- 

 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND
 
 fn* 


 
 SEVERAL 
 
 PIECES 
 
 I N 
 
 PROSE and VERSE. 
 
 By Mr. LA TNG. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for the AUTHOR; 
 
 And Sold by J. BRINDLEY, Bookfeller to his Royal Highnefs 
 
 the Prince of WALES, in New-Bond-Street. 
 
 MDCCXLVIIL
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 TO the Right Honourable Lady Charlotte Farmor, p. i 
 
 A Tranflation from a Latin Poem, __ p. g 
 
 Tancred to Clorinda, p. 3 1 
 
 The Life of Torquato Ta/o, P- 45 
 
 Taffo's xvth Book ofjerufa/em Deliver d y p. 77 
 
 Ta/o's xvith Book, Recovery of Jerufalem, p. 1 1 3 
 
 EHI0AAAMION, p. 151 
 
 E R R A <T A. 
 
 PAGE 39. line i. for 1'bermodion, r. fhermodoon. 
 P. 64. 1. 6. for irpfv ow, r. Va/*vo'o. 
 P. 79. 1. 6. for /& r//^ />, r. /^ 
 P. 87. 1. 15. for Byfertus', r. Byfertas'. 
 P. 92. 1. 13. iorfteer, r.Jbeer. 
 P. 128. 1. 13. for Sluggard, r. ft agger' d.

 
 To the Right Honourable 
 
 Lady Charlotte F armory \ 
 
 Since Married to the 
 
 Right Hon ble William Finch, Efq; 
 
 Vice-Chamberlain to the Kin. 
 
 
 T T THEN mournful Shepherds round theCorfe relate, 
 With falling Tears, fome beauteous DamfeFs Fate, 
 Sighing each proves how fair, how lov'd {he was, 
 Renews his Woe, and aggravates his Lofs. 
 Then with the fhort-liv'd Rofe they ftrew the Ground, 
 And weave the Grief-recording Wreath around : 
 
 B To
 
 To Jhew how f mall a Part of "Time they flare, 
 Whom Nature form'd fupremcly fweet and fair. 
 
 'Tis all that Hcav'n has left within our Pow'r : 
 The Heav'n-born Mufe infpir'd can do no more ! 
 'Tis Her's to fix the monumental Verfe, 
 Ever to grace and fanftify the Hearfe, 
 To mark with Truth the Chara&er divine. 
 And make Mankind adore th'inftrudtive Shrine. 
 
 Ah ! what avail'd the Parents filent Tear, 
 The well feign'd Hope, and well diflembrd Fear, 
 What all the Hufband's tender Flow of Soul, 
 And Sighs that from his tortur'd Bofom ftole ; 
 The Sifter's burfting Heart and ftreaming Eyes ! 
 Not all cou'd keep fair Granville from the Skies. 
 Her elder Sifters of the Skies prevail, 
 Impatient Angels turn the doubtful Scale, 
 
 Left
 
 [ 3 ] 
 
 Left Heav'n relenting at the Force of Love, 
 Shou'd for an Age fufpend their Joys above. 
 
 'Tis fo and therefore right Death's Arrow flies, 
 And ev'ry Excellence is doom'd its Prize. 
 
 On the bleak Thracian Coaft while Orpheus fung, 
 Heap'd on the Shore, the lift'ning Billows hung ; 
 Roll back ye liftning Billows from the Shore, 
 The Thracian Fair, and Orpheus are no more. 
 
 When Pope was charg'd by Venus to defcribe 
 Belinda, '* deck'd by all the Sylphine Tribe ; 
 The bluft'ring Winds held in their ftruggling Breath, 
 And ev'ry Storm lay filent, hufh'd in Death. 
 Now rage ye Winds, your Tears ye Tempefts fried, 
 Belinda refts fecure, and Pope is dead. 
 
 B 2 So 
 
 * Mrs, Arabella Farmer. See Rape of the Lock.
 
 [4] 
 
 So the vain Cretans * fhew'd the Tomb of Jove ; 
 He reigns immortal, and ador'd above. 
 She too muft live ; mark the Farmorian Star, 
 Streaming with Rays of bright celeftial Hair ! 
 Mark the creative Pow'r ! the Poet gives 
 The Wreath immortal he himfelf receives. 
 
 Peace to his honour 'd Shade -- with Laurels crown 'd, 
 Enthron'd he fate ; the Bards flood lift'ning round ; 
 When (meaneft of the Train) entranc'd I hung, 
 To catch the ne&ar'd Accents from his Tongue ; 
 Smiling he call'd me thro' the envying Choir, 
 And bade me ftrike the loud M<zonian Lyre ; 
 Trembling I touch'd the Strings ; he own'd the Lays ; 
 Firm I declin'd the Envy, and the Praife. 
 
 But 
 
 tvs~&i' xat ^ap ratpov u oivot, <rt~o 
 (ru ^' e>J Sdvtq' cr<ri j/p a. 
 
 Vid. Callimachi Hymni in Jovem^
 
 [ 5 ] . . 
 
 But now, nor Praife, nor Envy move, I come 
 To pay this mournful Tribute at his Tomb. 
 There let me fix the Garland that I wove, 
 To Sorrow facred, and to Granvilles Love; 
 There let me weeping at thy hallow' d Shrine, 
 Sufpend the votive Lute that once was Thine. 
 Thus where the Trunk of mighty Pompey lay, 
 Unflatter'd then, beneath the fcorching Ray, 
 His good old Soldier with a duteous Hand, 
 Wet with his Tears, heap'd up the Lybian Sand; 
 Then on his Javelin, hung the well-try'd Shield, 
 Which the great Hero taught him firft to wield. 
 And now, fair Daughter of the faireft Race, 
 If fome faint Likenefs in the Draught you trace, 
 Committed by Apollo s ftridt Command, 
 With his own Pencil, to a Tufcan Hand, 
 

 
 Of Her, * adorn'd with each engaging Art, 
 The jufteft Manners, and the trueft Heart ; 
 In whom each Virtue of the Wife, the Great, 
 The Gay, the Innocent, united met ; 
 By Fate furpriz'd in Beauty's frefheft Bloom, 
 Beheld, admir'd, and hurry'd to the Tomb ! 
 If this Attempt we not unthank'd have made, 
 The Mufe (hall think her Debt of Sorrow paid, 
 And quit the filent Manfions of the Dead; 
 Shake off the dufky Vapours from her Wings, 
 And fweep to joyous Themes the warbling Strings. 
 
 Ye tuneful Maids begin a loftier Strain ! 
 In her fair Child Sophia blooms again ; 
 'Twas thus flie fifp'd ; fuch was her Look, her Face ; 
 In the fweet Bud, fuch each unfolded Grace. 
 
 The 
 
 * T he Countefs of Granvitte ; whofe Character immediately follows.
 
 [7 ] 
 
 The Index of the Mind, each Charm the fame, 
 By the fame Guide fhall rife to equal Fame ; 
 Equal to Granvilles fhall a Soul engage, 
 Which like her Charms fhall blefs a happier Age. 
 
 Next, Charlotte, fhall the Pow'r of Sounds be try'd, 
 To fing the BlefTmgs of the happieft Bride : 
 Hail happy Pair ! in whom divinely Iweet, 
 Ambrofial Charms with manly Beauties meet : 
 So fragrant * Nardus with Amomum joins, 
 So the pure Lymph is mix'd with gen'rous Wines. 
 When Loves, like yours, once more become the Theme, 
 True virtuous Joys, founded on juft Efteem, 
 Cupids with Nuptial Trophies fhall appear, 
 Hebe and good Lucina lhall be there: 
 
 Nor 
 
 * Sic Nardo nubit Amomum, 
 Sic bene mifcetur generofo Lympha Lyaco. 
 
 See Dean Bathurft's Verfes Mufae Anglicanze.
 
 Nor will Apollo to the fprightly Throng, 
 If his own Granville calls, refufe the Song. 
 Hear him in bold prophetick Strains defcribe 
 High Honours, deftin'd to the blooming Tribe, 
 Whofe rifing Foreheads, fable Locks fhall grace ; 
 The manly Signatures of Finch\ Race ! 
 Form'd on Domeftick Patterns to be great ; 
 The virtuous Nottingham! and Somerfet. '-.)' 
 
 HEN. LAYNG,
 
 TRANSLATION 
 
 FROM A 
 
 L A T I N P O E M, 
 
 Sent by a NOBLEMAN from Italy , 
 
 On the Marriage of the Right Honourable 
 
 John Lord C^RTERET, 
 
 NOW 
 
 Earl of GRANVILLE, 
 
 To the Right Honourable 
 
 The Lady Sophia Farmor^ 
 
 Eldeft Daughter of the Right Honourable 
 the Earl of Pomfret. 
 
 Quern TV, Dea, Tempore in omni 
 Omnibus ornatum voluifti excelkre Rebus. 
 
 Ogni Grazia, ogni Brio ft aduna in Quella 
 Ncbil, Saggia, Cortefe, Onefta e Bella.
 
 The ARGUMENT. 
 
 CPID, fitting difconfolate on a Rock that hangs 
 over the Sea, laments the Decay of Virtuous 
 Love, and of his Empire in the World^ 'when he difco- 
 vers the two Genii of my Lord Carteret, and Lady So- 
 phia Farmer. 'They alternately boaft of the Conquefts 
 they had made, and give the Characters of each.
 
 A 
 
 TRANSLATION 
 
 F R O M A 
 
 LATIN POEM. 
 
 T E T others fing of Cadmus murd'rous Brood, 
 Charm' d with the Hero's Wreath, when dropping 
 
 Blood, 
 
 Admire Alcides^ or the Rage enjoy 
 Of plimd'ring Greeks and all the Woes of Troy. 
 To fofter Strains I fweep the Silver Lyre, 
 Such Strains as Love, with Beauty join'd, infpire. 
 
 C 2 And
 
 And You, fair Virgin, crown'd with ev'ry Grace, 
 
 That matchlefs fhines through the Farmorian * Race ; 
 
 If You propitious deign to caft a Smile, 
 
 The grateful Mufe fhall think o'er-paid her Toil. 
 
 Oh might fhe hope, (and yet to hope how vain !) 
 
 Gently on Granvilles piercing Eye to gain : 
 
 By juft Degrees th'enraptur'd Maid fhould rife, 
 
 To blazon all your Virtues thro' the Skies ; 
 
 Refcue from heavy fhort-liv'd Profe your Fame, 
 
 And deep in Adamant infcribe each Name. 
 
 Whilft I who fling in many an artlefi Strain 
 
 Of happy Shepherds fporting on the Plain ; 
 
 CalTd forth by You, (hall quit the lonely Mead, 
 
 And to a Clarion fwell the Paft'ral Reed. 
 
 * In the Latin Farnorla virgo. 
 
 As
 
 [ '3 ] 
 
 As fome raw Boy, fond of the f\vimniing Art 
 Tho' yet untaught, firft ads a cautious Part ; 
 Feels the cold Stream ; retraces; then half afraid, 
 Slides in, depending on his Corks for Aid : 
 But when by fteady Ufe he bolder grows, 
 His Skill and Strength increasing as He goes, 
 Proud of his Art th' unfathom'd Deep He braves, 
 And rides triumphant o'er the conquer'd Waves. 
 
 Scarce had the Light play'd on the glittering Dew, 
 And Colours reaflum'd their native Hue ; 
 Dodo?ias Oaks their folemn Verdure fpread, 
 And gawdy Flow'rs their various Dyes difplay'd : 
 When Cupid) where the Britifi Ocean roars, 
 Lean'd on a Rock, and thus his Fate deplores. 
 Not the lewd Boy, that lights up foul Defires 
 In wanton Breafts, and fans unhallow'd Fires ; 
 
 But
 
 . C 
 
 But who the Hearts in facred Fetters bound 
 Of Heroes old, and faithful Nymphs renown'd ; 
 'Twas he that plaintive, on his once lov'd Coaft, 
 Mourn'd his funk Glory, and his Empire loft ; 
 That now no boafted Spoils his Triumphs grace, 
 No flaming Hearts upon his Altar blaze. 
 
 When will you, roly Hours, he cry'd, reftore 
 Thofe Halcyon Days that Mortals feel no more ? 
 Grim Mars now {hakes his broad, terrific Shield, 
 And Iron Harvefts load th' uncultur'd Field ; 
 Nations, by diftant Realms divided far, 
 Break Nature's Bounds to meet in mutual War. 
 Such dire Alarms thro' Laced&mon rag'd, 
 When her fierce Sons with Attic Bands engag'd ;. 
 With barb'rous Fury each their Caufe maintain, 
 Whilft their dear Country bleeds in ev'ry Vein. 
 
 Such
 
 Such my foreboding Fears defcribe the Storm, 
 
 Which foon mall Italy* fair Fields deform. 
 
 I fee, I fee the gathering Tempeft rife, 
 
 And from Sicilia thicken in the Skies ! 
 
 Where Scyllas yelling Dogs are heard from far, 
 
 And where old Cyclops work'd the Maflive Bar, 
 
 From the foul Throat of War, the putrid Breath 
 
 Pours o'er the World, Confufion, Plagues, and Death. 
 
 As fome huge Serpent of the Libyan Growth, 
 
 Fed on rank Weeds, to Poifon turn'd by Sloth, 
 
 Vain of his Youth renew' d he glides along, 
 
 Rears his proud Creft, and plays his triple Tongue ; 
 
 But where he 'breathes th'envenom'd Blaft around, 
 
 The Herbage withers on the tainted Ground. 
 
 What Room is left for Love ? or who below 
 
 Feels Cupid's Arrows, or reveres his Bow ? 
 
 Thus
 
 c *< 
 
 Thus I (how fall'n !) from my wide Empire driv'n, 
 Which late was ftretch'd o'er all the Realms of Heav'n, 
 Am doom'd to wander, now ador'd no more, 
 A fqualid Exile on a dreary Shoar. 
 
 He faid, and writh'd his Body with a Groan, 
 On the white Cliff, defponding and alone. 
 Now momentary Hopes, now cold Defpair, 
 By turns they footh, by turns his Bofom tear. 
 As when a Stranger in fome gloomy Wood, 
 Explores his Way o'er many a thwarting Road, 
 Doubtful alike to turn or to advance, 
 At length bewilder'd yields up all to Chance. 
 Or as a Lyon of Hyrcanian Breed, 
 Sees immature his hoary Father bleed 
 Beneath the Hunter's Spear ; one while he longs 
 In pious Fury to revenge his Wrongs : 
 
 Defpair
 
 '7 3 ; 
 
 Defpair perfuades how vain th' unequal Fight, 
 And Fears now urge him doubtful in his Flight. 
 Such, Cupid, was the Grief, and fuch the Smart, 
 That rankled in thy felf-divided Heart. 
 Mean Time no Garland is for Venus made, 
 The Myrtle dies, and unpluck'd Rofes fade, 
 The Marriage-Torch revers'd expires ; around 
 His Shafts and Bow lie ufelefs on the Ground. 
 
 But as he drooping turn'd his heavy Eyes 
 Where on the Thames imperial Turrets rife, 
 Blefs'd with a Monarch thro' the World renown'd, 
 In Peace with Wealth, in War with Conqueft crown'd ; 
 A fmiling Profpect opens to his View, 
 To footh his Pains and all his Joys renew.
 
 \ . C i 
 
 A Flight of little Loves he faw in Air, 
 
 Some light the Torch, and feme the F low' rs prepare 
 
 For Nuptial Wreaths to crown the happy Pair. 
 
 In various Shapes they hover in the Wind, 
 
 Thin airy Forms unbodied, unconfin'd. 
 
 Thus am'rous Doves refled: the Noontide Ray, 
 
 When round their Necks the glofly Colours play, 
 
 And as the changing Hues revive or die, 
 
 The gay Illufion charms the cheated Eye. 
 
 High o'er the reft two Genii he defcry'd, 
 
 Such as below o'er nobleft Souls prefide. 
 
 They ftretch their Pinions to the Solar Ray, 
 
 And boafting tell the Triumphs of the Day. 
 
 Their waving Torches blaze with equal Fires, 
 
 Fan'd by foft Sighs, and fed by chafte Defires. 
 
 I plac'd
 
 - [ '9 ] 
 
 I plac'd my Empire (thus the firft expfeft 
 His Joy) within a Virgin's fpotlefs Breaft : 
 With her firft Breath I fix'd my future Reign, 
 And with illuftrious Blood fill'd ev'ry Vein ; 
 From whence a long, heroic Race fhall fpring, 
 Whofe Virtues, Poets yet unborn {hall {ing. 
 I footh'd her Infant Cries, and from her Tongue 
 Help'd off the lifping Accents as they hung ; 
 Till ftrengthning Time fliould form her Voice to reach 
 High Themes, with all the tuneful Pow'rs of Speech, 
 
 No fullen Gloom, no fudden gufty Storm 
 In earlieft Life did e'er her Brow deform : 
 Clear is her Voice, as is her Mind within ; 
 Gay without Folly, without Pride ferene. 
 Her gen'rous Heart with native Honour fraught, 
 Ne'er for a Moment knew one fordid Thought : 
 
 D 2 Hence
 
 [aoj V j 
 
 Hence her firm Virtue ; conftant to defpife 
 The Smiles of Fortune, ilie her Frowns defies. 
 Thus when the Billows all their Rage repeat, 
 To dafh fome Cliff from his eternal Seat ; 
 The baffled Waves recoil, and leave the Rock 
 More white and polifh'd by the harmlefs Shock. 
 
 Her Face and Mien have more of heav'nly Air, 
 Than falls by Nature to a Mortal's Share ; 
 Yet all that prove the Beauties of her Mind, 
 Leave ev'ry Thought of her fair Form behind. 
 Who, vain of the defcriptive Art, {hall tell 
 What various Languages fhe knows how well j 
 The fame in hardy Numbers may prefume 
 To paint the pretty Labours of her Loom ; 
 
 Or
 
 Or with what Mcafures in the Dance declare 
 She moves divinely thro' Ambrofial Air *. 
 'Twas I each Accent, when fhe trod the Stage, 
 Form'd to exprefs, each Gefture to engage. 
 Yet thefe were only Preludes, to prepare 
 Her op'ning Mind for Studies more fevere. 
 
 I mark'd the Bounds that neighb'ring Realms divide, 
 Defcrib'd the Ocean, and explain'd the Tide ; 
 The Labours of the Moon ; and where the Sun 
 And Planetary Orbs their Courfes run. 
 From whence by juft Degrees, was led to tell 
 How mighty Empires rofe, and how they fell. 
 The Grecian Stores I open'd to her View - y 
 Mark'd the falfe Coin, and Beauties of the true. 
 
 Inform'd 
 
 Another celebrated Italian Author has beautifully defcrib'd the Ac- 
 complifhments of this Lady in the following Lines : 
 Se in Danza il pa/To muovo, &c.
 
 Informed her next, while rival Carthage flood. 
 What troubled Seas were ting'd with Roman Blood. 
 
 She read whofe Wrath prolonged the Fate of Troy^ 
 And Triumphs of the Macedonian Boy ; 
 Whofe wanton Rage the flavifli World oppreft, 
 From fwarthy Libya to the purple Eaft. 
 Nor were Alcides and his Toils unknown, 
 And Daedalus fwift flying to the frozen Zone. 
 I fung of Phyllis and Cydippes Charms, 
 And Hellens Rape that fet the World in Arms. 
 Oft would fhe chafte Hippolitus bemoan, 
 And the hard Fate of firm Bellerophon ; 
 Of Clymene and Orithyd* Flame, 
 And Helle trembling on the golden Ram. 
 
 If aught of thefe could virtuous Life adorn, 
 She marks th' Example, or rejects with Scorn. 
 
 As
 
 O3 ] - 
 
 As when the Bees, wak'd by fome genial Show'r, 
 Try ev'ry dewy Bud and breathing Flow'r, 
 Studious abroad the dufky Squadrons roam, 
 Still finding fomething to enrich the Dome. 
 
 Such were the Arts fhe laboring ftrove to gain, 
 And fham'd the lefc attentive Virgin Train : 
 As the thick flafhing Ruby's warmer Beams, 
 O'erpow'r the Pearl, and kill the languid Gleams : 
 Or as the Pine, on Pelions lofty Brow, 
 Rears his proud Foliage o'er the Shrubs below. 
 
 What diftant Nations, with unwearied Toil, 
 Their Arts and Manners varying with the Soil, 
 She dar'd to vifit, Florence fhall atteft : 
 Florence, that wond'ring hail'd the beauteous Gueft ; 
 And yet fo juft her Speech, fo true the Tone, 
 She fain would call the beauteous Gueft her own. 
 
 This
 
 . 3 : -; ; 
 
 This Maid, whofe Praife my wanton Tongue employs, 
 Thus form'd compleat, is mark'd for nuptial Joys : 
 E'en now the Flame begins, the Iv'ry Dart, 
 New-fhot, yet vibrates in each faithful Heart - y 
 And whilft he feels her confcious Bofom glow, 
 In her foft Smiles a thoufand Graces grow ; 
 She, unfufpe&ing, hears the am'rous Sigh, 
 And meets half loft the Lightning of his Eye. 
 Thus when a Tygrefs, careful for her Young, 
 Finds a bright Mirror as fhe prowls along, 
 Which in her Rounds the artful Hunter plac'd, 
 To catch her Eye, inlidious, as fhe pafs'd ; 
 Intent fhe wonders at the fparkling Ray, 
 And the keen Beams that in die Cryftal play, 
 Whilft he, fecure at Home, fteals all her Hopes awayj 
 
 Such
 
 Such is the News, and fuch the glorious Prize, 
 Which now I bear to Venus in the Skies. 
 
 The Genius fpoke ; the fecond pois'd his Wings 
 In Air, and thus the Lover's Virtues fings *. 
 When his charm'd Ears had now indulged full long, 
 In all that in their Groves the Mufes fung, 
 I fnatch'd him from his lov'd Apoltis Seat, 
 To form the Statefman in his Art compleat. 
 For what fb true, that who Mankind excel 
 In Knowledge, fitteft are to govern well ? 
 Nor is this Praife fome mere Declaimer's Theme, 
 A Flatt'rer's Coinage, or a Poet's Dream. 
 Hibernia faw in very Deed expreft, 
 This Truth, and grateful fliall the Truth atteft. 
 
 * Jam fatts Artilus olim 
 Pi tritium Pbcebique indultum, &c. 
 
