erewhile Had learnt to mend the heart, and till the human foil.

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For by cœleftial Wisdom whilom led

Through all th' apartments of th' immortal mind,
He view'd the fecret ftores, and mark'd the fted
To judgment, wit, and memory affign'd;
And how sensation and reflection join'd
To fill with images her darkfome grotte,

Where variously disjointed or combin'd,

pretended, been originally planted there by Hercules. It was efteemed facred, and from that were taken the Olympic crowns. See Paufanias. Eliac. and the Differtation on the Olympic games. e Guerdons, rewards.

f Palmer, pilgrim. The perfon here fignified is Mr. Locke, characteriz'd by his works. B Sted, place, ftation.

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As reason, fancy, or opinion wrought,

[thought.

Their various masks they play'd, and fed her pensive

VI.

"Alfe through the fields of Science had he stray'd

With eager fearch, and fent his piercing eye
Through each learn'd school, each philofophic shade,
Where Truth and Virtue erft were deem'd to lie;
If haply the fair vagrants he 'mote spy,
Or hear the mufic of their charming lore:
But all unable there to fatisfy

His curious foul, he turn'd him to explore

The facred writ of Faith; to learn, believe, adore.

VII.

Thence foe profefs'd of Falfhood and Deceit,

Those fly artificers of tyranny,

k

Aye holding up before uncertain feet

His faithful light, to Knowledge, Liberty,

Mankind he led, to Civil Policy,

And mild Religion's charitable law;
That fram'd by Mercy and Benignity

The perfecuting fword forbids to draw,
And free-created fouls with penal terrours awe.
VIII.

1 Ne with these glorious gifts elate and vain
Lock'd he his wisdom up in churlish pride;

k

Alfe, alfo, further. i Mote, might. * Aye, ever.

1 Ne, nor.

But, stooping from his height, would even deign
The feeble steps of Infancy to guide.

Eternal glory Him therefore betide!

Let every generous youth his praise proclaim!
Who, wand'ring through the world's rude forest wide,
By him hath been y-taught his course to frame
To Virtue's sweet abodes, and heav'n-afpiring Fame!
IX.

For this the FAIRY KNIGHT with anxious thought,
And fond paternal care his counsel pray'd;
And him of gentleft courtesy befought

His guidance to vouchsafe and friendly aid;
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 flow'ry gardens plac'd, untrod by vulgar feet.
X.

And now forth-pacing with his blooming heir,
And that fame virtuous Palmer them to guide;
Arm'd all to point, and on a courser fair
Y-mounted high, in military pride,

His little train before he flow did ride.

m

Him eke behind a gentle Squire " enfues,

m Enfues, follows.

B 3

With

With his young lord aye marching fide by fide,
His counsellour and guard, in goodly "thews,
Who well had been brought up, and nurs'd by every Muse.
XI.

Thus as their pleasing journey they purfued,
With chearful argument beguiling pain;
Ere long defcending from an hill they view'd
Beneath their eyes out-ftretch'd a spacious plain,
That fruitful fhew'd, and apt for every grain,
For pastures, vines and flow'rs; while Nature fair
Sweet-fmiling all around with count'nance fain
Seem'd to demand the tiller's art and care,

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Her wildness to correct, her lavish waste repair.

XII.

Right good, I ween, and bounteous was the foil,

Aye wont in happy feafon to repay

With tenfold ufury the peafant's toil.
But now 'twas ruin all, and wild decay;

Untill'd the garden and the fallow lay,

The fheep-fhorne down with barren' brakes o'ergrown;
The whiles the merry peasants sport and play,
All as the public evil were unknown,

Or every public care from every breaft was flown.

Thews, manners. • Fain, earnest, eager.

P Brakes, briars.

XIII. Afto

XIII.

Aftonifh'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 awhile the Fairy Knight,
Bent on that goodly lond his eager sight:
Then forward rush'd, impatient to defcry
What towns and castles therein were ' empight;
For towns him seem'd, and castles 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 stream, that with tumultuous roar.
Emongst rude rocks its winding course did frame.
Black was the wave and fordid, cover'd o'er
With angry foam, and stain'd with infants' gore.
Thereto along th' unlovely margin stood

A birchen grove that waving from the shore,
Aye caft upon the tide its falling bud,
And with its bitter juice empoifon'd all the flood.
XV.

Right in the centre of the vale empight,

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