Shone the bright enfign of imperial state;
Albeit lawful kingdom he had none;

But laws and kingdoms wont he oft create,
And oft'times over both erect his throne,

While fenates, priests and kings his fov'ran fceptre own.

XL.

CUSTOM he hight; and

aye in every

land

Ufurp'd dominion with defpotic fway

O'er all he holds; and to his high command
Constrains ev'n ftubborn Nature to obey;
Whom difpoffeffing oft, he doth affay
To govern in her right: and with a pace
So foft and gentle doth he win his way,

That she unwares is caught in his embrace,

And though deflowr'd and thrall'd nought feels her foul

XLI.

[difgrace.

For nurt'ring, even from their tend'reft age,

The docile fons of men withouten pain,
By disciplines and rules to every ftage
Of life accommodate, he doth them train
Infenfibly to wear and hug his chain.
Alfe his behefts or gentle or fevere,
Or good or noxious, rational or vain,
He craftily perfuades them to revere,
As inftitutions fage, and venerable lear.
Sov'ran, for fovereign.

XLII. Pro

XLII.

Protector therefore of that forked hill,

And mighty patron of thofe Sifters Nine,
Who there enthron'd, with many a copious rill
Feed the full streams, that through the valley fhine,
He deemed was; and aye with rites divine,

n Like those, which Sparta's hardy race of yore
Were wont perform at fell Diana's fhrine,

He doth constrain his vaffals to adore

Perforce their facred names, and learn their facred lore. XLIII.

And to the FAIRY KNIGHT now drawing near,

With voice terrific and imperious mien,

(All was he wont less dreadful to appear,

When known and practifed than at diftance feen)
And kingly stretching forth his fceptre fheen,
Him he commandeth, upon threat'ned pain
Of his displeasure high and vengeance keen,
From his rebellious purpose to refrain,

And all due honours pay to Learning's rev'rend train.

The Lacedemonians in order to make their children hardy and endure pain with conftancy and courage, were accustomed to cause them to be fcourged very feverely. And I myself (fays Plutarch, in his life of Lycurgus) have feen feveral of them endure whipping to death, at the foot of the altar of Diana furnamed Orthia.

XLIV.

So faying and foreftalling all reply,
His peremptory hand without delay,
As one who little cared to justify

His princely will, long us'd to boundless sway,
Upon the Fairy Youth with great dismay
In every quaking limb convuls'd, he lay'd:
And proudly stalking o'er the verdant lay,
Him to those scientific ftreams convey'd,

With many his young compeers therein to be Pembay'd.

XLV.

The KNIGHT his tender fon's distressful' ftour

Perceiving, swift to his affiftance flew :

Ne vainly stay'd to deprecate that pow'r,
Which from fubmiffion aye more haughty grew.
For that proud GIANT's force he wifely knew,
Not to be meanly dreaded, nor defy'd
With rash prefumption; and with courage true,
Rather than step from Virtue's path afide,
Oft had he fingly scorn'd his all-dismaying pride.
XLVI.

And now, difdaining parle, his courfer hot

He fiercely prick'd, and couch'd his vengeful spear;

Embay'd, bathed, dipt.

• Lay, mead.
Stour, trouble, misfortune, &c.

Where

Where-with the GIANT he fo rudely fmot,
That him perforce constrain'd towend arrear.
Who, much abash'd at such rebuke severe,
Yet his accustom'd pride recov'ring foon,
Forth-with his maffy fceptre 'gan up-rear;
For other warlike weapon he had none,

Ne other him behoved to quell his boldeft fone.

XLVII.

With that enormous mace the FAIRY KNIGHT
So fore he bet, that all his armour 'bray'd,
To pieces well-nigh riven with the might
Of so tempestuous ftrokes; but He was stay'd,
And ever with deliberate valour weigh'd
The fudden changes of the doubtful fray;
From cautious prudence oft deriving aid,
When force unequal did him hard affay;
So lightly from his fteed he leapt upon the lay,
: XLVIII,

Then swiftly drawing forth his " trenchant blade,
High o'er his head he held his fenceful shield ;
And warily fore-cafting to evade

The GIANT's furious arm, about him wheel'd
With restless steps aye traverfing the field.

• Wend arrear, move backwards.
Bet, beat; bray'd, refounded.

C 3

• Fone, foes. Trenchant, cutting.

And

And ever as his foe's intemperate pride,

Through rage defenceless, mote advantage yield,

W

With his fharp fword fo oft he did him " gride,

That his gold-fandal'd feet in crimson floods were dyed. XLIX.

His bafer parts he maim'd with many a wound;

But far above his utmost reach were pight

The forts of life: ne ever to confound

With utter ruin, and abolish quite

A power fo puiffant by his fingle might
Did he prefume to hope: Himself alone
From lawless force to free, in bloody fight

He stood; content to bow to CUSTOM's throne, SO REASON Mote not blush his fov'ran rule to own.

L.

So well he warded, and fo fiercely prefs'd

His foe, that weary wex'd he of the fray;
Yet nould he algates lower his haughty creft;
But masking in contempt his fore difmay,
Disdainfully releas'd the trembling prey,

As one unworthy of his princely care;
Then proudly cafting on the warlike fay

A fmile of fcorn and pity, through the air

'Gan blow his fhrilling horn; the blast was heard afar.

* Pight, placed.

Nould he algates, would not by any means,