 / 
 
 E She
 
 She faw him fteddy in her Country's Caufe, 
 Griev'd for her Wealth abus'd, and flighted Laws ; 
 Anxious for what concerned her Rights alone, 
 Firm to her Int'reft, thoughtlefs of his own. 
 'Tis then the Subjects willing Hearts obey, 
 When virtuous Rulers recommend the Way : 
 Tyrants in vain the penal Laws inflid:, 
 Whole Lives, thofe Laws, each Moment contradict. 
 But GRANVILLE, form'd in Virtue's rigid School, 
 Still gave th' Example whilft he fet the Rule. 
 When blufli'd the Scaffold, whilft he held the Reins, 
 With purple Torrents from Patrician Veins ? 
 Who e'er was fentenc'd by fome doubtful Plot, 
 To pine in Age in foreign Climes forgot ? 
 The Craft of State his gen'rous Heart difowns, 
 But bleeds to hear a fuff'ring People's Groans. 
 
 Enrag'd
 
 *7 3 - 
 
 Enrag'd to fee the Ufurer devour 
 
 The Wretch that {inks beneath his cruel PowV ; 
 
 Can private Plunder from his Soul difdain, 
 
 The Bribe's Contagion and degrading Stain. 
 
 The living Marble rmiuYd high with Art, 
 
 And breathing Canvafs touch his feeling Heart : 
 
 But if his Honour by the Bribe you'd gain, 
 
 The Marble lives, and Canvafs breathes in vain. 
 
 Not whole Corinthian Stores cou'd turn his Eye, 
 
 For which old Romans had not fcorn'd to {igh ; 
 
 Not Beauty's felf cou'd e'er feduce his Breaft, 
 
 To gen'rous Natures the fevereft Teft. 
 
 But confcious Crimes mean time his Vengeance dread, 
 
 And doubling Falfhood hides her guilty Head ; 
 
 Her pointlefs Sword whilft fmiling Mercy draws, 
 
 And feals up Tomes of fanguinary Laws ; 
 
 E 2 Faith
 
 ;:.- . c i8 3 . ' : > 
 
 Faith rcb'd Jn white with her Minerva meets, 
 And mixt with Crouds familiar in the Streets. 
 What King with Heav'n-born Thiift of Glory fir'd, 
 Wou'd leave thee long in private Eafe retir'd ? 
 What furer Glory on the King cou'd wait, 
 Than with thy Strength to {hare the Load of State ? 
 Such was thy Praife which late Hibernia fung, 
 When her glad Fields with lo P&ans rung. 
 To virtuous Want when was his Hand deny'd ? 
 Who went unanfwer'd, who unfatisfy'd ? 
 The Suppliant faw furpriz'd his promis'd End, 
 And where he fought a Patron found a Friend. 
 To low-voic'd Grief he bent the lift'ning Ear, 
 And gently dry'd the friendlefs Orphan's Tear. 
 Mark the firm Look, that confcious Virtue gives, 
 And Grace, that Dignity from Wit receives ! 
 
 E'en
 
 E'en feeble Age would creep into the Throng, 
 
 To fee and blefs him as he pafs'd along : 
 
 The Father pointing fhews his eager Son, 
 
 By whom fuch great, fuch God-like Ads were done ; 
 
 Whilft thro' the Croud thefe broken Accents ran, 
 
 This is the great protedl him Heav'n ! the Man. 
 
 
 Tancred
 
 * C 
 
 &"F **HE Author having frequently afferted amongjl 
 -* the left Judges ^ the Excellency of the firjt rate 
 Italian Poets in their feveral J^ays y and at the fame 
 Time considering the Efteem they were in 'with the 
 Englifh Reader ^ greatly Jhort of their Merit , venturd 
 to ajffign the Caufe of this cold Reception to formal 
 idiomatical VerjionSy (fee Page 63.} or to a vain At- 
 tempt to keep pace with them in Rhymes. Upon which 
 a Lady urgd him to give fome Specimen of his Con- 
 ception ; whichy according to her Politenefs^ Jhe faid^ 
 wou d not be ill receivd from One whofe late Tran- 
 Jlatiovs from that Language had met with Favour from 
 the Public. So far the excellent young Perfon^ to whofe 
 Memory I open this Work with a fepukhral View of an 
 
 E 4 empty
 
 empty Tomb, ereEled as a Monument of my Efteem y 
 not as an Oftentation of my Riches. Whofe Idea I have 
 infeparably connected 'with that mournful Eulogy of 
 Mr. Pope, 
 
 In vain with Manners and with Arts adorn'd, 
 Seen to be loft, and lov'd but to be mourn'd ! 
 / immediately attempted two Books of Taflb, (of 
 whom more hereafter) and two Epijlles of Antonio 
 Brimi. He was a Writer in the Ovidian Way^ in 
 nothing inferior to the M'ajler whom He chofe for his 
 Pattern, and in fome Things lefs blameable ; for He 
 (living an Age after Taffo) found the Italian Writers 
 in PoffeJJion of the Concetti^ and other Species of falfe 
 Wit\ whereas Ovid taught it the Roman Poets. Nor did 
 any Man contribute more than He to debauch both the 
 Manners and the Tafte of that People ; two Curfes 
 
 that
 
 , [ 33 ] 
 
 that ufually keep pretty even Pace 'with each other ^ when 
 they are to befal a devoted Nation. 
 
 The Epijlle from ^ueen Catherine to King Henry 
 the VUIth, carries many pointed and bitter InveEiives 
 againft both the Motives and Methods ^ by 'which the Re- 
 formation 'was brought about in England. But tho La- 
 dies who think themfelves injur d^ may be indulg d like 
 Homer'* Goddeffes^ in the Ufe of a fpirituous Language \ 
 yet let the Objections be ever fo true^ they do not make the 
 DoElrine of Tranfubftantiation in the leaft the truer. 
 A good Man may be thankful for an Event , without 
 efpoujing the Caufe ; and a wife one will enjoy every 
 national Advantage without difturbing his Happinefs^ by 
 a RetrcfpcEl into Meafures taken before He was born^ 
 by which it was eftablijti d. Then as for the Supremacy 
 of the Pope, for which fhe fo Jlrenuoujly contends , as a 
 
 Bequejl
 
 [ 34] . * . 
 
 Bequeft from our dying Saviour to St. Peter, the Reader 
 will find a much truer Account of the Origin of it 
 in Mr. Bower'j Lives of the Popes ; unlefs it was 
 granted by fome nuncupative Will, to which the Church 
 of Rome wasfole Witnefs y but is not to be found in that 
 Tejlament to which we refer our Caufe, figri d and feald 
 with his Blood.
 
 ] 
 
 Tancred to Clorinda. 
 
 The ARGUMENT. 
 
 Tit 7 Hen the Chriftian Army in the Expedition to the 
 * * Holy Land had routed the Perfians, Tancred, 
 a valiant Prince of Italy, after the Engagement retird 
 to refrejh himfelf, violently heated and fatigued, to a 
 neighbouring Fountain ; where at the fame Time, and for 
 the fame Reafon, arrivd Clorinda, a military Lady, not 
 lefs renown d for her Beauty than her Valour. She 
 was covered with compleat Armour, all but her Face, 
 with which our Hero was enamoured in the moft defpe- 
 rate Manner, without having an Opportunity to declare 
 his Pajjion to the Lady, who fled upon feeing a Party of 
 
 Us
 
 his Friends break in upon them. Some Years after^ be* 
 having himfelf ftill with the highejl Character ^ he was 
 employed at the Siege of Jerufalem ; to reinforce which y 
 in Support of her Mahometan Religion^ the fame Clo 
 rinda came. It happened^ in the mean Time^ that being 
 at another Fountain^ which called to his Remembrance 
 the beautiful Object which he once f aw in the like Situa- 
 tion^ he refolves to explain himfelf to her ; which he does 
 in a Letter full of the moft impetuous and pajjionate Ex- 
 prejjions, preferring the Character of a Chriftian Prince, 
 as well as of a violent Lover ; inviting her at the fame 
 I'ime to the Pleafures of Italy, particularly tf/' Naples his 
 Country ) and to the Glory of a true Belief. 'The Inci- 
 dent is taken from the Jerufalem <?/*Torquato Taflb. 
 
 Tancred
 
 [33] 
 
 Tancred to Clorinda. 
 
 IPX Ark the thick Grove, and cold the cryftal Stream, 
 ^^^ Where fair Clorinda is her Tattered* s Theme : 
 But to the Heart that glows with gen'rous Love, 
 Nor cold the Stream, nor dark the tufted Grove. 
 In mazy Bow'rs by wave-worn Banks confin'd, 
 Hear me, fair Form, ftill prefent to my Mind. 
 Let others flirink beneath your glitt'ring Steel, 
 Tancred alone muft keener Lightning feel. 
 Soft looks the glaring Tygrefs on your Creft, 
 To the bright Beams that tear this faithful Breaft : 
 And yet what Shame this faithful Bofom feels, 
 When to her Gods the beauteous Pagan kneels ! 
 
 F Think
 
 '[34] . ^ 
 
 Think on the Fountain, think, relentlefs Maid, 
 Where firft thefe Eyes that heav'nly Form furvey'd. 
 
 'Twas by a cryftal Fountain's moffy Side 
 We met ; our Hair in Heat of War unty'd. 
 To difFrent Fates we came ; the Echoes yet 
 My Groans, my Sighs the murmuring Waves repeat. 
 To you the Stream a healthful Draught fupplies ; 
 I quaff delicious Poifon from thofe Eyes. 
 By Mars you feem'd at once, and Cupid arm'd, 
 Dreadful your Beauty fhone, your Fiercenefs charm'd ; 
 Whilft I who late the gaudy Perfians drove, 
 Sunk at a Look, one Look, a Slave to Love. 
 The Gods whole Force I felt, I ftrove to fpeak ; 
 I could not fpeak at length thefe Accents break ; 
 And now and then the broken Accents hung, 
 Unform'd, unfinifh'd on my fault'ring Tongue. 
 
 And
 
 [ 35 ] 
 
 And muft I then no more enjoy that Sight, 
 Warmth to my Heart, and to my Eye-balls Light ? 
 No ; tho' yon Armies quit the ravag'd Eaft, 
 Her Image ne'er can vanifli from this Breaft. 
 Thefe Flow'rs, this Fountain, with the fhady Grove, 
 All, all conipire, and all renew my Love ! 
 The Spring, befide whofe murm'ring Stream I write, 
 Recalls the Place where firft you bleft my Sight ; 
 And where the Flow'rs bedeck th' enamel'd Mead, 
 'Twas here, fays I, Clorinda us'd to tread : 
 The trembling Leaves when fpicy Zephyrs move, 
 This is her Breath, Clorinda fans the Grove ; 
 And where fome Chink admits celeftial Light, 
 I figh and cry, Clorinda 's Eyes were bright. 
 Thus Night or op'ning Day your Beauties {hews, 
 Your Eyes the Stars, your Cheeks the blufhing Rofe. 
 
 F 2 Nor
 
 [ 36 ] 
 
 Nor think that Time can Tancre<f 's Love impair, 
 Whofe Flame is conftant, as its Object fair. 
 You felt, when like a Lover I purfu'd, 
 How my warm Sighs your Iv'ry Neck bedew'd, 
 Till hotter yet the fiery Vapours came, 
 Work'd up in fmoky Volumes to a Flame. 
 Such Sighs demand at leaft a pitying Tear, 
 Such Groans reproach th' unrelenting Ear. 
 
 But if Clorinda feels fome cruel Joy, 
 From ev'ry Woe that can my Peace deftroy ; 
 If each new Pain affords fome frefh Delight, 
 Such as her Beauties in this Breaft excite ; 
 Then fee my Bofom to that Malice bare, 
 Invites th' uplifted Sword, or pointed Spear ; 
 My Shield no more {hall ward the welcome Blow : 
 Why muft my Heart alone the Fury know ? 
 
 My
 
 [ 37 ] 
 
 My jealous Bofom burns, its Claim to prove 
 To equal Wounds from Anger and from Love ; 
 Or tear, and let the pitying Hand be bleft, 
 The wretched Prisoner from this tortur'd Breaft. 
 Yes, let the Vengeance that my Stars demand, 
 Come pour'd upon me by Clorindas Hand : 
 So {hall I thank the Caufe that fix'd my Doom, 
 And blefs the Lightning that difpell'd the Gloom. 
 
 I long to breathe, pure as the feven-fold Ice 
 That guards your Heart, my quick returning Sighs ; 
 Fainting, with all the Pow'r of Love oppreft, 
 Upon your finewy Arm, or fnowy Breaft. 
 Yet think not TancrecTs Soul wou'd not difdain 
 A Thought that could a Veftal's Bofom ftain. 
 Yes, 'tis my honeft Paflion's utmoft Height, 
 Trembling to fteal a Look, and blefs the Sight. 
 
 How
 
 [38 J 
 
 How the big Hope diftends my Heart, to join 
 Thefe Hands one Day with yours in Rites divine ! 
 Alas, thofe Rites divine can ne'er allow, 
 With Pagans to pollute the holy Vow. 
 Learn then to hate, fecure to be forgiv'n, 
 Your Idol Worihip moft abhorr'd by Heav'n. 
 So tributary Crowns fliall grace your Feet, 
 And the Camp change to an imperial Seat. 
 So beauteous Queens in Raptures fhall agree, 
 That ev'ry Charm united fliines in Thee. 
 See how th' ambitious Jordan fwells, to lave 
 Thy Forehead with the pure baptifmal Wave ! 
 But think not we to J or dans Waves confine 
 The faving Virtues of the myftic Sign ; 
 Each Pagan Stream fhall equal Grace beftow 
 With the clear Brook that rolls from Sum's Brow : 
 
 Ev'n
 
 * [39] 
 
 Ev'n cold Thermodion crown'd with Thracian Woods, 
 Or Xanthus high renown'd o'er Trojan Floods. 
 Oh ! might we gain thee, with thy Load of Fame, 
 A well try'd Champion to the Chriftian Name ! 
 How wou'd th' expe&ing World admire our Spoils, 
 And Hofts of fmiling Angels blefs our Toils ! 
 With larger Strides great Godfrey wou'd advance, 
 And ihake th' enflaving Chain, or bloody Lance. 
 The Chriftian Banner, to its Staff unfurl'd, 
 Wou'd wave its healing Virtues o'er the World. 
 Parthians wou'd kneel, the Scythian wou'd adore 
 The facred Enfign on his icy Shore ; 
 Difcord betwixt the Frank and "Turk fhou'd ceafe, 
 And each receive the holy Kifs of Peace. 
 
 Our nuptial Joys fhou'd vulgar Rites defpife; 
 For Hymens Torch accept your Lover's Sighs, 
 
 And
 
 And on the Camp the Hero's Marriage Bed, 
 
 By Soldier's Hands, for Soldiers fhould be fpread. 
 
 Who then wou'd dare refift, illuftrious Maid, 
 
 Great Bullions Arms affianc'd in thy Aid ? 
 
 Whom thus we praifing faw around her deal, 
 
 The thund'ring Blows, her Limbs enclafp'd in Steel. 
 
 " Fair Atalanta by Arcadian Swains 
 
 Is fung, and Thorny r is on Scythian Plains : 
 
 But none will deem that {hall with thee compare, 
 
 " The Scythian brave, or Atalanta fair. 
 
 " The beamy Sun but borrows from her Eyes 7 
 
 " And from her Hair Aurora paints the Skies. 
 
 " Who fees and feels no pleafing Pains within 
 
 " Is loft; not to adore her is the Sin. 
 
 How fliou'd I boaft the Flame with which I burn, 
 
 If faithful Love cou'd claim a kind Return ; 
 
 And 
 
 " 
 
 "
 
 And by my furrow'd Cheeks, thus pale and thin. 
 Prove what confuming Fire devours within : 
 Yet I, this Wretch, the Chains of Antloch broke, 
 And freed her from the Eaftern Tyrant's Yoke. 
 I made the Perfians^ half-extinguifli'd, own 
 A Stranger, where great Cyrus grac'd the Throne. 
 Alas ! how changed, how low your Vaffal lies, 
 A fcepter'd Slave, the Vi6Hm to your Eyes ! ;oi 
 Oh ! Fair One, thro* whofe Form divine we trace 
 Each foft'ning Charm, and each commanding Grace, 
 Oh ! leave me not in hopelefs Love to grieve, 
 Or ufelefs grown in hateful Arms to live. 
 Far be it, from the gen'rous Nature far, 
 To view with brutal Joy the Scenes of War. 
 And may the holy Tomb, that dealt the Blow 
 Fatal to Death, who mourns in Chains below, 
 
 G Be
 
 tit I- > / 
 
 Be ever hung with blooming Wreaths around, 
 With ev'ry foft pacific Trophy crown'd : .. 
 To hollow Groans, let fprightly Airs fucceed, 
 And dimpl'd Smiles to all the Wounds that bleed* 
 For think not, Heroine, Tancrtd thee invites 
 To lonely Regions banifh'd from Delights, 
 To Climes where folitary Greatnefs reigns, 
 In barb'rous Pride amidft uncultur'd Plains : 
 Let others boaft their Savage wide Commands, 
 O'er deep Hyrcanian Woods, or Libyan Sands, 
 With Pleafure hear the hoarfe Egcean rave, 
 Or dream befide Empeus fleepy Wave ; 
 But Naples fhall prefent a gentler Scene, 
 Where flow'ry Banks fmile o'er the blue Tyrrhene. 
 See how the proud imperial Turrets rife, 
 Whofe high ernbattl'd Walls invade the Skies ! 
 
 To
 
 C 43 ] 
 
 To Theatres our circling Mountains grow, 
 Whilft the broad Sea a Mirror floats below : 
 As if, grown wanton, Nature wou'd difplay 
 A double View of all that's great and gay. 
 In rofeate Bow'rs here balmy Zephyrs bred, 
 Skim ever fportive o'er the cryftal Bed : 
 Reflected Heav'ns the Traveller admires, 
 And counts within the Waves a thoufand Fires^ 
 Frefh from the Hill defcends the neigh'bring Swain, 
 And quits the Glebe to plough the wat'ry Plain ; 
 Chearful again refumes th' alternate Toil, 
 Binds up his Oars, and breaks the mellow Soil* 
 What various Hues our gen'rous Vines unfold, 
 Whilft the rich Purple vies with ftreaky Gold ? 
 In Time's defpight here youthful Aprils wear 
 Their vernal Liv'ry thro' th' unchanging Year ; 
 And where they melt in foft defcending Show'rs, 
 The Hills bear Grafs, and the rich Herbage Flow'rs. 
 
 And
 
 ,.-:-; [44] --> 
 
 The fultry Dog-ftar ne'er infects the Plains ; 
 No Fevers rage but in the Lover's Veins. 
 None fears the biting Eaft's benumbing Smart ; 
 The Cold we dread furrounds the Virgin's Heart. 
 Hence our firm Veins contain a richer Flood ; 
 Hence high Atchievements prove heroic Blood. 
 Far o'er the reft behold our Father's * Name, 
 Sacred on Adamantine Rolls to Fame ; 
 Whofe high Defcent thro' num'rous Sires we trace, 
 To the proud Conqu'rors of the Norman Race; 
 Whofe Lineage yet rebellious Nations awes, 
 And Splendor gives to Kings, to Empires Laws. 
 Oh ! with what Joy will he Clorinda meet, 
 Bleft Thought ! to lay his Scepter at her Feet ; 
 Whofe Heav'nly Form the fureft Earneft brings 
 Of future Heroes, and more God-like Kings. 
 * Roger Prince of Apulia.
 
 [*45 ] 
 
 THE 
 
 ARGUMENT 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 AUTHOR. 
 
 Tranflated from the Epijlole Heroiche of B R UNO. 
 
 ATHERINE 0/Arragon, Daughter to Fer- 
 dinand and Elizabeth, King and ^ueen of Spain, 
 who juftly obtained the Title of Moft Catholick, was as 
 beautiful and majeftic in Perfon^ as pious and refolute 
 in AEiion. She was many Years married to Henry VIII. 
 King of England, who being violently enamour d with 
 Anna Bolen, contemns all Remonjt ranees from the Holy 
 
 * H See,
 
 ] V - 
 
 See, and repudiates her, contrary to the Laws of God 
 and Man. She retires to Kimbolton, and near her 
 Death, writes this Letter to Henry, who had openly 
 avowed the National Herefy at that Time, and celebrat- 
 ed his fecond Nuptials with Bolen. Tho his only law~ 
 ful Wife, jhe writes in the Stile of a Widow y andjhews 
 a ftronger Senfe of Care for his Soul, than any Pro- 
 feffion of Duty to one, that had been an Apoftate from 
 his Religion. 
 
 The Story is taken from the Hiftory of England, by 
 Polydore Virgil. 
 
 CAT HE-
 
 [47] 
 
 CATHERINE of ARRAGON, 
 
 T o 
 
 HENRY VIIL King of 'England. 
 
 i. 
 
 E S, of my Honour, Hufband, Crown bereft, 
 A Queen degraded, and a Wife difgrac'd ; 
 By Fortune long, and all her Flatt'rers left, 
 And low beneath the Reach of Malice plac'd ; " 
 
 IL 
 'Tis I, 'tis Catherine, in her Wrongs defpite, 
 
 Who fends thee this ! Mark her forgiving Care t 
 Read the few Lines this trembling Hand can write, 
 Nor fcorn her laft Advice and dying Prayer. 
 
 H 2 III. So
 
 - . . [48] 
 
 ill. 
 
 So when the Scythe * of unrelenting Time 
 
 Sweeps me from Earth with its refiftlefs Steel ; 
 Thy Soul may, ftarting at each glaring Crime, 
 
 The Pleafures of a godly Sorrow feel. 
 
 IV. 
 Oh ! Impotence of Pride ; how falfe, how vain 
 
 The folemn Pomp, and Purple Farce of State, 
 If Days of Horror, fleeplefs Nights of Pain 
 
 Are for the Great, Appointments fix'd by Fate ? 
 
 V. 
 Bloated Difeafe fpreads their luxurious Boards, 
 
 And meagre Death each glutt'nous Meal attends ; 
 When Appetites degrade the World's high Lords, 
 
 Below the Reft th' Imperial Slave defcends. 
 
 VI. Then 
 
 * La Fake dt Morte in me la Vita miete.
 
