XXIV. When as the knight had fram'd, in Britain-land In which the fovereign laws alone command, For this he chose a farm in Deva's vale, Here, fided by the guardians of the fold, He walk'd his rounds, and chear'd his bleft domain: Witness, ye lowing herds, who gave him milk; Witness, with autumn charg'd, the nodding car, O, hide thy head, abominable war! Of crimes and ruffian idleness the child! From heaven this life yfprung, from hell thy glories vild! XXVII. Nor XXVII. Nor from his deep retirement banish'd was Still, as with grateful change the feafons pafs, Gay plains extend where marshes slept before; As nearer to his farm you Dark frowning heaths grow bright with Ceres' ftore, And woods imbrown the steep, or wave along the fhore. XXVIII. made approach, He polish'd nature with a finer hand : Yet on her beauties durft not Art incroach; 'Tis Art's alone thefe beauties to expand. In graceful dance immingled, o'er the land, Pan, Paleas, Flora, and Pomona play'd: Here too brifk gales the rude wild common fand An happy place; where free, and unafraid, Amid the flowering brakes each coyer creature ftray'd. XXIX. But in prime vigour what can last for ay? That foul-enfeebling wizard Indolence, I whilom fung, wrought in his works decay Spread far and wide was his curs'd influence ; Of public virtue much he dull'd the sense, Ev'n much of private; ate our spirit out, And fed our rank luxurious vices: whence The land was overlaid with many a lout; Not, as old Fame reports, wife, generous, bold, and ftout. XXX. A 66 .XXX. A rage of pleasure madden'd every breaft, Enjoy this fpan of life! 'tis all the gods afford.” XXXI. The tidings reach'd to where in quiet hall, The good old knight enjoy'd well-earn'd repofe. "Come, come, Sir Knight! thy children on thee call: "Come, fave us yet, ere ruin round us close! "The demon Indolence thy toils o'erthrows.' On this the noble colour stain'd his cheeks, Indignant, glowing through the whitening fnows Of venerable eld; his eye full-speaks His ardent foul, and from his couch at once he breaks. XXXII. I will, (he cry'd) fo help me, God! deftroy That villain, Archimage.-His page then strait Benempt Dispatch. "My fteed be at the gate; My Bard attend; quick, bring the net of fate." This net was twisted by the fifters three; Which when once caft o'er harden'd wretch, too late Repentance comes: replevy cannot be From the ftrong iron grasp of vengeful destiny. XXXIII. Ho XXXIII. He came, the bard, a little druid-wight, He crept along, unpromifing of mien. Grofs he who judges fo. His foul was fair, Bright as the children of yon azure sheen. True comelinefs, which nothing can impair, Dwells in the mind: all elfe is vanity and glare. XXXIV. Come, (quoth the knight) a voice has reach'd mine The demon Indolence threats overthrow To all that to mankind is good and dear : Come, Philomelus; let us inftant go, O'erturn his bowers, and lay his castle low, [ear: Those men, those wretched men! who will be flaves, Muft drink a bitter wrathful cup of woe: But fome there be, thy fong, as from their graves, Shall raife. Thrice happy he! who without rigour faves. XXXV. Iffuing forth, the knight beftrode his steed, Of ardent bay, and on whose front a star Shone blazing bright: fprung from the generous That whirl of active day the rapid car, [breed He pranc'd along, difdaining gate or bar. And much they moraliz'd as thus y fere they yode. XXXVI. They * The nightingale. XXXVI. They talk'd of virtue, and of human bliss. And still their long refcarches met in this, This truth of truths, which nothing can refel : "From virtue's fount the pureft joys out-well, "Sweet rills of thought that chear the conscious foul; "While vice pours forth the troubled streams of hell, “The which, howe'er disguis'd, at last with dole Will, through the tortur'd breaft, their fiery torrent XXXVII. [roll." At length it dawn'd, that fatal valley gay, Sweet airs and fong; and without hurry all seem'd glad. "As God fhall judge me, knight, we muft forgiv (The half-enraptur'd Philomelus cry'd) "The frail good man deluded here to live, "Ah! nought is pure. It cannot be deny'd, "Come, let us those we can to real blifs entice. XXXIX. “Ay, |