By various fluices from one common head;
A turbid mass of waters, vaft, profound,
Hight of Philology the lake; and fed

By that rude torrent, which with roaring found Came tumbling from the hill, and flow'd the level round. XXVIII.

And every where this spacious valley o'er,
Faft by each stream was feen a numerous throng
Of beardless striplings to the birch'd-crown'd shore,
By nurses, guardians, fathers dragg'd along:
Who helpless, meek, and innocent of wrong,
Were torn reluctant from the tender fide

a

Of their fond mothers, and by faitours strong,

By pow'r made infolent, and hard by pride,

Were driv❜n with furious rage, and lash'd into the tide. XXIX.

On the rude bank with trembling feet they stood,
And cafting round their oft-reverted eyes,

If haply they mote 'scape the hated flood,
Fill'd all the plain with lamentable cries;

But far away th' unheeding father flies,
Conftrain'd his strong compunctions to reprefs;

While close behind, affuming the disguise

Faitour, deer, from faire to do, and fait deed, commonly used by Spenfer in a bad fenfe.

Of

Of nurturing care, and fmiling tenderness,

With fecret fcourges arm'd those griefly faitours prefs.

XXX.

As on the steepy margin of a brook,

When the young

fun with flowery Maia rides,

With innocent dismay a bleating flock
Crowd back, affrighted at the rolling tides:
The fhepherd-fwain at first exhorting chides
Their 'feely fear; at length impatient grown,
With his rude crook he wounds their tender fides;
And all regardless of their piteous moan,

Into the dafhing wave compels them furious down.

XXXI.

с

Thus urg'd by maft'ring Fear and dol'rous Teen
Into the current plung'd that infant crowd.
Right piteous was the fpectacle, I ween,

Of tender striplings ftain'd with tears and blood,
Perforce conflicting with the bitter flood;

And labouring to attain the diftant fhore,

Where holding forth the gown of manhood stood
The firen Liberty, and ever-more

Sollicited their hearts with her inchanting lore.

XXXII.

Irksome and long the paffage was, perplex'd With rugged rocks on which the raving tide • Seely, fimple. Teen, pain, grief.

с

By

By sudden bursts of angry tempests vex'd

Oft dash'd the youth, whose strength mote ill abide With head up-lifted o'er the waves to ride.

Whence many wearied ere they had o'er-past

The middle stream (for they in vain have tried)
Again return'd astounded and agħast;

d

Ne one regardful look would ever backward caft.
XXXIII.

с

Some, of a rugged, more enduring frame, Their toilfome courfe with patient pain purfu'd; And though with many a bruise and muchel blame, Eft hanging on the rocks, and eft embru’d Deep in the muddy ftream, with hearts fubdu'd And quail'd by labour, gain'd the shore at last, But in life's practic lear unfkill'd and rude, Forth to that forked bill they filent pac'd; Where hid in ftudious fhades their fruitless hours they

XXXIV.

Others of rich and noble lineage bred,

[wafte.

Though with the crowd to pass the flood constrain'd,

Yet o'er the crags with fond indulgence led

By hireling guides and in all depths sustain❜d, Skimm'd lightly o'er the tide, undipt, unftain'd, Save with the sprinkling of the wat❜ry spray:

4 Aftounded, aftonished,

e

Muchel, much. f Lear, learning.

I

And

And aye their proud prerogative maintain❜d,
Of ignorance and ease and wanton play,
Soft harbingers of vice, and præmature decay.
XXXV.

A few, alas, how few! by heav'n's high will
With fubtile spirits endow'd and finews strong,
8 Albe fore1 mated by the tempests shrill,
That bellow'd fierce and rife the rocks among,
By their own native vigour borne along
Cut brifkly through the waves; and forces new
Gathering from toil, and ardour from the throng
Of rival youths, outstript the labouring crew,
And to the true Parnasse, and heav'n-thron'd glory flew,
XXXVI.

Dire was the tumult, and from every shore
Discordant echoes ftruck the deafen'd ear,
Heart-thrilling cries, with fobs and * fingults före
Short-interrupted, the imploring tear,

And furious stripes, and angry threats fevere,
Confus'dly mingled with the jarring found
Of all the various speeches that' while-ere

On Shinar's wide-spread champain did astound

High Babel's builders vain, and their proud works con

XXXVII.

Much was the KNIGHT empaffion'd at the scene,
But more his blooming fon, whose tender breast
Empierced deep with sympathizing teen

On his pale cheek the signs of dread impress'd,
And fill'd his eyes with tears, which fore distress'd
Up to his fire he rais'd in mournful wife;

Who with sweet smiles paternal foon redress'd

His troublous thoughts, and clear'd each fad furmife; Then turns his ready fteed, and on his journey hies. XXXVIII.

66

But far he had not march'd ere he was stay'd

By a rude voice, that like th' united found
Of shouting myriads, through the valley bray'd,
And shook the groves, the floods, and folid ground:
The diftant hills rebellow'd all around.

"Arrest, Sir Knight, it cried, thy fond career,
"Nor with prefumptuous difobedience wound
"That aweful majesty which all revere !

In my commands, Sir Knight, the voice of nations hear!"

XXXIX.

Quick turn'd the KNIGHT, and faw upon the plain Advancing tow❜rds him with impetuous gate,

And visage all inflam'd with fierce disdain,

A monstrous GIANT, on whose brow elate

VOL. IV.

C

Shone