 C 49 ] 
 
 VI. 
 
 Then fliall he feel, in Bitternefs of Woe, 
 
 How much the flatter'd Wretch miftook his End, 
 Who made his GOD an unrelenting Foe, 
 
 And finds in Man an unaffifting Friend. 
 
 VII. 
 What can his Fleets, thofe floating Piles avail ? ^ 
 
 What all the Sails that crowd the wat'ry Way, 
 When the red Bolts the crackling Planks affail, 
 
 And in the Shrouds the forky Light'nings play ? 
 
 VIII. 
 How muft the Crew, ftruck by the real Blaze, 
 
 Who now the glitt'ring regal Crown admires ; 
 Defpife the Diadem's fictitious Rays, 
 
 And fcorn the Scepter's ineffectual Fires ? 
 
 IX. Why
 
 [50 
 
 IX. 
 
 Why fwells the King with barb'rous Pride elate ? 
 
 Is't that his Slaves with Purple fpread the Room ? 
 Or that the gorgeous Robes of Royal State 
 
 Can boaft their Splendor from th' Affyrian Loom ? 
 
 X. 
 Alas ! the homely Shepherd's Folds fupply 
 
 The Purple Woof that thro' the Palace glows ; 
 And to a hungry f Cur the Tyrian Dye, 
 
 In proudeft Robes array'd the Monarch owes. 
 
 XL Why 
 
 -f Per opra cTun Mattin rozzo di Tire. The Invention of the Purple 
 Dye is afcribed by the Greeks, like almoft all other ufeful Difcoveries, 
 to Hercules -, who when he fojourned in Africa^ obferved the Nofe and 
 Mouth of his Dog, upon tumbling and turning about a certain Shell 
 Filh, (called afterwards by the Romans Murex] very common on that 
 Coaft, to be ting'd with a deep fplendid Red, made the Application to 
 Wool, which turn'd to a prodigious Account to fuch a trading People 
 as the Pbanicians. .
 
 [ 5' ] 
 XL 
 
 Why will the Crew, the Slaves of Kingly Pride, 
 
 Th' Arabian or the Indian Mine explore, 
 While confcious Nature ftrives in vain to hide 
 
 Deep in the Realms of Night the fatal Ore ? 
 
 XII. 
 Why drag the glitt'ring Mifchief into Light, > 
 
 The Peft of Morals, and the Bane of Souls ; 
 When its own Sire abhors the noxious Light, 
 
 The genial Sun, as o'er the World he rolls ? 
 
 XIII. 
 He only dignifies the Crown he wears, 
 
 Whilft Gold in vain pretends to prop the Throne, 
 Who humble ftill before his God appears, 
 
 Nor thwarts his Will to gratify his own. 
 
 XIV. The
 
 I 5*] 
 
 XIV. 
 The Hero who his ftubborn Heart fubdues, 
 
 Is form'd alone for the Imperial Sway, 
 Who Virtue thro' her thorny Paths purfues, 
 And o'er the rugged Mountain leads the Way. 
 
 XV. 
 Then fhall Aftrea long inthron'd in Heaven, 
 
 Chafte as the falling Flakes of untouch'd Snow, 
 In his pure Hands preferve the Ballance even, 
 Or in the Scale the Weight of Juftice throw. 
 
 XVI. 
 When now Heav'n's Heir, to fave its guilty Foes, 
 
 Join'd to this mortal Frame the Godhead's Pow'r, 
 For his fair Spoufe the fpotlefs Church he chofe, 
 Whofe Faith was her ineftimable Dow'r. 
 
 XVII. To
 
 XVII. 
 
 To break, grim Death, thy Adamantine Chains, 
 
 And free a World devoted with his Blood ; 
 On Calvary^ (curs' d Mount !) his burfting Veins 
 
 Pour'd thro' his gaping Side the Purple Flood. 
 
 XVIII. 
 Expiring there, 'twas his fupreme Command, 
 
 Let the Difciple, when his Lord is dead, 
 Whom fifhing from the Galilean Strand 
 
 I call'd, Thou, Peter > be the Church's Head. 
 
 XIX. 
 To Britain firft the Church's eldeft born, 
 
 Seat of Delights, and Regent of the Deep, 
 Thro' Seas of Blood, diftrefs'd, forlorn, 
 
 The good Apoftle guides his fhatter'd Ship. 
 
 *I XX. When
 
 [54] ' 
 
 XX. 
 
 When lo ! arofe in regal Order rang'd, 
 
 In antique Robes a warlike fcepter'd Band ; 
 Their -j* Robes to Sails, to Helms their Scepters chang'd, 
 
 And Kings grew proud the Veflel to command. 
 
 XXL 
 Now all was calm, kind Zephyrs fwells the Sails, 
 
 Smooth o'er the glaffy Plain the Pinnace glides ; 
 Imperial Pilots, and propitious Gales, 
 
 Defy the lurking Rocks, and faithlefs Tides : 
 
 XXII. 
 Till the 8th Henry was ordain'd by Fate 
 
 To loofe th' imprifon'd Whirlwind from his Cell, 
 Rouze the deaf Storm to execute his Hate, 
 
 And ply the Bark with all the Pow'rs of Hell. 
 
 XXIII. Tear 
 
 % Cke cangio piu d'un Re per la grand nave 
 In Timone lo Scettro e FOftro in vela.
 
 [55 1 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Tear from the Holy Church's chafte Embrace 
 
 Her eldeft Hope ; all duteous Ties difown ; 
 To foul Rebellion urge a pious Race, 
 
 And from her Homage free the feudal Throne. 
 
 XXIV. 
 But turn, oh ! turn, from the deftructive Road, 
 
 Repent ; embrace the Knees, and kifs the Hand ; 
 With Tears confefs the Duty that you ow'd 
 
 To him, that does the Keys of Heav'n command. 
 
 XXV. 
 Think thou art he whofe Youth did Temples raife, 
 
 High fliadowing o'er the Plain with lofty Tow'rs, 
 And taught the Gothic Column how to grace, 
 
 With the proud Porph'ry from Egyptian Shores. 
 
 I 2 XXVI. Thou
 
 xxyi. 
 
 Thou that coulcTft once with Energy divine 
 
 Defend the Honours of th' Angelic Breed, f 
 Whilft Heav'nly Glories crown'd each nervous Line, 
 
 And wide the ftrong Illumination fpread. 
 
 XXVII. 
 Thou that waft late a pious Champion fear'd, 
 
 As fkill'd alike the Pen or Lance to wield, 
 By ftudious Churchmen in Debate rever'd, 
 
 By Heroes dreaded in the well fought Field. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 Doft thou, whofe Mind in fteady Flight, 
 
 Cou'd weigh the inmoft Counfels of the Skies, 
 That penetrated deep the Source of Light, 
 
 Doft thou its Altars, thou its Rites defpife ? 
 
 XXIX, Break 
 
 f Tu, cbe del Pane Angelica fcrivefti.
 
 . [57] 
 XXIX. 
 
 Break all its Laws, and burthen'd with its Spoils 
 
 Of Temples plunder'd, and of Shrines o'erthrown, 
 Efpoufe each Heretic, applaud his Toils, 
 
 And let all Hell take Refuge in the Throne ? 
 
 XXX. 
 When ancient Rome the facred Shield enjoy 'd, 
 
 Dropt as a Pledge from the etherial Bow'rs, 
 Her happy Sons the hoftile World defy'd, 
 
 While Fate fecur'd her Heav'h-proteded Tow'rs. 
 
 XXXI. 
 But thou, the Guardian of the Church's Laws, 
 
 Her Faith's Defender, her avow'd Delight, 
 Art foremoft to betray her injur'd Caufe, 
 
 And quench her Glories in eternal Night. 
 
 XXXII. But
 
 ; [58] 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 But fay what facrilegious Mafter now, * 
 
 What f School to ev'ry Senfe of Honour loft, 
 Will the blafpheming Catalogue allow 
 
 Of impious Titles which thy ElattVers boaft. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 'Tis thus when Arrogance Reftraint difcards 
 
 When holy Zeal forfakes th' ungrateful Earth ; 
 'Tis thus Impiety her Slaves rewards, 
 
 And Irreligion fpawns a monftrous Birth. || 
 
 XXXIV. 
 See where the Rhine his icy Borders laves 
 
 O'er founding Rocks, and Tracts of endlefs Snows, 
 Or where the Danube rolls his boift'rous Waves 
 
 Thro' factious Nations fwelling as he flows ; 
 
 XXXV. The 
 
 * Da qual Maeftro. -f- In quale Scuola. 
 [| Maftri germiglia la Terra ingrata.
 
 [59 ] 
 XXXV. 
 
 The t Hydra Herefy her Heads erects, 
 
 Which fever'd off, as oft revive in Death, 
 O'er the bleak North her Length of Neck projects, 
 And taints Germania with her noxious Breath. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 Next fee the wily * Fox his Havock make ; 
 
 Let the wide Scenes of Ruin feaft thy Eyes, 
 Where that infectious Pool, the Leman Lake, 
 A hundred States with pois'nous Streams fupplies. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 Miftaken States ! will he, whofe impious Pride, 
 
 The Wretch that cou'd the Laws of Heav'n difown ; 
 Will he who the dread Thunderer defy'd, 
 Submiflive bend before an earthly Throne ? 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 t Hfyal Idra imenfa. * Volpe fraudelente.
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 Oh Harry ! where fuperior Strength of Thought, 
 
 Where more extended Pow'rs of Soul are giv'n, 
 Let not the Mind, to headftrong Pafllons brought 
 
 A Slave, debafe the nobleft Gifts of Heav'n. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 Such Talents, of Herculean Size, fhould fcorn 
 
 From the fond Mother's Arms to tear her Young, 
 To nurfe with Herefy the Babe new-born, 
 
 And form to wicked Sounds its lifping Tongue. 
 
 XL. 
 Ah ! what avails the Hero's founding Name, 
 
 For Arms renown'd, perhaps, thro' Eaftern Climes, 
 If home-bred Follies fully all his Fame, 
 
 And private Vices join'd to public Crimes ? 
 
 XLI. When
 
 [*6i 
 
 XLI. 
 
 When wilt thou fleeting Beauty's Value know, 
 
 When from the gay enchanting Folly run ; 
 Which fades like fhort-liv'd Flow'rs in glitt'ring Snow, 
 
 Or glitt'ring Snow beneath the cloudlefs Sun ? 
 
 XLII. 
 Oh ! might I leave thee pure from guilty Love, 
 
 From the foul Steams that now pollute thy Breaft, 
 With Joy my Summons waiting from above, 
 
 I cou'd compofe my ftormy Cares to Reft. 
 
 XLIII. 
 For Heav'n forewarns me of approaching Fate ! 
 
 On Diamond Hinges roll its golden Doors. 
 Ye rofy Cherubims, fet wide the Gate, 
 
 That on my Soul the rapt'rous Vifion pours ! 
 
 * K XLIV. I fee
 
 J 
 
 XLIV. 
 
 I fee yes, *tis the Crofs ! ere& it ftands, 
 
 Studded with Stars that flame with fev'nfold Light : 
 Around, their Harps for ever in their Hands, 
 
 A Chorus fings, rob'd in celeftial White. 
 
 XLV. 
 High o'er the Heroes of thy boafted Line, 
 
 Bearded Plantagenets^ a manly Race ! 
 Mark the third Edward clad in Arms divine, 
 
 With Airs celeftial blooming in his Face ! 
 
 XLVL 
 Stars gild his Feet, and round his Temples glow; 
 
 Yet fee he ftoops in pure paternal Love, 
 To teach that thou like him muft reign below, 
 
 If thou like him wou'dft fit enthron'd above. 
 
 XLVII. For
 
 C 63 ] 
 
 XLVIL 
 
 For know, 'tis there alone true Joys abound, 
 
 The laft great Aim of Man's immortal Soul, 
 To be with never fading Glory crown'd, 
 
 An endlefs Triumph ! in the ftarry Pole. 
 
 XLVIII. 
 In God, as in its proper Sphere, the Mind 
 
 Muft live and move, and then for ever reft; 
 In him alone its juft Reward can find, 
 
 In Joys increafing ever, ever bleft. 
 
 XLIX. 
 Whilft mark the proudeft earthly Boafter's Doom, 
 
 His Trophies fading, and his Arch o'erthrown ! 
 His Fame contracted to a mould'ring Tomb, 
 
 Or the vain Flatt'ry of fome letter'd Stone ! 
 
 K 2 L. At
 
 - [64] . 'I ; ; 
 
 L. 
 
 At length, farewel. Great Nature I obey ; 
 
 Reiign'd I quit the chequer'd Scenes of Light, 
 To calm the Storms of my tempeftuous Day, 
 
 In filent Shades of hofpitable Night. 
 
 LI. 
 And fince that Peace I now enjoy in Death, 
 
 Which thy inconftant Heart in Courts deny'd, 
 I can forgive yes, with my lateft Breath, 
 
 Ev'n thee, and all the Tribe thy Craft employ'd. 
 
 LII. 
 My Change with holy Pleafure I review, 
 
 Where rural Innocence her Seat has fix'd : 
 Our Manners fimple, and our Words are true, 
 
 Our Fleece unpoifon'd, and our Cup unmix'd. 
 
 LIH. 'Tis
 
 LIII. 
 
 'Tis here (ye Tyrants of the Earth behold, 
 
 And learn) wak'd by the Daughter of the Dawn, 
 The Ruler of the Flock unbinds the Fold, 
 
 And leads his Subjects to the dewy Lawn. 
 
 LIV. 
 Nor proves the Flock ungrateful ; in Return 
 
 To him her Milk the fleecy Mother bears ; 
 Each Year by him the willing Ewes are fhorn ; 
 
 But note, he * murders not the Lamb he fhears. 
 
 LV. And 
 
 * Alluding to a famous Bon Mot of Charles V. that whereas he uied 
 the Church as a Stock againft a Time of Need, his Brother Harry of 
 England killed the Sheep that bore the Golden Fleece.
 
 ; [66 J . ' 
 
 LV. 
 
 And fhould the Matter chufe to change the Ground, 
 
 Tho' richer Lawns and flow'ry Meads invite, 
 Chearful they own the Pipe's commanding Sound, 
 
 And climb the Brow to feek a clofer Bite. 
 
 LVI. 
 His Matins to a murm'ring Brook he fung, 
 
 A beardlefs Boy ! Now mark the hoary Sage ! 
 Untir'd the Zeal that warm'd his youthful Tongue, 
 
 Mellows to ferious Piety in Age. 
 
 LVII. 
 I fee him reverend in his fpotlefs Frock, 
 
 His Pipe and Scrip unfullied by his Side ; 
 He for the Temple only quits his Flock ; 
 
 His Bufmefs and his God his Time divide. 
 
 LVIII. What
 
 LVIII. 
 
 What if no Gems, fet deep in polifh'd Gold, 
 
 His Altar rais'd of verdant Turf, adorn, 
 Yet here the Lilly and the Rofe unfold 
 
 Their Sweets foft breathing to the purple Morn. 
 
 LIX. 
 Long e'er the Saffron Light unfeals his Eyes, 
 
 To Heav'n he opens wide his Heart in Pray'r ; 
 His Dreams are a religious Exercife, 
 
 His darling Fold is ev'n in Sleep his Care. 
 
 LX. 
 'Tis here the cooing folitary Dove, 
 
 If his lov'd Mate forfakes their native Neft, 
 Plaintive purfues her thro' each vocal Grove, 
 
 And till he finds his Partner knows no Reft. 
 
 LXL Tis
 
 [68 ] ... .. 
 
 LXL 
 
 'Tis here But fee ! a Beam of gilded Light 
 
 Confirms my Hopes I come, ye fmiling Pow'rs 
 And now a Blaze of Glory breaks upon my Sight ; 
 
 I'm loft oh ! wing me to yon azure Bow'rs. 
 
 LXII. 
 And thou dear Pledge of our connubial Love, 
 
 Hold firm the holy Faith fo may'ft thou be 
 (The beft Inheritance in Joys above) 
 
 Be ever bleft as Heav'n replies as me. 
 
 [Dies.
 
 [45 ] 
 
 THE 
 
 F E 
 
 ... i::k 
 O F 
 
 ^ | ^ HERE is fomething fo entertaining, fo noble, 
 -* fo piteous, fo marvellous in the Fortune of 
 Torquato Taffo, that I know not any Man's Story more 
 interefting or more inftru&ive. Nature feems in every 
 Step me took relating to him, to have formed him 
 for our Admiration. How are we ftruck with a plea- 
 ling Kind of Amazement that ends in Horror, when 
 
 H we
 
 we are told from the beft * Hands, that he talk'd di- 
 Aift&ly altnoft incredibly foon ; that he learned his 
 Grammar at three, was fent to the College of Jefuits 
 at four, repeated with Applaufe his own Verfes in pub- 
 lic at feven, and was condemned to Death by Profcrip- 
 tion at nine Years of Age ? To begin then ; the Fa- 
 mily, fays Monfieur Mirabaud -f, which was very an- 
 cient and noble in the Milanefe, was forced from thence, 
 where they were long known by the Name of La Tour^ 
 into the Diftrid: between Como and Bergamo, where 
 they took that of Taffo from an eminent Mountain fo 
 called in that Country. Bernardo Taffo ^ the Father of 
 our Poet, who was himfelf alfo a Verfe-Man, was a 
 Gentleman in high Efteem, and of the firft Character. 
 
 His 
 
 * John Baptift Manfi^ Marquis de Ville^ Lord of Bifaccio and Bianca, 
 who knew him intimately, and wrote his Life in moft pure Italian. 
 t See Abrege de la Vie du 5T0Jfc a Paris 1724.
 
 [ 47. ] 
 
 His Affairs fix'd him early in the latereft of Perrawt 
 de Sanfeverin^ Prince of Salerno, The Prince plac'd 
 fuch an entire Confidence in him, as to entruft him 
 with all his Affairs, and to make him his Secretary. 
 With this great Man he paffed over to the Kingdom 
 of Naples ) and married there Porcia de Roff!, a Lady 
 of Quality. Our Taffb was the Iffue of this Match, 
 who was born at Sorrento near Naples (from whence 
 he is often called the Neapolitan Poet) the eleventh of 
 March 1544. 
 
 The Reader, I prefume, grows impatient to know 
 the Particulars of the execrable Sentence which I faid 
 was paffed upon an innocent Child ; but he may be 
 very fure that nothing lefs than his furprizing Talents 
 could entitle him to fuch uncommon Cruelty. No 
 Pardon is ever granted for Infirmities ; no Excufe ad- 
 
 H 2 mitted
 
 . [48 
 
 mitted for Miftakes ; no Allowance made for Misfor- 
 tunes, to a Perfon that is once cry'd up for fuperior 
 Parts. His Manly Underftanding mark'd him out for 
 a Punifhment never infli&ed on a Child ; and his pre- 
 coce Genius accelerated the Ruin that involved the un- 
 happy Son with the miferable Father. The Occafion 
 was this : Don Pedro de Toledo >, Viceroy of Naples, was 
 determined at all Adventures to eftablifh the Inquifition 
 there. Againft this the Prince of Salerno^ a Man of 
 Virtue and Spirit, undertook to remonftrate, and to re- 
 prefent in Perfon to the Emperor Chariest, the Rights 
 and Privileges of the Neapolitan Conftitution. The 
 great Popularity from this Opposition, gain'd him juft 
 as much Hatred from the Viceroy, who never ceafed till 
 he had throughly prepoffefled his Mafter, that San- 
 feverin was too fhrewd an Obferver, and of too im- 
 
 prac-
 
 . C 49 J 
 
 practicable a Temper for his Purpofe. The Prince, be- 
 ing not unacquainted with the ill Impreflion made of 
 him on the Emperor, fent to beg the Honour of a Guard 
 to efcort him to his Prefence, where he was convinc'd 
 he could juftify himfelf, and fatisfy his Imperial Majefly. 
 But the Emperor anfwered his Meflenger in the Laco- 
 nic Stile, that 'twas never his Manner to treat with any 
 of his Subjects. The Prince did not want any clearer 
 Conviction that his Enemies had the Advantage of him 
 at Court, and therefore refolved without Delay to quit 
 his Country, and transfer his Allegiance. Tajfo y the 
 Father, without Hesitation ran Fortunes with his Patron, 
 and carried with him his Son Torquato^ then but nine 
 Years old. The Viceroy, in a Manner becoming a bi- 
 gotted Zealot, grown more furious from his difappoint- 
 ed Revenge, published, immediately on the Prince's De- 
 parture,
 
 parture, an Edid, declaring both him and all his Ad- 
 herents, without Exception, to be Rebels, and to be 
 guilty of Death accordingly ; which cruel Sentence in- 
 cluded the unfortunate Boy, notwithftanding his tender 
 
 So narrow was his Efcape from falling a Sacrifice to 
 that dreadful political Engine, the Inquifition ; which 
 as it is eftablifhed by Authority in the moft confiderable 
 Nations, where the Romijh Religion flourishes in its na- 
 tural State, and in all its Extent of Power, it muft be 
 fuppofed to be highly agreeable to the undifguis'd Tem- 
 per of that Church. And as Tranfubftantiation is the 
 univerfal Doctrine of it, thefe two Points, the one of 
 Practice, and the other of Faith, being the greateft Abufes 
 that can be put upon the Senfe, the Liberty, the Rea- 
 fon of Mankind, thefe two fuperfeding all minute Ob- 
 
 je&ions,
 
 [ Si ] . 
 
 jedions, muft be fufficient to create an Abhorrence of 
 Principles fo diflbnant to his, whofe ftricleft Yoke was 
 eafy, and whofe heavieft Burthen light. 
 
 During thefe Convulfions in his Affairs, which by 
 the Sycophants to a haughty Tyrant were term'd his 
 Dilgrace, Bernardo knew too well the Value of a good 
 Education, in which any Neglect at that Time of Life 
 is never to be recovered, to fpare any Coft to give his 
 Son the bed that cou'd be procured. Accordingly he 
 placed him in Rome, under a moft celebrated Sophift * 
 where, fo far from forfeiting the high Expectations that 
 were conceived of his furprizing Genius, by the Time 
 of his being twelve Years of Age, befides a wonderful 
 Proficiency in the Latin and Greek Languages, he 
 went thro' the other liberal Arts, that were then taught 
 
 in 
 
 * Mauritius Cattaneus.
 
 in public Schools, fuch as Rhetoric, Poefy, Logic, and 
 Ariftotk\ Ethics. His Father being now at Mantua^ 
 where he was principal Secretary to that Duke, fent for 
 him in order to remove him to Padua, an Univerfity in 
 thofe Days as famous for the Lawyers, as it has fince 
 been for the eminent Phyflcians it has produced. The 
 Study of the Laws, he judged, would find Employ- 
 ment for the moft active Talents, and probably was 
 not difpleafed at the Profpect, by the Emoluments that 
 accompany Succefs in that Profeffion, of repairing the 
 Fortunes of his Family, which, by the Refentment of 
 the Emperor, had been much fhatter'd. 
 
