LI. Eftfoons aftonish'd at th' alarming found, The vaffals of great CUSTOM's wide domain, His every fummons heard with pleasure fain, They, when their bleeding king they did behold, Whose vent'rous fearch of devious Truth while-ere And in their boding hearts began to fear, And innovations strange in CUSTOM's peaceful state. But when they faw the KNIGHT his fauchion fhèathe, Soon 1 Soon chaced the gathering clouds of black affray, Alfe their great monarch, cheared with the view Of myriads, who confefs his fov'ran sway, His ruffled pride began to plume anew; And on his bugle clear a strain of triumph blew. LIV. There-at the multitude, that stood around, Sent up at once a univerfal roar Of boisterous joy: the fudden-bursting found, Of nitrous grain, th' afflicted welkin tore. Then turning towards the KNIGHT,with scoffings lewd, Heart-piercing infults, and revilings fore, Loud bursts of laughter vain, and hiffes rude, As through the throng he pass'd, his parting steps pur LV. Alfe from that forked bill the boasted seat [fued. By thofe fame Maidens Nine, began to found Her brazen trump of black'ning obloquy : While Satire, with dark clouds encompast round, Sharp, fecret arrows fhot, and aim'd his back to wound. * Welkin, sky. LVI. But LVI. But the brave FAIRY KNIGHT no whit dismay'd Him feem'd that nothing ferious, nothing found In village, city, castle, bow'r and hall, Nor heav'n's tempeftuous threats, nor earth's convulfive LVIII. [throws. But chiefly they whom Heav'n's difpofing hand That waits on Nurture and Inftruction fage, If If happy their wife hefts mote them engage To climb through knowledge to more nóble praise; With the bright influence of fair Virtue's rays; Which from the aweful heights of Grandeur brighter LIX. They, O perverfe and base ingratitude! Defpifing the great ends of Providence, [blaze. For which above their mates they were endued 1 To the low fervices of brutal sense Abused the means of pleafures more refin'd, And fettering on her throne th' immortal mind, The guidance of her realm to paffions wild resign'd. LX. Hence thoughtless, fhameless, reckless, fpiritless, Nought worthy of their kind did they affay; But or benumb'd with palfied Idleness In meerly living loiter'd life away. Or by false taste of pleasure led aftray, And with untimely blasts difeas'd their vernal hours. b Hefts, behefts, precepts, commands. LXI. Ev'n LXI. Ev'n they, to whom kind Nature did accord For choice them needed none, who only fought So learn'd, fo taught the leaders of mankind; And leaving toil and poverty behind, Ran forth by different ways the blissful boon to find. LXIII. Nor tedious was the fearch; for every where, As nigh great CUSTOM's royal tow'rs the KNIGHT Pafs'd through th' adjoining hamlets, mote he hear The merry voice of festival Delight |