II.

At length, fo Nereus had her rightly taught,
That doubtful cares might eat her heart no morë,
Her imp in prattling infancy fhe brought

To the fam'd Centaur, on mount Pelion hoar,
Hight Chiron, whom to Saturn Phyl'ra bore;

Chiron, whose wisdom flourish'd 'bove his peers,
In ev'ry goodly thew, and virtuous lore,

To principle his yet untainted years;
The feed that's early fown, the fairest harvest bears..

Far in the covert of a bushy wood,

Where aged trees their ftar-proof branches fpread,
A grott, with grey mofs ever dropping ftood;
Ne coftly gems the sparkling roof display'd,
Ne cryftal fquares the pavement rich inlaid,
But o'er the pebbles, clear with glaffy shine,
A limpid ftream in foothing murmurs ftray'd,
And all around the flow'ring eglantine
Its balmy tendrils spread in many a wanton twine

IV.

A lowly habitation, well I ween,

Yet facred made by men of mickle fame, Who there in precepts wife had leffon'd been ; Chafte Peleus, confort of the fea-born dame,

Sage

Sage Efculape, who cou'd the vital flame
(Bleft leach!) relumine by his healing skill ;
And Jafon, who, his father's crown to claim,
Defcended dreadful from the craggy hill,
And with his portence stern did falfe ufurper thrill.

V.

Faft by the cave a damfel was ypight,

Afraid from earth her blufhing looks to rear,
Left aught indecent fhou'd offend her fight,
Left aught indecent fhou'd offend her ear ;
Yet wou'd fhe fometime deign at fober chear
Softly to fmile, but ever held it shame
The mirth of foul-mouth'd ribaldry to bear,

A cautious nymph, and MODESTY her name.
Ah! who but churlifh carle would hurt fo pure a dame ?

VI.

With her fate TEMPERANCE, Companion meet,
Plucking from tree-en bough her fimple food,
And pointing to an urn befide her feet,

Fill'd with the cryftal of the wholsome flood:
With her was feen, of grave and aweful mood,
Hoary FIDELITY, a matron ftaid;

And fweet BENEVOLENCE, who smiling ftood,

Whilst at her breast two fondling infants play'd, And turtles, billing foft, coo'd thro' the echoing glade.

VII. On

VII.

On t'other fide, of bold and open air,
Was a fair perfonage hight EXERCISE;
Reclin❜d he feem'd upon his rough boar-spear,
As late furceas'd from hardy enterprize;
(For Sloth inglorious did he aye despise)

Fresh glow'd his cheek with health's vermilion dye,
On his fleek brow the fwelling fweat-drops rise,
And oft around he darts his glowing eye
To view his well-breath'd hounds, full jolly company.

VIII.

Not far away was fage EXPERIENCE plac'd,

With care-knit brow, fix'd looks, and fober plight,
Who weighing well the prefent with the past,
Of every accident cou'd read aright.
With him was rev'rend CONTEMPLATION pight,
Bow-bent with eld, his beard of snowy hue,
Yet age's hand mote not empare the fight,

Still with sharp ken the eagle he'd pursue,

As thro' the buxom air to heav'n's bright bow'rs fhe flew.

1X.

Here the fond parent left her darling care,

Yet foftly breath'd a figh as fhe withdrew; Here the young hero, ev'n from tender year,

Eftfoons imbib'd Inftruction's hony'd dew,

(For

(For well to file his tongue, fage Chiron knew)
And learnt to discipline his life aright;
To pay to pow'rs fupreme a reverence due,

Chief to Saturnian Jove, whofe dreaded might Wings thro' difparted clouds the bik'ring lightning's flight.

X.

Aye was the stripling wont, ere morning fair
Had rear'd o'er eastern waves her rofy tede,
To grafp with tender hand the pointed spear,
And beat the thicket where the boar's fell breed
Enfhrouded lay, or lion's tawny feed.

Oft wou'd great Dian, with her woody train,
Stop in mid chace to wonder at his speed,

Whilft up the hill's rough fide she saw him strain, Or fweep with winged feet along the level plain.

XI.

And when dun fhades had blent the day's bright eye,
Upon his fhoulders, with flow ftagg'ring pace,
He brought the prey his hand had done to die,
Whilft blood with duft befprent did foul difgrace
The goodly features of his glowing face.

When as the fage beheld on graffy foil

Each panting corse, whilst life did well àpace,

The panther of his spotted pride he'd spoil, To deck his fofter fon: fit meed of daring toil.

XII.

And ever and anon the godlike fire,

To temper stern behefts with pleafaunce gay, Would touch (for well he cou'd) the filver lyre; So fweetly ravifh'd each enchanting lay,

That Pan, in fcornful wife, wou'd fling away * His ruftick pipe, and ev'n the sacred train Wou'd leave their lov'd Parnass' in trim array,

And thought their own Apollo once again Charm'd his attentive flock, a fimple fhepherd fwain.

XIII.

And ever and anon of worthies old,

Whose praise Fame's trump thro' earth's wide bounds had fpread,

To fire his mind to brave exploits, he told;

Pirithous, known for prowest hardy-head;
Thefeus, whofe wrath the dire Procruftes fled;
And Hercules, whom trembling Lerna fear'd,
When Hydra fell, in loathfome marshes bred,
In vain against the son of Jove úprear'd
Head Sprouting under head, by thrillant faulchion fhear'd.

XIV.

The ftern-brow'd boy in mute attention stood,
To hear the fage relate each great emprise ;
Then ftrode along the cave in haughtier mood,
Whilft varying paffions in his bofom rife,

And