 It was impoffible for one of his aftonifliing Abilities 
 heartily to enter upon any Studies (and he feems always 
 to have been in earneft) without fhe wing himfelf like 
 Achilles among the Mob of Heroes, taller K f p^ ' r
 
 .[ S3 ] 
 
 tysft? W/AK?. Agreeably to this, when in his Academi- 
 cal Exercifes, he maintained in public any Thefis in 
 Divinity, Philofophy, or Law, the Schools rung with 
 Applaufe. And indeed feveral of his Pieces publifhed 
 afterwards; fuch as the Treatife upon Heroic Virtue, 
 Nobility ; and particularly the Dialogue on Friendship, 
 entitled, // Manfa in Honour of his Bofom Friend ; and 
 many others in P/afo's Manner, fhew that he had been 
 early fet right in a Method of Study, and had regularly 
 purfued it. 'Tis for want of fuch an Inftitution, that 
 fo many crude Syftems are every Day obtruded on the 
 World. Notwithftanding thefe popular Acclamations, 
 he was too wife to neglect Horace's Advice, not to look 
 for one's felf abroad, for Confcience judges better for 
 us than Flattery. So after having maturely examined 
 the Bent and Ply of his own Inclinations, as well as 
 
 I tried
 
 - - [54] 
 
 tried his Strength, he found that the Study of the Law 
 was a Service into which he was prefs'd ; and where 
 few make any Figure but thofe that have a particular 
 Turn for it, which is ufually difcerned by their having 
 none for any Thing elfe. It appeared to him, (I mean 
 the Roman Law, which is widely different from that 
 noble Profeffion fo juftly efteemed with us) what the 
 Painters call a Salvator-like Profpect, very horrid, and 
 very difficult of Accefs ; where among broken Rocks, 
 wither' d Shrubs, blafted Trees, and a vaft Variety of 
 Ruins, a few Ladrones fecurely divided the Booty 
 among themfelves. 
 
 Whereas Poetry prefented to his View a wide Par- 
 terre, open to all that pleafed to divert themfelves in 
 it ; where each, according to his Difpofition, might 
 enjoy himfelf in ihady Walks, by gently flowing, fmooth 
 
 Canals,
 
 [ 55 ] 
 
 Canals, or in cool Grottos, fit by founding Water- Falls. 
 No horrid Pits deformed the Surface dug in Search of 
 Oar, and the Trees, which were Ever-greens, bore no 
 rich Fruits, 'tis true, but ferv'd to diverfify the Scene, 
 or to conduct the Eye to a beautiful Edifice, called 
 Tie Temple of Fame, where all the Viftas ended as 
 Lines meeting in their proper Center. 
 
 In this inchanting Sejour he chofe to indulge his Ge- 
 nius, and that to fuch a Degree, that by the Time he 
 was eighteen Years old, he compofed a compleat He- 
 roic Poem, called Rinaldo. 
 
 An Epic Poem was a Phoenix, -, which the World for 
 above a thoufand Years had defpair'd of feeing \ and 
 this, from the Age of its Author, was looked upon as 
 a Prodigy. Now Fame feem'd to contend with Merit ; 
 That fcorn'd to -be out-done, and This to be equaled. 
 
 I 2 He
 
 He had taken Care, like his two Mailers, Homer and 
 Virgil^ to oblige many Kings and great Men, by an 
 honourable Mention made artfully of their Families or 
 Predeceflbrs in his Works. 
 
 Charles IX. of France was fo pleafed with him for 
 making the Hero of his Poem a Frenchman^ that after 
 long Solicitations, by the Influence of Cardinal Efte^ he 
 got him to his Court, where he loaded him with Pre- 
 fents worthy of the Prince and the Poet. Univeriities 
 complimented him with Honours ; and richer Bodies of 
 Men, as well as Cardinals and Princes, with noble 
 Prefents. But Alphonfo^ Duke of Ferrara, and his 
 Brother, Cardinal Cynthio, prevailed on him to take up 
 his Relidence in the Palace there. Now he feem'd to 
 have overcome his ill Fortune, as the Indians think 
 the Moon gets the better of Enchantments, when 
 
 Oie
 
 - [ 57 3 
 
 flie emerges from an Eclipfe. He was furnifhed with 
 every Advantage that could improve his Mind, as well 
 as make it eafy ; both which are equally neceflary to 
 form a good Writer. The furprizing Progrefs he made 
 in his Studies, fhew that he neglected nothing that 
 could ferve to promote the End he propofed. In or- 
 der to which, he made himfelf Mafter of the fublime 
 Manner of Pindar, the Sweetnefs of Anacreon and Ti- 
 bullus, with the Vivacity of Propertius. This appears 
 by his excelling in all thefe Kinds of writing. But what 
 is to his immortal Praife, he raifed the Dignity of pa- 
 ftoral Poetry, from what he found it in the Bucolics of 
 Theocritus ', the Eclogues of Virgil^ and the Tufcan San- 
 nazarius, into a noble Dramatic Poem, 1%e Aminta^ 
 where the Unities of Action, Time and Place, are fb 
 exactly obferved, that it has often, with great Applaufe, 
 
 been
 
 [58 j ; : 
 
 been performed on the Stage. 
 
 Thus he foar'd from one Degree of Eminence to 
 another, till at length he reach'd the Summit, where at 
 his Eafe he compofed that Mafter-piece of human Wit, 
 the Gierufalemme Liber ata ; which was fcarce fooner 
 known in Italy ^ than it was communicated not only to 
 all Europe, by Translations of it into the principal 
 Tongues there, but even into the oriental Languages. 
 So that Taffos Fame was Ipread over Regions, 
 
 * %ua Gejla nondum cognita Ctefaris 
 0$ua nee Maronis Script a 
 
 The Warmth of the Glory that blazed around him^ 
 awaked whole Swarms of Duntiad Writers, under the 
 various Denominations of Critics, Wits, and Philofo- 
 phers. Thefe he foon difperfed or demolimed with 
 
 great 
 
 * See Smith's Verfes on Dr. Pocock, in the MuJ<e Anglican*.
 
 [59 
 
 great Addrefs, as well as Force. And altho' the At- 
 tack was again furioufly renewed by the Partizans for 
 the Ancients, under Monf. Boileau in France, I think 
 he has long fince been quietly in Poflfeflion of the third * 
 Place in the College of Poets. 
 
 Here again, as by the Force of Invention, which 
 {hone in him in the higheft Degree, he ftruck out a. 
 new Paftoral Poem, fo he freed the Epic from the Load 
 of Mythological Trumpery founded on the Pagan Re- 
 ligion, which, confequently, when that was abolifhed, 
 muft be cold and unaffecting. Inftead of it, he intro- 
 duced a Machinery fuitable to the Chriftian Syftem, or 
 at leaft, to the Superftition that Authority grown blind 
 with Age, or credulous Tradition, had mix'd intimate- 
 ly with it. This delivered the Work down much eafier 
 
 to 
 * See Dryden's Dedication of the
 
 1 6 ] I 
 
 to Milton $ Hands ; who was not at all afhamed of his 
 Obligations to him, as is evident from almoft all his 
 Poems, as well as from the 4th Book of the Jerufalem 
 Freed of Taffo, in which Satan convenes the wicked 
 Spirits in Council, harangues and employs them, in a 
 Manner that gave a natural Rife to the Pand&momum ; 
 tho' it muft be own'd, our Countryman's fmifhed 
 Piece infinitely furpafles the flight Ebauche of the 
 Italian. 
 
 He chofe to write in Stanzas, as Dante and Ari- 
 ofto had done, which an Englifh Tranflator muft wifh 
 he had not done. Mr. Dryden^ and before him Mr. 
 Cowley y two very experienced Judges, have declared 
 the Stanza to be very improper for any Grande Opus 
 in our Language ; and from Taffb's rejecting it in fome 
 of his later Pieces, when his Judgment was more ma- 
 ture,
 
 6r 
 
 ture, one might be inclined to think he grew weary of 
 it even in his. For this feems to carry with it an 
 Oftentation of too much Art, to ferve many Purpofes 
 in the Epopee, which require the greateft Simplicity ; 
 as blank Verfe according to the French Critics (who 
 call it Poefie en Profe) fhews, they think, too little; 
 being, fay they, a middle Way, or mix'd Movement 
 between Walking and Dancing. Plain Meat may be 
 the moft wholefome Fare ; but whoever profefles to 
 give an Entertainment to the niceft Taftes about 
 Town (as he that writes in Verfe certainly does if he 
 means any thing) if he fliould treat with nothing elfe, 
 wou'd acquit himfelf as ill, as he that fhould ferve up 
 only Surprizes and Kick/haws^ Horsd'ceuvres and 
 Sweetmeats. 
 
 He muft very fuperficially have confider'd the 
 
 K Struclure
 
 [6a] ; 
 
 Stru&ure and Genius of the Englijh Language, that 
 fhou'd be hardy enough to vye in Rhymes with an 
 Italian Matter ; all whofe Words, except the Particles 
 in y non, and a few more, perpetually end in a Vowel ; 
 of which there can be but five ; whilft ours indiffe- 
 rently terminate in all the Letters of the Alphabet. 
 In theirs again, all the refpective Perfons in every Tenfe 
 of the fame Conjugation, rhyme exactly to each other. 
 But with us, whoever tries for Inftance in the Verbs 
 fing and bring , will find the PreterperfecT: to be quite 
 unlike, as fung and brought. In the Participles of the 
 Preter Tenfe, fo much us'd in all modern Languages 
 by Means of the Auxiliary Verbs, the Difference is ftill 
 greater. This fhould deter a Man from attempting to 
 contend with a celebrated Writer in a Recurrence of 
 Rhymes, as Fairfax has done, unlefs he wou'd be con- 
 tent
 
 63 
 
 tent to diftort Words, and break the Limbs of Senten- 
 ces, as he did. And yet unlefs the Reader will be fo 
 candid as to take this with him, he will be apt to con- 
 demn a Translation for being unlike the Original ; when 
 in Truth the Difference may lie in the Meafures, the 
 Idus in Reading, and in the Manner, more than in 
 the Senfe. To give the Idea of the Author, is all we 
 have to do ; and, as Mr. Dry den and Mr. Pope have 
 faid, to make him {peak as we conceive he would were 
 he to exprefs himfelf in our Language. Thus the fame 
 Air may be preferv'd, tho' play'd upon Inftruments of 
 a very different Tone and Compafs. And whoever 
 does not know how to preferve the Image, and yet to 
 difcharge the Idiom, or to retain it with Judgment, will 
 never attain to that free Stroke which conftitutes the 
 Graceful in writing. How this has been done by four 
 
 K 2 of
 
 E 6 4 1 
 
 of the greateft Poets fince Homer, in the favourite 
 Simile of the plaintive Nightingale, it may not be dif- 
 agreeable to fee exhibited at one View, in Translations 
 as well as Imitations. 
 
 Iv srtlxXouri 
 
 oAo(pu^ojuvi ''IruAov (p/Aou. Homer Odyff. xlx, 520. 
 
 As when the Months are clad in flow'ry Green, 
 Sad Philomel in bow'ry Shades unfeen ; 
 To vernal Aires afTumes her varied Strains, 
 And Itylus founds warbling o'er the Plains : 
 Young Itylus his Parent's darling Joy 
 Whom chance milled the Mother to deftroy, 
 
 Nowdoom'd a wakefulBird, to wail the beauteous Boy.. 
 
 POPE. 
 
 Qualis
 
 Qualis populea mcerens Philomela fub umbra 
 Amiflbs queritur foetus quos durus Arator 
 Obfervans nido implumes detraxit, at ilia 
 Flet nocftem ramoq; fedens miferabile carmen 
 Integrat, 8c moeftis late loca queftibus implet. 
 
 VIRGIL. 
 
 So clofe in Poplar Shades, her Children gone, 
 The Mother Nightingale laments alone ; 
 Whofe Neft fome prying Churl had found, and thence 
 By Stealth, convey'd th' unfeather'd * Innocence : 
 With one continu'd -f Tenor ftill complains, 
 Which fills the Foreft and the neighb'ring Plains. 
 
 DRYDEN, 
 
 * The Word Innocence conveys no Idea at all. Is a young Bird 
 more innocent than an old one ? 
 
 t Continued Tenor is the Reverfe of Integra:. 
 
 Come
 
 Come Ufignuol, cuil villan duro invole 
 Dal nido ; Figli no pennuti ancora 
 Che in miferabil canto afflitte e Sole 
 Piange le notti, e n'empie i bofchi e 1' ora 
 Al fin co'l novo Di rinchiude alquanto 
 
 I Lumi ; e'l Sonno in Cor ferpe fra'l pianto. 
 
 TASSO. 
 
 So the fweet Nightingale, whofe unfledg'd Young 
 Some Churl unpitying ftole, renews her Song : 
 Childlefs the live-long Night fhe mourns alone, 
 The Groves and echoing Shore repeat her Moan. 
 At length weigh'd weary' d down at op'ning Day, 
 
 Plaintive fhe flumbers on the thorny Spray. 
 
 L G. 
 
 Here the Subject of the Comparifon is the fame, 
 yet whoever fteps from one Language to another, will 
 find a Difference 'tis true, but it lies chiefly in the 
 
 Idiom
 
 [6 7 ] 
 
 Idiom and the Manner which is perfbnal, and cou'd 
 not be common to all the Four great Wits. What 
 the Neapolitan finds excellent in the Mantuan^ I think 
 he leaves fuper-excellent. And every Epifode, with 
 which he abounds more than any of the Poets, when 
 it has Juftice done it, is a fufficient Refutation of that 
 Appellation which Lord Rofcommon would fix upon 
 Taj/by of being a Tinfel Poet. But it is no uncommon 
 Thing from a thin cold Writer to draw a Pidlure from 
 his own Looking-Glafs. 
 
 Thus have I follow'd our Author from his Orient 
 Brightnefs, thro' a four, tempeftuous Morning, up to 
 his ferene Meridian. Here we find him receiving Com- 
 pliments from the Triple Crown, invited by Emperors 
 and Kings, and entertain'd by a Sovereign Prince, who 
 thought himfelf honour'd by his Company. Nothing 
 
 was
 
 [68 ] 
 
 was wanting to make his Happinefs compleat but a 
 Miftrcfs ; which is held as neceflary for a Poet as a 
 Knight Errand.. Fortune allotted him the Princefs 
 Leonora, Sifter to the Duke ; whether fhe intended it 
 for a Favour will admit of fome Difpute. So rich a 
 Prefent feems quite unnecerTary ; for a Poet might have 
 taken a Lady of lower Quality, and have made her at 
 leaft a Princefs in the firft Pindaric Ode. Leonora was 
 the moft compleat Lady of that polite Age. She had a 
 Tafte for Wit, and he was not infenfible of Beauty. 
 This mutual Admiration for the moft brilliant Accom- 
 plifhments, grew infenfibly into a ftronger Paflion. 
 What Share mere human Nature had in this Affair, 
 under the Favour of frequent Opportunities, wou'd at 
 this Diftance puzzle an Ecclefiaftical Court to determine. 
 The Marquis Manji, who is fo jealous of the Honour 
 
 of
 
 69 
 
 of his Friend, that he will not fuffer the leaft Imputa- 
 tion to be caft upon it ; (and which he defends not only 
 from the Simplicity, but even Sandity of his Manners,) 
 will allow it to be nothing more than what Ta/o 
 himfelf fays of it, 
 
 E bafta ben, ch'i fereni Occhi e'l Rifo 
 M' infiammin di piacer celefte e fanto. 
 But Monf. Mirabaudy who like a true Frenchman^ 
 loves an Intrigue, or at leaft to talk of one, will by 
 no Means permit this Matter to fteal off fo ; Wit and 
 Beauty, he thought, were made for each other, and 
 both are thrown away upon thofe that are infenfible of 
 their Charms ; if fo, the moft delicate Perception of 
 their Merit will be apt to appear to be the moft juft 
 Recommendation. This Title a Poet cou'd eafily 
 make out for his Heroe, how much more clear is it 
 
 L whe:i
 
 [70 
 
 when the Poet is himfelf the Heroe ? Jkiides the Qua- 
 lifications for this mutual Admiration were very juftly 
 difpos'd ; fhe had Beauty in the firft Degree, and Wit 
 in the fecond ; he Wit in the firft, and Beauty in the 
 fecond. Thefe are Circumftances, that under proper 
 Difpofitions of the Planets, in the Families, of Princes 
 in certain Epochas, ferve to furnifh Matter fometimes 
 for a War, and fometimes for a Lampoon. As to his 
 Perfon, Tajfo was (fays Cafoni in his Life of him) di 
 altaftatura^ di nobik prefenza. He had Eyes cerulei 
 e vivaci h carni biauche^ le membra tutte con debita 
 fimmetria proportionate ; his Air intelligent and grace- 
 ful, which recommended and made him eafily a Fa- 
 vourite with every one, except (according to the Ita- 
 lian Concetto) with Fortune. Whatfoever Grounds 
 then there was for Cenfure, there was more than 
 
 enough
 
 . - [ 7' ] - 
 
 enough for Sufpicion : And Scandal is of fo dudile a 
 Nature, that a little of it will fet a whole Court a 
 Whifpering. Taffo^ who was enraged for the Lady's 
 Sake, at what had tranfpired, fix'd it upon a Confi- 
 dent of his, whom in his Fury he ftruck, not far from 
 the Prince's Perfon. This was no very likely Method 
 to fupprefs the Infinuations. A Challenge immediately 
 enfued. He was very pun&ually at a fecret Place ac- 
 cording to Appointment ; where expecting his Adver- 
 fary alone, he was furpriz'd at the Sight of three more, 
 who all like Aflaffins fell upon him. He receiv'd 
 their Charge with great Firmnefs, and by his Agility 
 in traverfing the Ground, Skill at his Weapon, and 
 uncommon Strength of Limbs, he foon broke their 
 Line, and when he got at each feparately, he fo gall'd 
 * them with Wounds, that in a Manner worthy their 
 
 L 2 Intention,
 
 Intention, the Villains left a fingle Gentleman in Pof- 
 feffion of the Field. 
 
 The Duke, who knew, enough of this Affair, per- 
 haps too much, receiv'd him in Tranfport, both for 
 his Safety and the Fame of his Gallantry. He made 
 Ufe of a Fineffe that cou'd hardly efcape an Italian 
 Politician, which was to pretend to have fo great a 
 Regard for his Perfon, that to defend him from any 
 unfair Play for the future, he favour'd him with a. 
 {Irict Confinement, which by proper Degrees ended in 
 an abfolute Imprifonment. 
 
 The Princefs Leonoras Cafe in this Conjuncture was 
 highly to be pity'd. 'Twere barbarous not to employ 
 her Intereft in his Favour ; and to find him always 
 us'd the worfe for it, was a wretched Dilemma to 
 which unfortunate Lovers are often reduc'd. But I 
 
 leave
 
 [73 ]-.. ; 
 
 leave her Complaints, Soliloquies and Menaces, to be 
 defcrib'd in a pathetic Poem by that Poet, who (hall 
 in the manner of Ovid, or his Equal Antonio Brum, 
 write an Eptftola Eroicha from Leonora to Taffo. 
 
 Taffo had from a Child a Spice of Madnefs in his 
 Conftitution ; as thofe of exceflive, or as they have 
 been call'd of immoderate Parts, ufually have. And 
 if we will believe Ariftotle in his Problems, a Saying 
 of Democritus, and Plato in his Ph<zdrus> they can 
 fcarce fail of having : Which may phyfically be ac- 
 counted for thus ; that the Animal Spirits, be they 
 whai: they will, either the moft refined and ethereal 
 Part of the Blood, or purely immaterial, being hurry'd 
 up, if Matter, in undue Quantities, if Spirit, in undue 
 Actions, for the Service of the Imagination, and not 
 properly wafted, in the Ufe of the Fenfes, as in Men 
 
 of
 
 . .. : , c 74 
 
 of lefs violent Thought, caufe an unnatural Tenfion 
 of the membraneous Partis of the Brain. In this Opi* 
 nion one is confirmed by Experience, as the Cure is 
 folely performed by Relaxation. 
 
 But to return; the Lofs of the Duke's Favour, a 
 gloomy Apartment in the Prigione difanta Anna, and 
 a tedious Solitude coinciding with his Temperament^ 
 got the better of that Underftanding, which had been 
 the Admiration of Mankind, and reduc'd it to a de- 
 plorable State of Ruin. A moft affliding Object, 
 when it befalls the truly Great ! And what made his 
 Cafe if poffible the worfe was, that when he was 
 throughly rowz'd, he had the Ufe of his Underftanding 
 in all its Strength ; as many of the Critics againft 
 him felt to their Coft, and as appears by feveral of 
 his Letters, during the Intervals to Cardinal Gonzaga 
 
 and
 
 . [ 75 ] . - 
 
 and the Duke tfUrbino. , So that he fuffer'd the only 
 Addition that cou'd be made to his Mifery, in a ftrong, 
 lively Perception of it. Which is a Privilege, if we will 
 believe * Mr. Prior ', referv'd for thofe of the fineft Parts, 
 
 What avails it to be wife, 
 To view this cruel Scene with quicker Eyes, 
 To know with more Diftin&ion to complain 
 And have fuperior Senfe in feeling Pain ? 
 
 At length the Duke, rather weary than fatisfy'd, in 
 perfccuting him, conniv'd at his efcaping out of Pri- 
 fon. But alas ! the Liberty he fo much long'd for, 
 added nothing to his Happinefs. He wandred up and 
 down a melancholy Fugitive, meeting juft as many 
 Friends as thofe that want them will be fure to find. 
 Till at length his' truly noble Patron Cardinal Aide- 
 inO) who knew his Merit as well as the unde- 
 
 ferved 
 
 * Vide Prior'j Solomon.
 
 . 76] ' \ 
 
 ferved Severity of his Fortune, found him out, and 
 effe&ually recommended him to that great Encourager 
 of learned Men, his Uncle, Clement VII. The Pope 
 carefs'd him with all the Tendernefs that his hard Fate 
 requir'd, and refolv'd he (hould have the Honour of 
 the Poetic Laurel, and be crown' d in Form in tht* 
 Capitol. 
 
 So that at length he feems arriv'd at the Acme of 
 human Glory, if we will believe Cardinal 'Pallavicini ; 
 who fays of a great Prelate, that in his Youth he was 
 admired by the Court of Rome^ whofe Glory it is not 
 to admire even what is marvellous. La Corta di Roma 
 la quale fi gloria de non ammirare eziandio T ammi- 
 rabile. 
 
 Now Precedents were fearch'd, that the Proceffion 
 x might every way be perform'd more majorum. Antique 
 
 Can*
 
 *77 
 
 Cars were built , triumphal Arches ereded , and 
 adorned with Trophies and Feftoons expreflive of the 
 Occafion. The whole College of Cardinals were to re- 
 ceive him in their richeft Habits, and to prefent him to 
 the Roman Senate, whofe Trappings were as magni- 
 ficent, and Beards as venerable, as when they were 
 truly great by their Liberty and Virtue. The tedious 
 Fatigue of fo pompous a Ceremony, was more than he 
 had Constitution enough left to bear. At one Time a 
 fevere Regimen, at another improper Exercife, in Com- 
 bination with corrofive Reflections on his own hard 
 Fate, and on what 1>ort of Creatures Fortune pours 
 down her Favours, had reduced him to fo emaciated 
 a Habit of Body, that it was thought highly proper to 
 defer the Proceflion till he fhould be better able to un- 
 
 * M dergo
 
 [ 78 ] 
 
 dergo it. To recruit his Strength, he was lodged in 
 the Convent of St. Onuphrio, where he was attended 
 with all Care and Refpedl : But his Weaknefs increas'd 
 fo faft f that it was evident to all about him, that, ac- 
 cording to his own delicate Expreffion, it would never 
 be his Fate to be crown'd 
 Di caduchi allori, 
 Ma fu nel Cielo infra i Beati Cori 
 Di Stelle immortali aurea Corona. 
 Cardinal Cynthio behaved on this, as on all other 
 Occasions, in a Manner worthy of his true Nobility ; 
 which, whatever certain Heirs apparent, of great Hopes, 
 or rather of great Expectations, may imagine, does not 
 confift in Pride and Titles. He fcorned to deceive a 
 Friend, any otherwife than by doubling his Kindnefs as 
 
 the
 
 [79 ] 
 
 the Cafe required. He attended him through his Sick- 
 nefs, and adminifter'd affiduoufly all the Comforts of 
 Religion, which is the greateft Ad of Friendfhip that 
 Man can fhew to a Fellow Creature. Nor did fuch 
 Generosity lofe its Reward : For one may venture to 
 fay, that he is more known, and more efteemed for 
 being Taffb's Friend, than for his high Honours and 
 illuftrious Blood, which might well contend with the 
 firft in Europe. 
 
 As he faw Death advancing with larger Steps, 
 he wafted not the little Time that remained in any 
 affe&ed philofophical Difquifitions, of Points that muft 
 for ever be doubtful, or are fufficiently eftablifhed, but 
 in explaining the fublime Truths of Religion, and de- 
 ducing from them Arguments for Humility and Refig- 
 
 nation, 

 
 [80] ; ;v . 
 
 nation, which he did in fo mafterly and pathetic a 
 Manner, as to draw Tears from all that heard him. 
 He had fo entirely diverted himfelf of all Pride and 
 Vanity, that when they confulted him about his Monu- 
 ment, he anfwered that a rough Stone would be fuffi- 
 cient. And that Defire of Fame, which bears up he- 
 roic Spirits with an enthufiaftic Energy, through all 
 Dangers and Labours, was fo thoroughly corre&ed 
 and mortified; that as Virgil had done for his 
 ^Eneis, he earneftly entreated, as far as was poffible, 
 that his Works might be fupprefled, or at leaft con- 
 demned to the Flames. 
 
 Thus in the fifty- firft Year of his Age, when Parts 
 and Judgment are ufually in the Height of Perfec- 
 tion, died Torquato TaJ/o ; a Man diftinguifhed by 
 
 natural
 
 natural Abilities, by Learning, Virtues, and Misfor- 
 tunes, above the Sons of Men. In his Account of 
 himfelf, he divides his own Life into the Years of his 
 Banifhment, his Imprifonment, and his Infanity. An 
 Example to teach all profperous Villains, that there 
 
 muft be a Time 
 
 Si quid 
 
 Ufquam Juftitia eft & Mem Jibi confcia refli. 
 
 In which the Inequalities in their and his For- 
 tune muft be fet right. The following Epitaph is 
 infer ibed in the Church of St. Onuphrio in Rome^ 
 on a magnificent Sepulchre erected to his Memory 
 by Cardinal Eevilaqua, 
 
 D. o M:
 
 D. 0. M. 
 TORUJJATI 7 AS SI 
 
 Offa hie Jacent. 
 
 Hoc ne nefcius effet Hofpes 
 
 Fratres hujus Ecclefete 
 
 Pofuerunt. 
 Anno M. D. XCV.
 
 [77] 
 
 The ARGUMENT of the fifteenth Book of 
 Torquato To/fits JERUSALEM DELIVERED. 
 
 \\ 7 HEN the two noble Youths, Ubaldo and Carlo, 
 had refolvd to follow the Directions of their 
 fage InftruElor^ they found a miraculous little Veffel 
 ready to receive them : T^hey boldly enter it ; and fail- 
 ing by the Coaft of Egypt, fee the prodigious Fleet and 
 Army of the Sultan. Their Voyage is defcribed^ and 
 how they defended themf elves again/I the furious Efforts 
 
 of wild Beafts, and the more dangerous Attacks of en- 
 
 * 
 
 ticing Beauty. 
 
 M LIB.
 
 - [7*] ; - - 
 
 ,,. L I B. XV. ^ : ; :: T. 
 
 had Aurora^ with her rofy Smiles, 
 Wak'd the dull Rare of Mortals to their Toils ; 
 When to the Youths the Reverend Father brought 
 The Shield, the Wand, and Map divinely wrought. 
 With thefe, he cry'd, the grand Emprize purfue, 
 E'er yet the mounting Sun fweeps off the Dew. 
 Thefe -are my -promis'd Gifts, and thefe your Arms, 
 To ipoil th' Inchantrefs, and unbind her Charms. 
 
 Their Mail complete the Warriors fnatch'd in Hafle, 
 And fbbn their finewy Limbs in Steel were cas'd. 
 Oft looking back, the careful Ouardian fhew'd 
 Thro' the thick Wood the gloomy winding Road. 
 Still the fame Path-way, now a beaten Track, 
 By which they came, th' Adventurers meafur'd back \ 
 
 Till
 
 . [ 79 ] 
 
 Till at a Flood arriv'd, Farewel, he cry'd, 
 
 Now profp'rous Gales, and Fortune be your Guide. 
 
 This faid, the Flood their plunging Weight receiv'd, 
 Then fwelling bore them on its Waves upheav'd : 
 As o'er a Stream the Leaves in Tempefts torne, 
 Firft fink, then rife up, down the Current borne ; 
 Thus floating were they wafted o'er the Brook. 
 From the green Bank they caft a wiftful Look ; 
 When lo ! full ftretch'd, a Veflel they difcern, 
 With a fair Virgin Pilot at the Stern. 
 Her ruing Brow depending Ringlets grace, 
 And Airs celeftial bloom upon her Face : 
 Around her Head a living Glory plays, 
 Such as Immortals flied, a heav'nly Blaze ! 
 Her Robe now flames with warm Vermilion bright ; 
 And now refle&s a cooler Azure Light. 
 
 M 2 Still
 
 Still as flie turns her in the folar Beams, 
 
 Some beauteous momentary Luftre gleams. 
 
 Thus where you fee th' impurpl'd Plumage deck 
 
 The billing Pidgeon's variegated Neck, 
 
 The glofly Down reflects a trembling Hue, 
 
 Shifting its Place for ever gay and new : 
 
 A ruby Collar now the Lover wears, 
 
 Now in an Em'rald's vivid Green appears ; 
 
 Now both are mix'd ; both loft ; frefh Beauties rife, 
 
 At once to charm and cheat the Gazer's Eyes. 
 
 Belov'd of Heav'n, ftie cry'd, this Bark afcend : 
 At my Command the lift'ning Gales attend ; 
 Where'er this wond'rous Veflel fkims the Seas, 
 Down fink the Waves, the howling Tempefts ceafe. 
 I come difpatch'd from Heav'n's all-gracious Pow'r, 
 Your Guide, your Friend in this aufpicious Hour. 
 
 This
 
 This faid, her fteady Boat {he drove to Land : 
 The crooked Keel bites deep the yielding Sand. 
 
 Soon as the Boat the noble Pair receives, 
 The Land me from the biting Keel relieves ; 
 Then ftretch'd the Canvas to the ready Wind, 
 And guides it bellying from the Poop behind. 
 The fwelling Stream it's ancient Bounds o'erflow'd, 
 Equal to bear a crowded Navy's Load ; 
 Tho' at its loweft Ebb, the wat'ry Height 
 Might well bear off the Frigate and her Freight. 
 
 Swift fhoots the Pinnace coafling down the Wind ; 
 The Billows foam before, and hifs behind. 
 
 At length the Chanel's op'ning Mouth they reach, 
 Where the rude Ocean beats the founding Beach ; 
 Here loft the River's fwelling Honours feem, 
 Slow flide the Waves, and funk the flatt'ning Stream. 
 
 Soon
 
 Soon as the hallow'd Veffel touched the Tide, 
 Hufh'd down at once the angry Waves fubfide. 
 No lowering Cloud the Face of Heav'n deforms, 
 No whiffling Wind the Harbinger of Storms ; 
 But balmy Gales the wrinkled Surface fweep, 
 And chearful Skies fmile once more in the Deep. 
 By Jlfcalon they fteer'd ; then winding crofs'd 
 The level Deep down to the Weftern Coaft. 
 With fteady Speed they firft to Gaza came, 
 Gaza, a Harbour once unknown to Fame ; 
 But now, from mighty Cities ruin'd, great, 
 On her wide Plains embattled Nations meet. 
 Dreadful Affembly ! num'rous as the Sand, 
 The thick Battalions blacken all the Strand. 
 With hafty Look the Paflengers explore 
 The hoftile Armaments and tented Shore. 
 
 They
 
 [ 83 ] 
 
 They faw the Horfe, and Swarms of Foot, maintain 
 A Commerce from the City to the Main. 
 Enormous Camels toil beneath their Load, 
 And caftl'd Elephants prefs deep the Road. 
 Within the Port they faw the Navy ride, 
 Or floating loofe, or by their Haulfers ty*d. 
 Some hoift the Sails, fome ply their Oars, and fweep 
 With wide extended Arms the powder 'd Deep : 
 The wat'ry Plain yields to th' infill ting Prow, 
 And broken Billows fmoke and foam below. 
 
 Now mark, the Pilot cry'd, ye noble Friends, 
 Mark ! how the horrid Front of War extends. 
 Along the winding Shore this dreadful Length 
 Difplays not half th' Egyptian Tyrant's Strength : 
 Thefe are his fwarthy home- collected Bands, 
 Drawn from the flimy Nile, or Lybian Sands : 
 
 But
 
 [84] 
 
 But know the Sultan boafts his barb'rous Sway 
 From Regions gilded with the op'ning Day, 
 Up to the Noon-tide Arch that parts the Skies, 
 And from each diftant Realm exacts Supplies. 
 
 Oh ! till we meafure back thefe Seas again, 
 Here may th' unwieldy Multitude remain ; 
 Still want a King, or warlike Chief, to lead 
 To Sioris Walls the Croud without a Head. 
 
 T hus flie ; and as an Eagle bent to find 
 His Way thro' Nations of the feather'd Kind, 
 Now thefe he leaves, now thofe, fecure of Flight, 
 And tow'rs up lefs'ning in the Streams of Light ; 
 So thro' the Fleet the Skiff evafive flies, 
 And all their Force, and all their Speed defies. 
 Wond'ring they faw the baffled Navy croft, 
 And ey'd her down the wide Cerulean loft, 
 
 la
 
 [ 85 1 
 
 In Sight of Syrian Raphia foon they fail ; 
 Thee, Raphia, firft Egyptian Pilots hail, 
 On Syria $ Coaft ; then Rhinocera paft, 
 Where the flat Shore expos'd a fandy Wafte : 
 Not fo the neighboring Hill, with Forefts crown'd, 
 Cafts o'er the Sea a trembling Shade around, 
 Whilft at his Foot repuls'd the Billows rave, 
 Where Pompeys Trunk obtain'd, at length, a Grave. 
 
 To Damiat* now they came ; and faw the Nile^ 
 By feven wide Mouths, thro' Egypt's fatten'd Soil, 
 And by a hundred lefs confpicuous Ways, 
 Enriching with celeftial Floods the Seas. 
 To Alexandria next, whofe Name beipeaks 
 Its godlike Founder for his trading Greeks. 
 Beyond it Pharo lies, an Ifle no more, 
 Now a firm Nook projecting from the Shore. 
 
 N Short
 
 [86 j y . 
 
 Short to the Weft from Crete and Rhodes they veer 
 Their Northern Courfe, and full for Afric fteer ; 
 For Afric 's Shores difplay a beauteous Scene, 
 Tho' her parch'd Sands with Monfters teem within. 
 They left Marmarique and Gyrene^ crown' d 
 With five fair Cities thro' the World renown'd. 
 Then Ptolemais, and the fabled Wood, 
 Whence fluggifli Lethe flows, oblivious Flood ! 
 
 Far from the greater Syrtes boiling Sand 
 Aloof they fteer'd, and bearing tow'rd the Land, 
 Doubling Jitdecds Cape, fecure they flew 
 From Eddies fatal to the failing Crew. 
 Here lofty Tripoly her Turrets rear'd ; 
 There Malta fquat fcarce o'er the Waves appear'd. 
 From other Quickfands now again they fled, 
 And the fam'd Race by flow'ry Lotos fed. 
 
 Near
 
 [ 87] 
 
 Near this embofom'd deep within a Bay, 
 Edg'd round with rocky Mountains, Tunis lay 
 Superb and opulent ! On all her Coafts 
 Lybia than this no fairer City boafts. 
 Oppos'd to her, on the Sicilian Side, 
 Great Lillibeum {hews her tow'ry Pride. 
 
 The fair hair'd Pilot pointing o'er the Flood, 
 Defcrib'd the fpacious Round where Carthage flood. 
 Imperial Carthage ! fad inftru&ive Scene, 
 Now lies with Thorns o'er-run, and Weeds obfcene. 
 Thus all by Mortals little Pride calPd great, 
 Cities and mould' ring Empires yield to Fate ; 
 And fhall vain Man, calamitous by Birth, 
 Form diftant Hopes ? frail, fhort-liv'd Son of Earth I 
 From hence they fkim along Byfertus" 1 Strand, 
 And left Sardinia on their better Hand. 
 
 N 2 Next
 
 Next they arriv'd where the Numidian Swain 
 Tends his vague Flock unhous'd upon the Plain. 
 Eugia they left ; and now Algiers ; a bloody Neft 
 Of murd'rous Pyrates here the Seas infeft : 
 Here lies Oran ; there Tingitanas Shore, 
 Where Elephants and hungry Lyons roar. 
 Morocco next, and Fefs their Empire boaft, 
 Confronting proud Granada on her Coaft. 
 
 Now were they fafe where ancient Poets feign 
 The vaft Herculean Work bars out the Main : 
 And what forbids that one continued Beach, 
 Unbroken, fhou'd to Spain from Lybia reach ? 
 Where burfting thro' the boift'rous Ocean laves 
 Abila here, there Calpe, with its Waves 
 Once ftri&ly join'd. Thus old Tradition fings - y 
 Thus eating Time deftroys the Face of Things. 
 
 Four
 
 . [89 ] 
 
 Four times the Eaft glow'd with the rifing Sun, 
 Since firft the Crew their profp'rous Voy'ge begun : 
 No hospitable Port, or fhelt'ring Bay, 
 They fought, but urg'd, well ftor'd, their rapid Way ; 
 Till from that Streight's contra&ed PafTage free, 
 Braving the Gulph, they fhot into the Sea. 
 But what are Seas, nam'd with the fliorelefs Main, 
 Whofe circling Arms the floating Earth contain ? 
 
 Now Gades behind her rocky Coaft withdrew, 
 And now the Coaft funk as the Veflel flew ; 
 Till all was undiftinguifh'd Sea around, 
 A glirVning Plain by Heav'ns blue Confines bound ; 
 When to the Guide Ubaldo faid, E'er this 
 Did ever Mortals tempt the vaft Abyfs ? 
 And fay, fair Pilot, if the boundlefs Deep 
 Does unknown Regions in her JBofom keep ? 
 
 When
 
 " [90] ' 
 
 When great Alcides had from Monfters freed 
 Afrk and Spam, quoth ihe, a god-like Deed ! 
 He ceas'd not recreant in inglorious Eafe, 
 But fcour'd the Nations to thefe untry'd Seas ; 
 Then fix'd his Monument on either Side, 
 Yon Pillars, to confine Man's roving Pride. 
 Ulyffes with his Crew firft dar'd defpife 
 Thofe Bounds ; exchanging happy to be wife. 
 Swift thro' the Rocks their reeling Bark they guide, 
 And all their Art, and all their Force they try'd. 
 Vain was their Art, and all their Force was vain : 
 Inteftine Feuds boil'd up the tumbling Main ; 
 Old Ocean *oar'd ; a Chafm receiv'd the Dead, 
 And the mad Waves clos'd dafhing o'er their Head ; 
 No Wretch returned their Folly to relate, 
 Who premature difturb'd the Scheme of Fate. 
 
 Hence
 
 Hence yet a Thoufand Realms remain unknown, 
 With each a native Monarch on its Throne, 
 Whofe Names are hid in Night. Nor proves the Soil 
 Ungrateful to the greedy Ploughman's Toil : 
 But loaded Ears, and Air-perfuming Flow'rs, 
 Commend their Weftern Sun, and genial Show'rs. 
 
 But firft their Manners, fays the Youth, declare, 
 And to what Pow'r they fuppliant kneel in Pray'r. 
 
 Who can their Manners, and their Rites defcribe, 
 Whofe Rites and Manners vary with each Tribe ? 
 Some to mute Beafts unclean addrefs their Pray'rs, 
 To Earth, the Sun, and Heaven's unconfcious Stars : 
 Others, quoth fhe, indulge in human Food, 
 Horrid Repaft ! and quaff a Brother's Blood. 
 And all from Calpe to the fetting Sun, 
 Are wicked Rites in falfe Religion done. 
 
 But
 
 1 ; 
 
 But will that pitying God, the Youth rejoin'd, 
 Who came with heav'nly Truths to blefs Mankind, 
 Leave far excluded from celeftial Light 
 Unnumber'd Nations doom'd to endlefs Night ? 
 
 Oh ! no ; here Arts jQiall in their Turn fucceed, 
 She faid, and Science lift her laurel'd Head. 
 Learning fhall in the Weft her Empire fix, 
 And both the Worlds in eafy Commerce mix. 
 The Time fhall come when Mariners unborn 
 Shall name Alcides and his Streights in Scorn, 
 Defpife each Tale, but what frefh Tidings brings 
 Of new-found Provinces, and barb'rous Kings. 
 No more the tim'rous Crew fhall fteer the Coaft, 
 And eye the Land-mark trembling to be loft, 
 But thro' the Ocean boundlefs Courfes run, 
 Girt the vaft Globe, and emulate the Sun. 
 
 I
 
 [93] 
 
 I fee ! I fee ! from Genoa fliall arife 
 
 The bold Adventurer on the grand Emprize. 
 
 Not the foul Tempeft, when he loudeft raves, 
 
 Nor mur'drous Coafts, or all the War of Waves ; 
 
 Not all the Perils that unheard of, fleep 
 
 Sullen within the yet unpra&is'd Deep, 
 
 Shall check the Ardor of his daring Mind, 
 
 Or hold him in the World's old Bounds confined : 
 
 But great Columbus to the nether Pole, 
 
 O'er Worlds of Waters {hall undaunted roll ; 
 
 Whilfl Fame herfelf with all her thoufand Eyes, 
 
 And thoufand Wings, fcarce kens him as he flies. 
 
 Why, let. her (ing her lov'd Akidei Praife, 
 
 Or with Lycean Bacchus crown her Lays. 
 
 Yet this fhort Sketch from my prophetic Tongue, 
 
 Imperfed Sketch ! thefe unplough'd Waves among, 
 
 O Shall
 
 [94] 
 
 Shall fill fome grave Hiftorian's faithful Page, 
 And warm fome nervous Poet's facred Rage. 
 She fpoke ; and looting to a brifker Wind 
 The Sheet from Weft, fouth weft ward they inclin'd. 
 Here whilft the ruddy Orb funk in the Weft, 
 At the fame Time the Morn beftreak'd the Eaft : 
 But when the fmiling Daughter of the Dawn 
 Had gilded o'er the Dew-befpangled Lawn ; 
 Far off a Hill confusedly they defcry'd, 
 Whofe cloud-capt Brow thick heavy Vapours hide. 
 But as they nearer to the Mountain drew, 
 The broken Profpecl open'd to their View ; 
 Foul curling Smoke in Volumes rolTd above : 
 As where Encdadus lies fix'd by jf0ve ; 
 So here by Turns from the Volcano 's Height, 
 Smoke burfts by Day, and Flames blaze out by Night. 
 
 Cluft'ring
 
 [95 ] 
 
 Cluft'ring around here other Iflands lay, 
 Which feem'd like rifmg Moles to ftudd the Sea. 
 Thefe were the blifsful Ifles of ancient Date, 
 StiFd in defcriptive Song, The Fortunate. 
 
 Propitious Heav'ns here lavifh Gifts beftow : 
 On the green Lawns the Flow'rs unbidden grow ; 
 Luxuriant Soils fpontaneous Fruits produce, 
 And unprun'd Vines fupply the generous Juice ; 
 Olives with undhious Show'rs bedrop the Ground, 
 And ne&ar'd Cells in hollow Oaks abound : 
 The cryftal Streams in foft defcending Rills, 
 And murm'ring Falls, refrefli the verdant Hills ; 
 On downy Wings eternal Zephyrs move ; 
 No fpiteful Blaft aflaults the fpicy Grove. 
 Thefe are Elyfian Fields, where. Poets fing, 
 The happy Ghofts enjoy unfading Spring. 
 
 O2 To
 
 [96 .. 
 
 To thefe the Pilot fteer'd, and thus begun : 
 Hail happy Youths ! whofe Toils their Courfe have run, 
 Thefe are the Ifles of Fortune far renown'd 
 In Fame ; but Fame is an uncertain Sound, 
 Noify and falfe, Her Wonders fhe relates, 
 And all her Wonders ftill exaggerates. 
 Thus fpoke the heav'nly Virgin mild, and then 
 Bore down, and made the foremoft of the ten. 
 
 When Carlo thus the virtuous Pow'r addrefs'd : 
 Oh ! if our arduous Tafk admits of Reft, 
 Here let us, landed on this beauteous Ifle, 
 Learn all their Cuftoms, and obferve their Soil ; 
 That we to diftant Nations may reveal 
 Their Laws, their Manners, and religious Zeal, 
 And well inform' d, to others may declare 
 Truths not unworthy of th' attentive Ear. 
 
 O
 
 [97] 
 
 O Youth; whom ev'ry nobler Thought infpires, 
 And ev'ry Aim that virtuous Bofoms fires, 
 This yet untimely Blazon muft not be : 
 Shall curious Man foreftall Heav'ns fix'd Decree ? 
 No ; many Suns muft meafure o'er the Earth, 
 E'er yet the rip'ning Secret claims a Birth. 
 Till then intruding Mortals ftrive in vain 
 To violate the facred Wonders of the Main. 
 Think, that beyond the Sailor's Art 'tis given 
 To you, unpra&is'd, by the Will of Heav'n, 
 To roufe your Champion from his fatal Sleep, 
 And fafe convey him o'er the World's great Deep. 
 Let that fuffice. Who aims too high, {hall late 
 Lament that Folly that contends with Fate. 
 
 She frowning faid ; whilft as the firft withdrew, 
 A fecond Ifland gain'd upon their View, 
 
 She
 
 J 
 
 She fhew'd how to the Eaft thefe Mauds lay 
 
 Extended, to falute the op'ning Day : 
 
 Bids them obferve how glitt'ring Waves between 
 
 In equal Spaces beautify the Scene. 
 
 In {even the Marks of human Care are found, 
 
 Till'd were the Lands, and Huts were fcatter'd round : 
 
 Unexercis'd the three remaining lay, 
 
 Stock'd with fierce Monfters, and foul Beafts of Prey. 
 
 A folitary Creek in one of thefe, 
 Hollow and wide, affords a {afe Recefs : 
 Sharp Rocks around, like circling Horns, extend 
 Their Bounds, which in a narrow Paffage end. 
 Here dafhing Billows vent their Rage in vain ; 
 Two jutting Cliffs repel the rufhing Main : 
 Thefe o'er the reft difplay their airy Height, 
 To doubtful Mariners a chearful Sight. 
 
 Serene
 
 [ 99 ] 
 
 Serene below lies ftretch'd the filent Flood, 
 Which from the Brow reflects the trembling Wood ; 
 A central Grotto, fring'd with Verdure, pours 
 A cryftal Stream in gay refracted Show'rs. 
 Here ufeleis were the Cables twifted Length ; 
 None here cou'd need the bearded Anchor's Strength. 
 'Twas thro' thefe Cliffs the Pilot fteer'd the Boat, 
 And left her, furling up the Sails, afloat. 
 
 Obferve, fays fhe, yon tall ftupendous Pile, 
 Which on the Mountain's Top o'erlooks the Ifle ; 
 Within thofe Walls your Chriftian Champion lies 
 Diflblv'd in Eafe, and foft debafing Joys : 
 Thither proceed ; take for your Guide the Sun, 
 And let your Taflc be with the Day begun. 
 Shake off the Influence of the drowfy Pow'r : 
 One, only one, is an aufpicious Hour. 
 
 Fly
 
 . t 
 
 Fly then, nor lofe the yet remaining Day, 
 Swift to the Mountain Foot purfue your Way. 
 
 She Ipoke ; their Leave they took, and with a Bound 
 From the receding Veffel reach'd the Ground ; 
 With ready Steps a flow'ry Plain they crofs'd, 
 And found their Toils in the Delufion loft : 
 Unweary'd thus they to the Mountain prefs'd, 
 Long e'er the Sun funk wid'ning to the Weft. 
 A while their deftin'd Labours they lurvey, 
 The tow'ring Summit and the rocky Way, 
 Mark'd the bleak Cliffs by which they muft afcend, 
 Saw where the Winter's frozen Regions end, 
 And where the Spring begins. Here Lillies blow, 
 There Rofes blufli upon the bordering Snow. 
 Unmixt, abrupt Extremes lie ever near ; 
 So fix'd the Seafons of the magic Year ! 
 
 The
 
 The Pair upon a mofly Carpet laid, 
 Pafs'd the cold Night beneath the Woodland Shatfe; 
 Then frefh arofe, to climb with hafty Strides, 
 Tho' fteep the Road, the dewy Mountain's Sides. 
 Now had the Sun, eternal Fount of Light, 
 Smil'd o'er the Earth in orient Beauty bright ; 
 When lo ! a hideous Serpent (ftrange to tell !) 
 Came rufling forward from fome lurking Cell. 
 His clouded Head was ftreak'd with drofly Gold ; 
 Wrath fwell'd his Neck ; his bloodfliot Eye-balls roll'd 
 Darting quick Fire. The Path lay hid beneath 
 His glofTy Breaft ; and pois'nous was his Breath. 
 Now he projects in Folds his furious Strength ; 
 Now gathers up in Rage his fcaly Length. 
 Thus menacing he rufli'd the Pafs to guard ; 
 But onward prefs'd the Knights by Heav'n prepared. 
 
 P Cork
 
 [102] ' ; 
 
 Carlo his Faulchion brandifli'd high in Air, 
 Whea, Ah ! Vbaldo cry'd, ram Youth forbear. 
 Alas ! can Force or temper' d Steel avail 
 Againft the furious Monfter and his Mail ? 
 He faid ; and as he wav'd the facred Wand, 
 The flirinking Reptile fliudder'd at a Stand : 
 Sunk were his Eyes, unmov'd his ftifPning Tongue, 
 And fcarce he trail'd, diftrefs'd, his lazy Length along. 
 
 As they advanc'd, loud-roaring from the Wood, 
 Thwarting the Road a brindled Lyon flood. 
 He curls his fhaggy Mane, collects his Paws, 
 And open thrpws a wide Expanfe of Jaws ; 
 Lafh'd- by his Stern his hollow Sides refound : 
 But when the Warriour {hook his Charm around, 
 He crouch'd ; with thrilling Horror ftruck half-dead, 
 The lordly Coward trembled as he fled.' 
 
 The
 
 The valiant Couple ftill their Way purfu'd, 
 And ftill frefli Monfters their Attacks renew'd. 
 In different Yells the ghaftly Numbers roar, 
 Deform'd and vaft ; in Shapes ne'er feen before : 
 Such as in Africa Waftes were never known, 
 From fwarming Nilus to the Torrid Zone ; 
 Such as ne'er met at the inceftuous Floods, 
 Thro' pathlefs Tracts in deep Hyrcanian Woods. 
 
 But if fome Monfter, hardier than the reft, 
 Dar'd to advance the Heroes to moleft, 
 Soon as (how ftrange !) the quiv'ring Wand they rear'd, 
 Stun'd they recoil'd, and join'd the frighted Herd. 
 
 Thus, every bold intruding Danger ceas'd, 
 Up the fteep Brow with lab'ring Steps they prefs'd, 
 Oft Hiding back, and oft advancing flow 
 O'er icy Slopes and Cliffs of frozen Snow, 
 
 P 2 But
 
 C 104 ] ' , " 
 
 But when they reach'd the craggy Summit's Height, 
 A fpacious Level open'd to their Sight. 
 At ev'ry Step new Beauties they defcry ; 
 Soft was the Air, and cloudlefs was the Sky. 
 Their balmy Spirits breathing Flow'rs exhale, 
 Fann'd by the Pinions of the Weftern Gale. 
 The conftant Sun ne'er rolls his Orb away. 
 But fheds a calm uninterrupted Day. 
 
 No fierce Extremes a hateful Change repeat, 
 From Wet to Cold, from Cold to fultry Heat . 
 Here the red Dog-ftar ne'er his Fury tries, 
 Nor hoary Winter freezes in the Skies ; 
 But flow'ry Herbs, and aromatick Flow'rs 
 Prove the kind Influence of prolific Show'rs. 
 Clofe by a glafly Lake a Palace flood, ' 
 Rais'd to command the Plain, and diftant Flood. 
 
 The
 
 The Knights, with long fatiguing Marches fpent, 
 Breathlefs a while reviewed the fteep Afcent ; 
 Then mov'd, then paus'd ; and now refrefh'd again, 
 Refum'd their Journey o'er the flowr'y Plain. 
 When lo ! a Ciftern, from the rocky Heights 
 Supply'd, the thirfty Travellers invites ; 
 The copious Streams in Silver Sheets overflow, 
 And water wicle the verdant Plain below : 
 But as they crept uniting thro* the Mead, 
 Silent and fwift ran gathering to a Head : 
 A rapid River foon they roll'd away, 
 And on its wave- worn Banks the Willows play : 
 Shaded and deep the Flood now gently flows, 
 Yet all above and all beneath it fliews. 
 Here by the Current's Side, a cool Retreat ! 
 Soft flow'ry Grafs forms an inviting Seat. 
 
 Thefc
 
 io6 
 
 Thefe were the dimpled Streams where Laughter 
 
 dwells, 
 
 But oh ! what Dangers lurk within their Cells. 
 Whoe'er is wife againft each treach'rous Art, 
 A Foe to Virtue, doubly guards his Heart : 
 On the deaf Ear the Syren tries in vain 
 The fatal Charms of her fallacious Strain. 
 Warn'd by fuch Fears the Fountain they forfake, 
 And trace its Riv'lets fwelling to a Lake. 
 
 On the cool Turf a gaudy Banquet plac'd 
 Of ev'ry Sort and Savour, rich Repaft ! 
 And bathing near the Shore two Nymphs they found^ 
 Who laughing dafh'd the fparkling Waves around. 
 Now to fome diftant Point in Speed they vy'd ; 
 Stretch'd to their Strokes the Billows they divide ; 
 
 Now
 
 [ 107 ] 
 
 Now down they plung'd ; but as they funk or rofe, 
 Reclin'd or prone, new Beauties they expofe. 
 
 Each Youth, tho' Heav'n itfelf had fteel'd his Breaft, 
 Gazing, his Wonder not unmov'd expreft, 
 Whilft the young Proftitutes purfu'd their Game, 
 And pra&is'd ev'ry Pofture to enflame. 
 At length, grown bolder, one ere& appear'd, 
 And to her Waift her Iv'ry Bofom rear'd. 
 The reft (fo far cou'd Modefty prevail) 
 Was hid in Cryftal Waves ; convenient Veil ! 
 
 As when the Morning Star, emerging bright 
 From the pure Ocean, darts a clearer Light ; 
 Or as appear'd, ye Loves, your newborn Queen, 
 The Sea-drops glitt'ring on her fnowy Skin : 
 So fhone the wanton Daughter of the Flood ; 
 So fell the Cryftal trickling as {he flood. 
 
 With
 
 With ev'ry Art {he caught the Hero's Eyes, 
 Then with affeded Geftures feign'd Surprize. 
 
 In trembling Hafte, and counterfeited Dread, 
 She loos'd the knotted Fillet from her Head. 
 Strait the collected Trefles from her Crown 
 In wavy Lengths drop'd gently flowing down : 
 A myftic Veil ! that Nature had fupply'd, 
 At once to fliew her Beauties, and to hide. 
 A thouland Charms lurk in the golden Shade ; 
 A thoufand more the golden Mant'let made : 
 She blufh'd and fmiFd, the Smile her Blufhes gives 
 New Charms, new Grace, which each from each re- 
 ceives. 
 
 4 
 
 The pleafing Conflid ftir'd the Blood within, 
 And fpread a warmer Teint upon her Skin. 
 
 At
 
 [ i op ] 
 
 At length this Strain flie warbled with fuch Art, 
 As might have thaw'd a frozen Pilgrim's Heart. , 
 
 Thrice happy Strangers, whom the bounteous Gods 
 Indulge to vifit thefe our bleft Abodes ; 
 Come freely {hare the Pleafures of our lile, 
 Seat of Delights ! Now bid adieu to Toil. 
 Here Nature's free-born Children uncontrouPd 
 At o'er again the happy Age of Gold. 
 On this our peaceful Coaft, fecure from Harms, 
 Lay by your ufelefs Load of cumb'rous Arms ; 
 Thofe Shields, thefe Swords hang high within the Grove, 
 A Trophy grateful to the God of Love. 
 
 Our Field of Battle is the rofy Bed, 
 In fragrant Bow'rs, on flow'ry Carpets fpread. 
 But come, firft let us lead you to our Queen 
 O'er the gay Sports prefiding on the Green : 
 
 Q So
 
 [ no] 
 
 So In her Train enroll'd, a happy Race ! 
 Shall endlefs Pleafures crown your blifsful Days. 
 With us here bathing in thefe limpid Streams, 
 Lave the Pollution from your wearied Limbs ; 
 Then on the Margin, in a happy Hour, 
 Enjoy, refrefli'd, the Dainties of the Bow'r. >^ 
 
 Thus {he : Mean time the Sifter Nymph employs 
 Her Art, to fuit lewd Geftures to her Voice : 
 So fkilful Dancers, as the Airs infpire, 
 Move fwift or flow refponfive to the Lyre. 
 But neither dazling Charms, nor lifping Strains 
 Cou'd melt th' impaflive Winter in their Veins ; 
 Beauties like fleeting Shades fldrn harmlefs by, 
 And thrilling Notes but touch their Ear and die. 
 For if thefe foftly-fweet engaging Arts 
 But ftir'd the Embers fleeping in their Hearts, 
 
 Seeds
 
 [ "I J 
 
 Seeds of Defire ! aflifting Reafon came, 
 And quafh'd the Tumult kindling to a Flame. 
 The baffled Nymphs their fraudful Schemes purfue : 
 But when the Youths without a Sigh withdrew, 
 Down from the rocky Shelf they plunging fprung, 
 With all the Rage of flighted Beauty flung. 
 
 Q.2 
 
 THE
 
 [112] 
 
 THE 
 
 .A R G U M E N T 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 SIXTEENTH BOOK 
 
 ^ ^HE inchanted Gardens of Armida are 
 
 -* where Rinaldo lies dijfolvd in Luxury and foft 
 Delights. He is released) and ef capes thro the Magic 
 Bower. She furfues him with all the Arts of Prayers^ 
 PromifeSy and Threats. In vain. To thefe Rage fuc- 
 ceeds ; Jhe diffolves her Palace into Smoke, and mounts 
 a flying Chariot in the utmojt Fury and Defpair. 
 
 L I B.
 
 [ "3 ] 
 
 LIB. XVI. 
 
 QtTorquato Taffb's RECOVERY of JERUSALEM. 
 
 T T I G H on a Plain the ftately Palace rofe ; 
 
 Round was its Form : The circling Walks inclofe, 
 Deep in the Midft, a Garden rich and fair, 
 With all that's fweet adorn'd, and all that's rare. 
 Maze within Maze in eafy Windings ran, 
 The Work of Damons to perplex the Plan ! 
 The Royal Gate which now our Heroes pafs'd, 
 (The Walls a hundred radiant Portals grac'd) 
 With figur'd Valves of high-rais'd Silver, hung 
 On golden Hinges, well adjufted fwung. 
 But the rich Labours of the wond'rous Mold, 
 Made vile the Silver and the fculptur'd Gold. 
 
 Grant
 
 Grant them but Speech, and ev'ry Figure lives ; 
 Nor want they Speech the cheated Eye believes. 
 
 Alcides fpinning warbles here a Song 
 To the foft Lute the lift'ning Maids among. 
 There Cupid fmiling holds the Hero chain'd, 
 That vanquifh'd Hell, and finking Heav'n fuftain'd. 
 Proud lole her Slave infulting flood^ 
 And fcornful touch' d his Club befmear'd with Blood ; 
 O'er her foft Skin the Lyon's Hide flie caft : 
 The titt'ring Train enjoy the ftrong Contrail. 
 
 The correfpondent Valve expos'd to View 
 A hoary Ocean with its Billow blue : 
 Within its Bofom hoftile Navies ride ; 
 Repeated Light'nings burft from Side to Side 
 Along the Waves the fiery Volumes roll'd, 
 And the Gleams thicken'd in expreffive Gold. 
 
 Here
 
 C "5 ] 
 
 Here firm Oftavius leads the Roman Youth ; 
 There Anthony his Moors and Kings uncouth. 
 Mark the huge Bulks ! you'd think the Cydades^ 
 Broad Ifles ! unmoor' d came floating o'er the Seas. 
 Such were the clafhing Piles when Ship with Ship 
 Encountring funk, or blaz'd along the Deep. 
 Horror on Horror ! Shoals of Princes flain, 
 Bloated in Death, defile the Azure Main. 
 With their falfe Queen the treacherous Eunuchs fly ; 
 'Tis Ctffars Ceefar there ~ and Vidory. 
 Oh ! wretched Anthony , is Fame fo foon, 
 So foon the fwelling Hopes of Empire gone ? 
 Alas ! to lofe the Queen the Emp'ror fear'd, 
 And flying to protect her greatly dar'd. 
 But fee, he flops, contending Paffions tear 
 His tortur'd Breaft, hot Rage and cold Defpair, 
 
 Now
 
 n6] . :;- 
 
 Now blufhing tow'rd the Fight he turns his Eyes, 
 Now tow'rd the Queen. But fee, ye Gods, fhe flies ! 
 Swift he purfues her up the crooked Nile ; 
 There proftrate begs the Comfort of a Smile ; 
 Overpaid if he one rapt'rous Smile might boaft, 
 He then fhou'd count the trifling World well loft. 
 
 All this upon the Silver Gates enchas'd 
 The virtuous Wand'rers faw, and on they pafs'd. 
 And as Meander ', fam'd for winding Streams, 
 When flowing fafteft, rolling backward feems ; 
 Now tow'rd the Spring the mounting Billows rife, 
 Now fhort Returns its deftin'd Courfe difguife : 
 Such were the Paths, and fuch the crooked Ways, 
 That form'd the pleating Errors of the Maze. 
 But by their faithful Map the Youths, grown bold, 
 Prefs on, and foon the mazy Scheme unfold. 
 
 Now
 
 Now had they pafs'd the filent Woodland Shade, 
 When lo ! a wide Parterre its Charms difplay'd. 
 Here Fountains lay in fleepy Lakes intranc'd ; 
 From fprightly Jetts there fluid Cryftal danc'd : 
 Groves, Plants, and Flow'rs, in gay Diforder lay ; 
 Smooth Slopes improve, cool Grotts exclude the Day. 
 Art cou'd no more, but that herfelf unfeen, 
 She left them wond'ring at the artlefs Scene. 
 Such eafy Care, fo ftudy'd the Neglect, 
 That when they're moft deceiv'd, they leaft fufped. 
 Nature grown wanton, acts a counter Part, 
 And feems to mock her Imitator Art. 
 Here necromantic Zephyrs fan the Trees, 
 The Bloffoms opening to the magic Breeze ; 
 Whilft the fame Breath that forms the flow'ry Bloom, 
 Prepares the Fruit, and heightens the Perfume. 
 
 R There
 
 There the crude Bud the milky Fig Leaves hide, 
 And the cleft Fruit with lufcious Juices dy'd : 
 On the fame Tendril of the twifted Vine, 
 The harfli green Grapes, and Purple Clufbers join. 
 
 The feather 'd Songfters fwell their liquid Throats, 
 Now loud, now clear, now foft the dying Notes : 
 Which as they fall on Groves or Streams among, 
 The Stream or Grove diversifies the Song. 
 When the Birds ceafe, the fluctuating Falls 
 Begin, and fwelling fill the Intervals. 
 Whether Defign or Art deferve the Praife, 
 By Turns they fink, by Turns their Mufic raife. 
 
 Among the reft, with Plumes of various Hue, 
 And purple Beak, a wond'rous Songfter flew, 
 DiftincT: of Speech : Upon a neighb'ring Spray 
 She chaunted many an Air and Roundelay ; 
 
 With
 
 C 9 3 - 
 
 With the fweet Sounds the fweeter Meafurcs vyc, 
 And jointly form'd the pleafmg Prodigy. 
 The filent Birds flood liftning thro' the Grove'; 
 The Winds forgot to breathe, the Waves to move. 
 
 " Behold ! he fang, the gently budding Rofe 
 " Her vernal Beauties cautious to difclofe ; 
 " In her green Veil involved and half conceal'd, 
 " She's moft admir'd when leaft fhe is beheld. 
 u But fcarce her full-blown Honours are difplay'd, 
 " E'er her diminifh'd Charms negle&ed fade, 
 " No Virgin now her modeft Blufh admires ; 
 " No am'rous Swain her fragrant Breath defires. 
 " Such is this Life, this Creature of a Day, 
 a Whofe earlieft Bloffom borders on Decay : 
 " Returning AprU^ and the genial Show'r 
 " Shall ne'er recal the momentary Flow'r : 
 
 R 2 cc Quick
 
 " Quick gather then the Rofe the Day prefents, 
 " E'er chilling Night thy warmefl Hope prevents : 
 " Oh I {hatch the winged Seafon as it flies, 
 " Loving and lov'd, compleat your mutual Joys." 
 
 He ceas'd, and ev'ry Bird in Chorus ftrove 
 Who moft the Prattler's Sonnet fhould approve : 
 The billing Doves firft catch the Paphian Fire ; 
 The feather'd Nations all in Pairs retire ; 
 E'en the chafte Laurel gave a x:old Confent, 
 
 And ftubborn Oaks yield to the grand Intent ; 
 
 The Heav'ns, the Earth, and buxom Seas rejoice, 
 
 And Love was Nature's univerfal Voice. 
 
 Yet vain the gilded Scene, and vain the Lay ; 
 
 Onward the Youths purfue their fteady Way, 
 
 Cautious yet firm : Thus Virtue fteels the Heart, 
 
 When the Man dares exert the Hero's Part. 
 
 With
 
 [ I" ] 
 
 With filent Forefight, e'er their Steps advance, 
 Thro' quiv'ring Leaves they caft a prudent Glance : 
 But foon the Queen and am'rous Prince they find, 
 He at her Knees, fhe on the F'erge reclin'd. 
 Full thro' her Veil her fnowy Bofom rofe, 
 And down her Neck a wavy Ringlet flows : 
 Her rofy Cheeks a Dew befprinkl'd o'er, 
 Like folid Drops from India 's pearly Shore : 
 Swimming her Eyes fhot round a temper' d Ray, 
 As Beams lefs fierce in Cryftal Fountains play. 
 His, feed infatiate as her Charms they view, 
 And ev'ry Glance indulg'd more eager grew. 
 His Lips, his Cheeks, low bending as he gaz'd, 
 She kifs'd, and foon the fainting Tranfport rais'd ; 
 Till on her panting Breaft he breath'd a Sigh, 
 As if his parting Soul to hers wou'd fly. 
 
 Such
 
 Such were the Follies in the Grove conceal'd, 
 Which in the am'rous Pair the Youths beheld. 
 
 A Ciyftal Mirror glift'ning by his Side 
 Hung loofely down, with flow'ry Garlands ty'd. 
 He rofe, and to her ravifh'd Eyes prefents 
 This moft belov'd of Cupid\ Ornaments. 
 She frmTd ; the double Smiles the Youth enflame ; 
 The Nymph and Glafs ; another, and the fame. 
 A thoufand Charms her rolling Eyes run o'er, 
 And in thofe Eyes he faw a thoufand more. 
 Thus both divide in happy Shares the Sway : 
 She proud to rule^ he prouder to obey. 
 Oh ! turn that Look, fhe cry'd, deluded Boy, 
 From the faint 'Semblance in the glitt'ring Toy : 
 Rinaldds Image, to the Life expreft, 
 Is only here, within this faithful Breaft. 
 
 Here
 
 [ 12-3 ] 
 
 Here if no other Beauties you defcry, 
 Let your own Charms employ your woncTring Eye. 
 Yes, let thofe happy Eyes themfelves engage, 
 Rivet them here, and let them feaft an Age. 
 Such Charms, fuch crowded Graces muft furpafs 
 The narrow Confines of the fparkling Glafs : 
 For a fit Mirror ftretch the Azure Skies, 
 Where twinkling Stars fliall fhew thy beamy Eyes. 
 
 She faid, and fmil'd again ; and ftill purfu'd, 
 By various Arts, the Glory to delude. 
 By her white Hand her gathered Trefles thrown 
 In eafy flowing Folds hung graceful down : 
 In ftrider Curls flie braided Flowrets roll'd, 
 Like gay Enamel rais'd on fliining Gold : 
 Then round her Breafts a flow'ry Wreath fhe fix'd, 
 Which with its native Lillies Rofes mix'd. 
 
 Not
 
 Not the proud Peacock, of his Plumage vain 
 With radiant Eyes, unfolds fo rich a Train : 
 Lefs lively Hues -thro' gilded Rainbows run, 
 When the broad dewy Arch repels the Sun, 
 
 But as her Zone its Sov' reign Beams difplay'd, 
 The reft reviv'd or funk, grew bright or dead. 
 Efiential Forms, that wait on Love, flie mix'd 
 By pow'rful Spells, and in a Girdle fix'd. 
 Joys, foft Repulfes, Frowns and Kifles fweet, 
 With dimpl'd Smiles and breathlefs Tranfports meet : 
 Here Pity lift'ning drops a filent Tear ; 
 There Anger reddens, and here lighs Defpair. 
 All thefe in Flames of temper'd Drugs fhe held 
 By Magic Song and whiiper'd Charms anneal'd : 
 Then in a pliant Zone the Figures caft, 
 And fix'd the living Cincture to her Waift. 
 
 Now
 
 Now with a Kifs the Pleafures of the Day 
 They end ; fhe tow'rd the Palace urg'd her Way ; 
 For ev'ry Day, her Houfhold Cares renew'd, 
 Some Taik fhe plan'd, fome magic Carte review'd, 
 Her Paramour fecure fhe leaves behind. 
 Within his Bounds by cogent Spells confin'd. 
 Ravifh'd he hears the Birds and echoing Grove, 
 Attended by that faithful Hermit, Love : 
 And when the Evening's dewy Shades invite 
 To all the fofter Pleafures of the Night, 
 Beneath a rich Pavilion's Height they lay 
 Intranc'd, and lov'd the fleeting Hours away, 
 
 Whilft now the Queen domeftic Cares employ, 
 Unmindful of the Bow'r and abfent Boy, 
 In radiant Steel forth rufhing from the Wood, 
 With manly Strides, the Youths before him flood. 
 
 S As
 
 As when a warlike Steed, from all his Toil 
 
 Retir'd, indulg'd among the Herds to foil, 
 
 On the dun Heath, the Lawn, or fwampy Grove> 
 
 Riots in all the Luxury of Love ; 
 
 But fhould the Trumpet's Voice his Ear furprize, 
 
 Or beamy Target flafh upon his Eyes, 
 
 He bounds, he neighs, forgets each foft Delight, 
 
 And rufhes madding to the promis'd Fight : 
 
 Thus fprung Rinaldo, thus his Bofom glow'd, 
 
 When clafp'd in glitt'ring Arms the Heroes trode ; 
 
 Swift to his flacken'd Nerves their Strength returns, 
 
 And his firm Heart with ufual Virtue burns. 
 
 Ubaldo to his Sight oppos'd the Shield, 
 
 And fhook the fcatter'd Lightning o'er the Field : 
 
 The Diamond Orb attracts his rolling Eyes, 
 
 Where his own Form in the bright Difk he fpies. 
 
 Amaz'd
 
 Amaz'd, his flowing painted Robe he view'd, 
 And dropping Locks, with coftly Balms bedew' d. 
 A gawdy Sword, with twifted Rofes tied, 
 In gay Feftoons hung ufelefs by his Side. 
 As from a Dream when one awak'd again, 
 Scorns all the idle Fiction of the Brain : 
 Thus when himfelf with choiceft Folly dreft 
 He faw, his Eyes averfe the Sight deteft. 
 Confus'd a while he turns them wildly round, 
 Then fighing fix'd them thoughtful on the Ground ; 
 Wifhing the whelming Flood, the crackling Flame, 
 Or central Earth wou'd bury all his Shame. 
 
 Ubaldo feiz'd th' Occailon, and begun : 
 All Europe now, Bertoldvs noble Son, 
 With all where Afws peopl'd Bounds extend, 
 Thofe who for Glory's virtuous Crown contend, 
 
 S 2 And
 
 And Champions who the Name of Chrift adore, 
 
 In Iron Harnefs prefs the Syrian Shore. 
 
 Whilfl you to Fame, and ev'ry Virtue loft, 
 
 Inglorious loiter on an unknown Coaft ; 
 
 A Chamber-Knight, in filken Bands confin'd, 
 
 Shrink from the Dangers that involve Mankind. 
 
 But fay what Lethargy ? What dull Difeafe 
 
 Locks up thy vigorous Soul in baneful Eafe ? 
 
 Rife, rife, great Godfrey calls ; the Fight 
 
 Demands, and Heav'n and Vi&ory invite. 
 
 Say, wilt thou thus the well-plan'd War neglect ? 
 
 Oh ; pour thy Vengeance on the impious Seel ! 
 
 Thy Fury on the Sluggard Foe repeat, 
 
 And let one mighty Act our Hopes compleat. 
 
 He ceas'd, the Hero heard and for a Space 
 Speechlefs lie paus'd, confus'd, till Shame gave Place 
 
 To
 
 [ "9 3 
 
 To gen'rous Anger ; fuch as Reafon moves 
 In the firm Bofom that her Laws approves. 
 Shame was the Spark from whence the Paffion came, 
 Which work'd the noble Ferment to a Flame. 
 His Robe he tore ; and to the Winds he gave 
 The gawdy Pomp and Trappings of a Slave ; 
 Then thro' the hated Bow'r in breathlefs Hafte 
 They ftretch'd, and loon the Labyrinth repaft. 
 
 Alarm'd Armida at the Portal flood 
 Aghaft, to fee the Keeper bath'd in Blood. 
 Doubting a while fhe gaz'd, but oh ! too foon, 
 Too well convinc'd, fhe found her Lover gone : 
 With her own Eyes, he faw, diftrading Sight ! 
 The Youths efcap'd precipitate in Flight. 
 
 And wilt thou leave me wretched and alone, 
 She ftrove to cry ; but with a hollow Groan 
 
 Her
 
 C 130 P 
 
 Her Voice recoil'd : The Sound fuppreft 
 With double Force remurmur'd in her Breaft. 
 Confcious me found her baffl'd Arts, excell' d, 
 Muft now to counter Charms of Wifdom yield : 
 And yet fhe fcorn'd, tho' by fome Foe furpafs'd, 
 To own his Pow'r, unconquer'd to the laft. 
 
 All that obfcene Theffalian Hags, with Lips 
 Unhallow'd, mutter in the Moon's Eclipfe, 
 Charms that cou'd Heav'n's revolving Spheres arreft, 
 Or drag the fhrieking Ghofts from Shades unbleft ; 
 Thefe well he knew, but fhe negleds them all, 
 Tho' Hell at leaft flood lift ning to her Call. 
 She drops the Bead-roll of her Arts to prove, 
 If fuppliant Beauty yet cou'd furer move. 
 Breathlefs me ran : Where now was Honour flown ? 
 Where all her boafted Conquefts, Triumphs gone ? 
 
 She
 
 She that coird fix, or with a Nod remove, 
 Make or unmake the facred Laws of Love ; 
 Whofe Pride to fuch a wanton Pitch cou'd foar, 
 She fcorn'd the Lover, but enjoy 'd the Pow'r ; 
 And when fKe deign'd a winning Smile to caft, 
 The Favour center'd in herfelf at laft. 
 But now, oh ! fad Reverfe, repuls'd fhe fues, 
 Implores who hates her, and who flies purfues : 
 And as fhe runs, her bleeding Footfteps fcorn 
 The ragged Ice, and ever pointed Thorn. 
 Nor cou'd her Cries, which long difpatch'd before 
 She fent, o'er take him e'er he reach'd the Shore. 
 
 Thou that canft rend, fhe cry'd, my faithful Heartj 
 And flying rob me of the dearer Part ; 
 Oh ! leave not thus the widow'd Share behind^ 
 Take both, or let them both in Death be join'd. 
 
 Here
 
 - C 
 
 Hear me one Word, one parting Word ; a Kifs 
 I durft not name ; referve fo great a Blifs 
 For one more worthy. Say, but wherefore fly ? 
 Who flies, lefs bold, may venture to deny. 
 
 Ubaldoy courteous, ftop'd his Friend and faid ; 
 Cuftom, my Lord, and civil Manners plead 
 For weeping Beauty. Still the fuppliant Fair 
 Claims from the gentle Knight a lift'ning Ear. 
 The Hero in himfelf collected ftrong, 
 May truft the beauteous Syren and her Song : 
 With fofteft Words th' unhappy Queen appeafe, 
 Then for our Flight th' inviting Moment feize. 
 
 Rinaldo ftop'd ; the Queen approach'd. Quick Sighs 
 Bur ft from her heaving Breaft. Wiftful her Eyes 
 On his flie fix'd ; then figh'd ; but nothing fpoke : 
 Pride, Rage, and Shame the crowded Accents choke. 
 
 He
 
 [ '33 ] 
 
 He dares not meet her Look : his Eye-balls roll 
 Abafh'd ; at length a hafty Glance he ftole. 
 When, as a Songfter, e'er the Tune's begun, 
 Loves warbling thro' the well known Scale to run 
 With Sounds unform'd ; a Prelude to prepare 
 The lift'ning Judges for the promis'd Air : 
 So fraudful fhe, deep vers'd in ev'ry Art, 
 To melt down Virtue, and enflave the Heart, 
 Seiz'd on the furtive Glance, then with a Groan 
 Her firft Impreflion made, and thus went on. 
 
 We meet not now, like Lovers on a Plain, 
 Big with fome Tale of Pity or Difdain. 
 Such once we were ; but all muft yield to Fate, 
 And Love muft in its Turn fubmit to Hate. 
 But yet who hates, may learn a Foe's Diftrefs, 
 Patient to hear, refolv'd not to redrefs. 
 
 T Relent-
 
 C'34] 
 
 Relentlefs Anger may my Suit receive, 
 
 And know the Weaknefs that it can't forgive. 
 
 Forgive ? Oh ! n6, indulge the pleafing Spite ; 
 
 For Hatred yields a thoughtful four Delight. 
 
 Such as, a Pagan born, I proudly boaft 
 
 To bear infaliate to your Chriftian Hoft, 
 
 But chiefly to thyfelf. Yes, ev'ry Art 
 
 I pra&is'd > I fucceeded on thy Heart. 
 
 I faw thee ; lov'd ; purfu'd with ev'ry Wile ; 
 
 Surpriz'd, and led thee captive to this Ifle : 
 
 And which, I hope, will more thy Rage inflame, 
 
 Know that to fouldft Spells thou ow'ft thy Shame. 
 
 With temper'd Drugs I mix'd the magic Bowl, 
 
 Of Pow'r to caft Oblivion o'er the Soul ; 
 
 Then, to a thoufand Youths deny'd, thefe Charms 
 
 Unafk'd were offer 'd to a Stranger's Arms. 
 
 Thefe
 
 C 135 1 . 
 
 Thefe were my Crimes. And think not that I fpoke 
 Thy Fury to appeafe, but to provoke, 
 Provoke thee to abhor and fliun the Place, 
 The confcious Bow'r and Scenes of thy Difgrace. 
 Straight thro' the furrow'd Waves thy Courfe direct, 
 To wreck thy Fury on our holy Sect. 
 But ah ! what Faith, what holy Seel; is mine, 
 Who only kneel a Suppliant at thy Shrine ? 
 Yet wherefore kneel I ? *Tis a Vaflal's Right, 
 Thy Slave demands me may attend thy Flight. 
 When did the laureFd Chief his Spoils forego ? 
 When turn his Back upon the vanquim'd Foe ? 
 The hoftile Treafure and the captive Chain 
 Add to the Triumphs Joy, and fwell the Train. 
 Let me along the fliouting Camp be fhewn : 
 Mark ! the Deceiver baffled and undone. 
 
 T 3 Am
 
 Am I rejeded, ftill defpis'd, forlorn ? 
 Then from this Head the princely Treffes (horn, 
 No longer fhall bely my wretched Fate, 
 But a Slave's Garb fliall mark my fervile State. 
 Let the War thunder with its loudeft Storms, 
 Death I dare meet in all his ghaftly Forms : 
 Train'd up in lifted Fields, I fcorn to fear 
 The charging Courfer or the levell'd Spear. 
 I long to bear thy Shield againft the Foe ; 
 Myfelf thy Shield, I'll ward or catch the Blow ; 
 On me th' uplifted Sword, to fave thee free, 
 Shall vent its Rage, and harmlefs fall on thee. 
 
 Whilft thus, your Slave, my Bofom I prefent, 
 
 Perhaps the fierce Barbarian may relent ; 
 
 On thefe, now flighted Charms, fome Pity take, 
 
 And fave Rinaldo for Armidas Sake, ' v ! 
 
 Why
 
 . [ '37 ] 
 
 Why do I yet of Beauty boaft in vain, 
 
 Which can't this leaft, this wretched Boon obtain ? 
 
 fehe could no more ; the reft her Tears deny'd, 
 Like Rills faft trickling down fome Quarry's Side. 
 His Hand fhe ftrove to reach, and then his Cloke ; 
 But backward from the proffer'd Grafp he broke. 
 Invincible Refolves had arm'd his Mind ; 
 Grief cou'd no Vent, and Love no Entrance find. 
 Fierce the Attack, and tipt with Fire the Dart 
 In vain ; for Reafon had congeal' d his Heart. 
 But Pity's gentler Warmth can oft prevail, 
 When all her furious Brother's Engines fail : 
 The foft Infmuation melts his Breaft ; 
 He fcarce the fwelling Flood of Tears fuppreft, 
 Till Matter of himfelf by Virtue's Aid, 
 His Voice and Geftures he compos'd, and faid : 
 
 If
 
 [ 138] V . " 
 
 If Heav'n had blefs'd me with the pleafing Pow'r 
 To eafe your Grief, you fhou'd not thus implore, 
 Armlda (hou'd not thus implore in vain ; 
 Rinaldos Soul does cold Revenge difdain. 
 Malice and Hate let dark Oblivion blot, 
 Be ev'ry Wrong forgiven and forgot. 
 Yours were the Faults of Nature ; 'tis her Caufe, 
 And Youth and Beauty will aflert her Laws. 
 I cenfure not, by confcious Frailty taught, 
 Where I myfelf have err'd, another's Fault : 
 Still to this Bofom dear, where-e'er thou art, 
 When Grief contra6h, or Joy dilates my Heart, 
 Still am I thine ; thy Champion ftill, as far 
 As holy Faith permits and ftubborn War. 
 And fince their idle Circuit they have run, 
 Here let our Follies end where they begun. 
 
 Oh!
 
 [139] 
 
 Oh ! keep our Secret from the Ear of Fame, 
 And let the Bow'r that faw, conceal our Shame, 
 Of all my Actions be thefe laft fuppreft, 
 And let Fame's loudeft Trumpet tell the reft. 
 Yet oh ! forbear in Fury to difgrace 
 Your Youth, your Beauty, and your Royal Race. 
 Farewel our Flight with me you muft not fhare. 
 See ! the Guide frowns ; th' ungrateful Suit forbear. 
 Return or ftay, as Prudence fliall advife ; 
 Their Actions ever juftify the Wife. 
 
 Whilft coldly thus the Youth his Mind explains, 
 Reftlefs her Rage, no longer {he contains ; 
 Scowling with bitt'reft Gall {he whets her Tongue, 
 And in his tingling Ears thefe Accents rung. 
 
 And dar'ft thou, Mifcreant, boaft thy favage Blood 
 In the pure Veins of fair Sophia flow'd, 
 
 Of
 
 Of nobleft Race ? Thou Foundling-monfter, bred 
 In mad Sea Foam, and by a Tygrefs fed 
 From craggy Caucafus* What not one Tear ? 
 Wou'd not one well diflembl'd Drop appear ? 
 And cou'd not all my Suff 'rings ftrain a Sigh 
 From thy hard Heart, or wet thy flinty Eye ? 
 Where ? how fliall I begin ? and when have done ? 
 Did he not bid me call him mine, yet run 
 From my Embrace ? and beg'd me not to grieve 
 For he, the bafe Aggreffor, wou'd forgive ? 
 Then when he talk'd of Love, how juft, how cool 
 Were the chaft Maxims from old Plato 's School ! 
 Ye Gods, mall Hypocrites for ever dare, 
 Unpunifh'd, to infult Heav'n's patient Ear ? 
 
 But go ; and go in Peace ; fuch Peace, fuch Reft, 
 As muft for ever dwell within this Breaft. 
 
 Yet
 
 Yet think not that fome unfrequented Coaft 
 
 Shall hide thee trembling from my angry Ghoft : 
 
 Turn'd to a Fury, ever nigh at Hand, 
 
 I'll writhe my Snakes, and tofs my lighted Brand ; 
 
 My furious Love, chang'd to its black Extream, 
 
 Shall haunt thy Noontide Walk, and Midnight Dream : 
 
 And if, to curfe thee more, thy Fate ihall fave 
 
 Thee, from the lurking Rock, and dafliing Wave, 
 
 Referv'd to fall in Fight ; then on the Plain, 
 
 Wounded and crufh'd by Mountains of the Slain, 
 
 Groaning in Death, Armida {halt thou call, 
 
 Who fmiling hears thee, and enjoys thy Fall. 
 
 She faid, and fwooning faintly drew her Breath, 
 
 Her Voice was loft, and her Eyes fwim in Death. 
 
 Unhappy Eyes ! Heav'n envy'd you a Sight 
 So full of Joy. What Tranfports of Delight 
 
 U Had
 
 * " < * 
 
 Had-footh'd her Breaft to fee him weeping near, 
 Feel all her Woe, and fried a pitying Tear ? 
 Fate grudg'd the Blifs ; unfeen his Leave he took, 
 His Bofom fmote, and caft a ling' ring Look. 
 What fhou'd he do ? To leave the Fair diftrefs'd, 
 Honour and all the Laws of Love deteft : 
 Pity abhors to move ; and yet to ftay 
 Prudence forbids, and Fate calls loud away. 
 In the rich Treffes of the Pilot's Head 
 Frefh from the Land the ftiff'ning Zephyrs play'd ; 
 Crank o'er the Waves the bounding Pinnace rides, 
 And from their fteady View the Shore fubfides. 
 Soon as returning Senfe unveil'd her Eyes, 
 Wildly fhe flares around, and trembling cries ; 
 And is the Wretch, in my extremeft Need 
 Of doubtful Life, is he unpitying fled ? 
 
 Cou'd
 
 [ 143 ] 
 
 Cou'd he not wait for my returning Breath, 
 
 But leave me ftruggling in the Arms of Death ? 
 
 And do I love him ftill ? Still weeping ftand 
 
 A puleing Girl upon a lonely Strand ? 
 
 No, Sighs begone ; I fcorn this tender Dew, 
 
 Yes, to his Fate the Traitor I'll purfue : 
 
 Not Hell fhall fcreen him in* her dark Abodes, 
 
 Nor all yon glitt'ring Manfions of the Gods. 
 
 I'll drag him thence ; 111 cleave his Marble Heart, 
 
 His Rival now in ev'ry cruel Art. 
 
 And yet alas ! how vain are threatning Words, 
 How ill my Conduct with my Rage accords ? 
 Wretched Armida ! vain is ev'ry Scheme, 
 And all this boafted Vengeance is a Dream. 
 Thou fhou'dft, when chain'd a Captive in thy Pow'r, 
 Have feiz'd, due to Revenge, th' inviting Hour. 
 
 U 2 The
 
 [ '44 J 
 
 The dying Serpent's Hifs and Sting too late 
 Expofe his Rage, and Impotence of Hate. 
 Ye injur'd Charms, to you Revenge belongs, 
 And Beauty fhall itfelf redrefs her Wrongs. 
 
 Know then, that if fome Knight renown'd in Arms, 
 Whom Hopes of Empire move, or Beauty charms, 
 Brings bleeding from the War the Traytor's Head, 
 Know that the Queen is deftin'd to his Bed ; 
 And proud Damafcus^ as his high Reward, 
 Shall kneeling own him for her fov'reign Lord. 
 If Love and Empire ceafe to move the Brave, 
 Take back, ye Gods, the Bleffings that ye gave. 
 Bleffings ! Oh no ; I fcorn, deteft them both ; 
 My Beauty I defpife, my Kingdom loath ; 
 I hate my felf, and Scepter that I give : 
 For thee, Revenge alone, I'll bear to live, 
 
 Here
 
 [ 145 ] 
 
 Here foaming Phrenzy choak'd her fault'ring Speech ; 
 With hafty Strides flie meafures back the Beach ; 
 Her Cheeks, her Eyes, her Hair, and haggard Mien 
 Exprefs the Conflict of the Soul within. 
 Homeward fhe ran, and call'd with hideous Cries 
 From Hell three hundred footy Deities. 
 Black gath'ring Clouds deform the Face of Day, 
 And Heav'n's great Planet fick'ning faints away. 
 From neighb'ring Hills the rifing Whirlwinds found, 
 And Groans from Hell heav'd up the laboring Ground : 
 The Palace rock'd ; wild, reftlefs Spe&res glare, 
 Some grov'ling hifs, fome bark, fome fcream in Air. 
 When lo ! a murky Shade, devoid of Light, 
 Cafts o'er the Dome a melancholly Night ; 
 Faint fulph'rous Gleams, that frequent flafh within, 
 Difplay the Horrors of the deepening Scene. 
 
 When
 
 [ 146] :_ 
 
 When now the Sun, a bald and beamlefs Fire 
 Glow'd redd'ning, and the parting Clouds retire, 
 Down funk at once, no Stone to mark its Scite, 
 The fpacious Palace plunging deep in Night. 
 As when in Cloud-form'd Caftles of the Skies, 
 Piles heap'd on Piles, a bafelefs Fabric rife ; 
 But by the Sun diffolv'd, or fcatt'ring Wind, 
 The fleeting Shades leave not a Rack behind : 
 So, like a Sick Man's Dream, the vanifh'd Dome 
 Left barren Rocks and Defarts in its Room. 
 
 Boldly th' Inchantrefs mounts her ready Car, 
 And more than mortal cleaves the yielding Air. 
 Unfeen the Region of the Clouds me pafs'd, 
 Where the raw Climate brews the ftormy Blaft, 
 And moulds the Hail beneath the wint'ry Zone, 
 O'er barbVous Traces, and Nations yet unknown. 
 
 Swift
 
 Swift thro* the Streights, Herculean Toil, fhe rides 
 
 Where Spain the Sea from Africa Coaft divides : 
 
 Steady (he glides, till to the Syrian Strand 
 
 She fhap'd her Courfe, and hail'd her native Land. 
 
 But from Damafcus^ whofe imperial Height 
 
 Afpires to Heav'n, averfe fhe turns her Sight, 
 
 And to a lonely Caftle flew, that flood 
 
 In black Afphaltus Lake, infernal Flood ! 
 
 Deep in a Cave no Female fhe admits 
 
 Of all her Train ; alone fhe penfive fits 
 
 All Night ; but Rage her thoughtful Silence broke, 
 
 And the dank Vault re-echo'd as fhe fpoke. 
 
 Here will I reft, till Egypt* Sultan draws 
 His Eaflern Armies to fupport our Caufe ; 
 Then rufhing to the Field will ad: my Part, 
 In ev'ry Shape of Force, of Fraud, and Art. 
 
 Expe-
 
 Experienced Chiefs from me fliall learn to throw 
 Th' unerring Dart, or twang the fatal Bow : 
 And whilft by dire Revenge I purchafe Fame, 
 Honour, farewel thou founding empty Name. 
 
 And you, ftern Guardian of my earlier Years, 
 When fome amazing A& fhall reach your Ears, 
 Blame not your Niece ; by her Inftrudor's Fault 
 In the foul Arts of hellifh Cunning taught ; 
 And train'd to horrid Deeds that ill became 
 Our fofter Sex, my Ruin and my Shame. 
 Let others flow in cold Indifference move ; 
 The Brave exceed in Anger and in Love. 
 
 She faid, and fummon'd up in gay Attire 
 Fair Dames, and Pages, Knights, and many a 'Squire. 
 A glitt'ring Train ! in gaudy Harnefs dreft, 
 Which well her Skill and regal Pride expreft. 
 
 With
 
 ' [ '49 ] . 
 
 With thefe the furious Queen her Way purfues, 
 Untir'd, thro' fcorching Rays, and Midnight Dews : 
 Nor ftop'd they till flie join'd the num'rous Bands 
 Of Eaftern Kings, on Gazas crowded Sands. 
 
 X 
 
 E P I-
 
 [ '5' ] 
 
 ERIGAAAMION. 
 
 A DME AS alii pugnas, durique labores 
 
 Herculis immanes, Agamemnoniafque phalanges 
 Et Troiam, Martemque canaiit, laurofque cruentas : 
 At mihi felices Animarum promere amores 
 Mens calet, & gemino conftri&um pedtore nodum : 
 Solus Amor noftrae infpiret modo carmina menti, 
 Noftraque finceros moduletur Pieris ignes. 
 Incluta, quam Fortuna iuvat, FARMORIA VIRGO, 
 Mufarum parvos, ne defpice, quos tibi fetus 
 Offer imus, SPONSOQUE humiles addicimus almo. 
 Eft ventura dies olim, qua Mufa fluenteis 
 Ingenio venas tribuet numerofque canores, 
 
 X 2 Queis
 
 Queis liceat graviore tuas expromere verfu 
 
 Laudes, 8c diris fubducere nomina fatis, 
 
 Nomina, quae aeterni fpernent oblivia leti. 
 
 Interea felix noftris nunc adnue coeptis, 
 
 Vt nos, qui tantum tenues ceciniffe labores 
 
 Exiguo adfueti calamo, fublimia tamdem 
 
 Paullatim egregiis aptemus carmina geftis : 
 
 Non fecus atque puer, qui primum innare per undas 
 
 Non audet folus, levibus poft tergora nixus 
 
 Corticibus, nando trepidantes inftruit artus ; 
 
 Adfiduus donee pifces imitarier ufus 
 
 Edocet, ut pulfis tumidum fe immittat in aequor 
 
 Fulcris, & rapidis infultet fludlibus audax. 
 
 V I X
 
 T T I X Aurora polo niveis inveda quadrigis 
 
 Surgebat, tenuique micabant gramina rore, 
 Nativumque arbor, pulfa jam node, colorem 
 Luminibus paffim folaribus excipiebat ; 
 Quum Celebris vafto qua funditur ANGLIA ponto, 
 ANGLIA, quae dodos fecundo alit ubere Alumnos, 
 Talia maerenti iadabat voce Cupido, 
 (At non lafciva prognatus Matre Cupido, 
 Adfuetufque animos inhoneftis figere telis ; 
 Verum caftus Amor, finceraque & incluta proles, 
 Cui fidas Heroum animas, ac pedora fas eft 
 Coniugii vinclis adftringere non folvendis,) 
 Quod non fubiiceret validis generofa Virorum 
 Pedora miiTilibus, minimeque referret opimas, 
 Vt quondam, exfuvias, quarum viget immortalis 
 Gloria, & innumero celebratur carmine Vatum. 
 
 Outi-
 
 [ '54] 
 
 O utinam, quae fama din praemmciat orbi, 
 Vera forent, atque ilia albo fignanda lapillo, 
 9 Propitio tamdem lux fidere colluceret, 
 Exoptata diu referens mortalibus aegris 
 Gaudia ! Nunc fpoliis Mars undique circumfeptus 
 Heu furit : extremae gentes & barbarus hoftis 
 Convertere rigens in mutua vulnera ferrum ; 
 Quofque peregrini dominos concordia mundi 
 Fecit, in ambiguam regno de paupere litem 
 Gompulit infauftae genetrix Difcordia pugnae : 
 Hie urbes animi fervor fubcendit Achaeas, 
 Attica cum diro cecidit Lacedaemone tellus, 
 Quumque in Spartanos iret Thefea propago, 
 Et deturbatis titubaret Graecia rebus : 
 Quin etiam fimilem video inpendere ruinam 
 Italiae ; magis atque magis nam proelia crefcunt, 
 
 Qua
 
 Qua fonat anguftus Scyllae finus atquc Charybdis, 
 Quaque Syracofio protenditur Infula ponto, 
 Infula Cyclopum, Libyae porre&a fub axem. 
 Me miferum ! Inficiunt campos, & cun&a veneno 
 Flumina : ceu Libyca interdum maculofus arena, 
 Poft hiemem coluber longo male gramine pafta 
 Excutiens membra, ac fenio & fqualentibus annis 
 Exfutus, calido convolvit lubrica Soli 
 Terga, tribufque micans linguis atque ore, per agros 
 Letiferum fundit, perque avia rura venenum, 
 Quorum ego maternis infligere corda fagittis 
 Heu potero ! quique ipfe meum fuper ardua regmfm 
 Sidera, caeleftefque domos, immenfaque mundi 
 Pondera protendo, ignota nunc turpis arena 
 Cogor, 8c exfternis contemtus degere in oris ! 
 Haec memorans, toto proiedus corpore fe fe 
 
 Volvit
 
 Volvit hum!, & miferum fcopulo caput inclinavit. 
 
 - - * * 
 Quid faciat, quo vertat her, quid denique captet 
 
 Confilii, nefcit : veluti fi. forte viarum 
 Quis rudis interdum deferta in compita venit, 
 Tune incertus iter defixfa examinat hafta : 
 Aut qualis proles Hyrcani parva leonis 
 Haeret, ubi hoftili confixfum vulnere patrem 
 Confpicit, an rigidos venantis fanguine vultus 
 Imbuat, an celeri praeftet confidere curfu : 
 Hinc timor, hinc illam pietas agit, & fibi tamdem 
 Dum nocet, haud potis eft vitam fervare parenti : 
 Sic Pueri fubcenfa tument praecordia, & oeftro 
 Mens agitata gravi, curarum fluduat aeftu. 
 Languebat myrtus, languebat bacca, rofaeque, 
 Queis nitidum caput alma Venus praecinxerat olim, 
 Exftin&aeque faces, ac tela iugalia paflim 
 
 Ante
 
 [ '57 J 
 
 Ante pedes effufa Dei fine honore iacebant. 
 
 At circumfpiciens Vrbem, quam Thamefis unda 
 Abluit, & cultos late difterminat agros, 
 Quaeque fub imperio REGIS terraque marique 
 Infignis, magnifque opibus, partifque tropaeis 
 Dirigitur, pofitis componit pe&ora curis ; 
 Namque videt celeres volitare per aera Amores, 
 Et gemini innocuas cordis praedicere flammas, 
 Quorum alii incendunt taedas, aliique corollas 
 Floribus intexunt variis, & praepete curfu 
 Nunc hue, nunc illuc, quo fert fua quemque voluptas 
 Circumeunt, variafque exfuto corpore formas 
 Adcipiunt : quales adverfo Sole columbae 
 Dum fe confpiciunt, varios, variofque colores 
 Inradiante trahunt penna, fefeque venuftas 
 Humanis praebent oculis, falluntque videntes. 
 
 Y Aft
 
 Aft alios inter, geminos ex ordine primo 
 Praepetibus librare nitentia corpora pennis 
 Nobilium Genios animarum cernit ovantes, 
 Certantefque fimul parto poft longa triumpho 
 Tempora ; deinde faces inter fe aequare corufcas, 
 Quae fubito ex animis illuftribus emicuere. 
 
 VIRGIN is in cafto pofui cimabula corde, 
 Aiebat primus, quum vix in luminis auras 
 Prodiit aetherias : regali fanguine venas 
 Implevi, feries ex quo numerofa nepotum 
 Crefcet, materies Venturis ampla Poetis. 
 Primos quin etiam vagitus ipfe recepi, 
 Atque interruptas potui diftinguere voces, 
 Quae poft magna quidem funt^ ac praeclara loquutae. 
 Mobilis haud olli primis quum crefceret annis, 
 Mens fuit, aut fubito inftabiles fub pedore motus ; 
 
 Aft
 
 [ 159 ] 
 
 Aft animum illius praeftans atque ora, decoro 
 Pondere firmabat gravitas : non maefta, nee atrum 
 Torva fupercilium, tumidis non afpera didis, 
 Sed clara, 8c miti facies condita lepore. 
 Dein validas pofuit Virtus non fida fub imo 
 Pedore radices, prpcul omni forde fugata ; 
 Vnde inconcuflum firmato robore pedus 
 Fortunae quafcumque minas, quofcumque labores, 
 Aerumnafque pati folet, atque obfiftere fato : 
 Non fecus rapidis pelagi quae tunditur undis, 
 Dura filex, inmota manet : non inrequieta 
 Aequora, non ventos, tempeftatefque fonoras 
 Horret ; quoque magis premitur, fit laevior aeftu. 
 Non humana quidem fpecies, fed caelicus olli 
 Vultus ineft, quamvis ipfum concedere par eft 
 Muneribus, queis fe decoratam iure fatetur, 
 
 Y 2 Et
 
 Et gaudet. Quid enim manuum ingeniofa fuarum 
 Nunc opera, aut quam diverfo (ermone latentes 
 Declaret fenfus, repetam ? qui ad plectra choreas 
 In numerum ducat, fefeque per aera verlet, 
 Subpofitafque celer vix dum pede lambat arenas ? 
 Vtque etiam altifono furas evindla cothurno 
 Adfedtus hominum varibs imitetur & actus ? 
 Talia fed ludens didicit, maiora profecl:o 
 Per memet iadtare poteft ; namque omnia ludis 
 Ipfa meis, orbifque marifque incognita vafti 
 Nomina, diverfofque fitus, geniumque, vicefque 
 Aftrorum Solifque vias, Lunaeque labores, 
 Et varies cafus populorum, fataque regum 
 Plurima divino percepit acumine mentis. 
 Quin & Graiorum quicquid mendacia narrant 
 Tempora, diftinde oftendi^ Romaeque triumphos, 
 
 Et
 
 .'[*' J 
 
 Et quantum Latii fuderunt arma cruoris 
 Punica, quot bellis rubuit navalibus aequor : 
 Quique duces Troiam bello obfedere decenni, 
 Queis & Mcninonius populos, Parthofque catervis 
 / Dux Macedo fubiecit, Achacmeniafque phalanges ; 
 Monftra quot Alcides domuit, quibus aethera pennis 
 Tranavit gelidafque advenit Daedalus Ar&os : 
 Hippolyti caftos, & Bellerophontis amores, 
 Inluftrefque Helenae raptus, 8c Phyllidis ignes, 
 Pomaque Cydippes, & iniquis Orithyam 
 Sublatam ventis, Clymenenque, piumque fidelis 
 Pe<5lus Hypermneftrae, CinyramqueHellenque paventem. 
 Quicquid inhisminimejuftum, tumidumque, procaxque 
 Arguit, & quicquid redum, atque imitabile fentit, 
 Sponte fua fequitur, perque omnia nodte, dieque 
 Excurrit vigilans : quales aeftate ferena 
 
 Per
 
 Per campos celeri, per florida prata volatu 
 Exercentur apes, croceofque e flore liquores, 
 Caeleftemque legunt rorem, & ficcata relinquunt 
 Gramma. Queis tantum reliquas fupereminet omncs 
 Muneribus, quantum lapides carbunculus inter, 
 Et rutilas minimo gemmas candore renidet, 
 Dives arenofo qua tinguitur India Gange : 
 Qualia five humiles inter pineta myricas 
 Extollunt fublime caput, ramofque comantes 
 Pelion Aemonios ubi longe defpicit agros. 
 Quot vero mores populorum vifit, & urbes, 
 Me duce? veramihi FLORENTIA teftis adefto, 
 Ipfam cui propriis in fedibus adfpexifle 
 Contigit, in laribufque tuis audiffe loquentem : 
 Clara ubi virtutum permanfit fama fuarum, 
 Sinceroque omnes teftantur pedore, quondam 
 
 Queis
 
 i6 3 
 
 Queis licuit dotes animi fpedare fuperbas. 
 Hanc igitur folam paffus non degere vitam 
 lamdudum ipfe Viro ftatui coniungere, geflis, 
 Et celebri virtute Viro ; turn commoda nadus 
 Tempora, promcritum magni cum Principis ortu 
 Rcdderet officium, claro de fanguine natis 
 Miftus uterque viris, ambos flmul occurreiites 
 Dulcibus infix! telis, flammifque perulli ; 
 Cum fubito dulci VIRGO famulatur Amori, 
 Fitque, volente Deo, fenfim formofior, atque 
 Concita amore canit, loquiturque & gaudet aniore, 
 Adiiducque oculos in vultum figit Amantis : 
 Tigris ita Armcniis peragrans in montibus, ira 
 Commota, & leto cupiens abducere fetus 
 Confiftit, vitro pe&us fubcenfa micanti, 
 Quod follcrs medio venator tramite liquit ; 
 
 Fixis
 
 I64]: ,-,' 
 
 Fixis ilia oculis nitidum fpe&ans, cryftallum 
 Non alio mentem infolito correpta riitore 
 Avertit : celer interea venator amatos 
 Eripit heu catulos, nee tigridis ultio terret. 
 Quare ego, me comitum denfa ftipante caterva, 
 Ad Venerem tendam, & felix praenuncius olli 
 Egregios referam cafus, partumque triumphum. 
 Haec ait: at Genius praeclari CONIVGIS alter 
 Illius attends verba auribus exaudivit, 
 Et tremulo alarum motu fuper aera fiftens, 
 Hunc contra aequali fie eft fermone loquutus. 
 
 Quum iam fatis artibus olim 
 
 Pieridum, Phoebique indultum, ad grandia mentem 
 Ipfa tuam ftudia, ac regnorum iura vocavi ? 
 Et merito : quis enim fuerat te do6tior uno 
 Humanum curare genus : quis dignior alter 
 
 Tarn
 
 Tarn vaftas aequis moderari legibus urbes ? 
 Non ego fida loquor, nobis HIBERNIA teftis, 
 Quae meruit Populos, te Praefide, habere beatos 
 Dum vigilans redti ftudium eft experta, fidemque ; 
 Namque illam propria te fub ditione regentem 
 Non tua tangebant, fed tantum publica vota. 
 Siquid in imperio cenferes forte tenendum, 
 Commoda curabas populi, primufque fubibas 
 lufTa volens ; plebs unde obfervantifftma turis 
 Evadit, nee f err e invito corde recufat^ 
 H$uum par ere fibi duftorem fentiat ipfum .- 
 Et certe totum componi cernimus orbem 
 Regis ad exemplum^ non fa inflettere fenfus 
 Humanos edi&a valent, quam vita regenfts. 
 Dumque tuis regni manibus rnolitus habenas, 
 Nullae nobilium caedes iniuftaque vulgo 
 
 Z Crimina ;
 
 Crimina ; noil maeftus regionem linquere avitam 
 
 Cogitur inmerito civis ; vedtigal avarus 
 
 Mite Redemptor habet, nee ad haftam feclor iniquus 
 
 Civiles populatur opes, agrofque licetur ; 
 
 Non avidus digito, non voce arceffitur emtor : 
 
 Nee tua privatis cumularia aeraria damnis 
 
 Mos erat : una fides regnabat pe&ore, nullo 
 
 Emta fides pretio, non te foedantia fenfus 
 
 Munera legitimo poterant feducere iure. 
 
 Non grave fignorum pondus, non lina magiftra 
 
 Pida manu, non eximiis infculpta figuris 
 
 Vafa, corinthiaco fulgentia vafa Metallo, 
 
 (Quae veteres etiam fama eft adamafle Quirites) 
 
 Non tyriae veftes, non vultus forma decori 
 
 Teque, animumque tuum fumma integritate reduxit : 
 
 Nequicquam triftis iaciebat ad aftra querellas 
 
 Perfi-
 
 [ 1*7 
 
 Perfidia, & laceros foede difperfa capillos 
 Horrebat diro furiarum vincla veneno ; 
 Sola quidem gladios poterat Clementia trifles 
 Frangere: turn cafto vifa eft adfurgere vultu 
 Pallas, propitioque Fides defcendere caelo, 
 Et placidos inter pafTim difcurrere cives. 
 Quid* vero tibi nobilius, ijuid dignius umquarn 
 Adcidit, aut ulli potuit contingere Regi, 
 Quam caecis tantas non delituifle tenebris 
 Virtu tes . animi : verum HIBERNISQVE patere 
 Gentibus, aeternaque extolli ad fidera laude ? 
 Non etenim, qui te facilem, cundlifque benignum 
 Praebueris repetam : quis te difcrimine rerum 
 Confuluit civis, cui non miferante foleres 
 Voce, vel humano refponfum reddere vultu? 
 Quis te adiit fupplex, teque in fua vota rogavit, 
 
 Cui
 
 [ 168 ] ' : ;. 
 
 Cui non delapfis tranquille in rebus adeffes ? 
 Tu clupeus communis eras, tu certa falutis 
 Ancora, tu ftatio placidi tutiffima portus. 
 Hinc feu, te plateae feu tecta fuperba tenerent, 
 Ipfa tuum comitabat her, maria omnia circum 
 Laetitia, 8c blando maieftas iunda lepore. 
 Nee quemquam invalidus languor, nee debilis aeta 
 Nee cohibere potis fexus, ne lumina pofTet, 
 Ac faciem fpedare tuam. Te nofcere tamdem 
 Ardebant puerique fimul, iuvenefque, fenefque. 
 Vxor quin etiam, tune laetabatur, & omnes 
 Ferre parata libens fetus, curafque, dolerefque, 
 Adfpiciens, cui nam valeat progignere natos. 
 
 FINIS.
 
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