For thee (they cry'd) amidst alarms and ftrife, We fail'd in tempests down the stream of life; 345 Then came the smallest tribe I yet had seen; IMITATION S. VER. 356. Then came the smallest etc.] I faw anone the fifth route, That to this lady gan loute, What, quoth fhe, and be ye wood? And ween ye for to do good, 355. Great idol of mankind! we neither claim But fafe in deferts from th'applause of men, 360 Would die unheard of, as we liv'd unseen, 'Tis all we beg thee, to conceal from fight Thofe acts of goodness, which themselves requite. O let us ftill the fecret joy partake, To follow virtue ev'n for virtue's fake. 365 And live there men, who flight immortal fame ? Who then with incenfe fhall adore our name? But, mortals! know, 'tis ftill our greatest pride To blaze thofe virtues, which the good would hide. Rife! Mufes, rife! add all your tuneful breath, 370 These must nor fleep in darkness and in death. She faid in air the trembling mufic floats, And on the winds triumphant (well the notes; So foft, tho' high, fo loud, and yet fo clear, Ev'n lift'ning Angels lean'd from heav'n to hear: 375 To farthest shores th'Ambrofial spirit flies, Sweet to the world, and grateful to the skies. Next these a youthful train their vows exprefs'd, gay embroid❜ry drefs'd ; With feathers crown'd, with IMITATIONS. That all the world may of it heare; And he gan blow their loofs so cleare, Through the World went the foune, All fo kindly, and eke fo foft, That their fame was blown aloft. P. VER. 378. Next these a youthful train etc.] The Reader Hither, they cry'd, direct your eyes, and fee 380 385 390 Pleas'd with the ftrange fuccefs, vaft numbers prest Around the fhrine, and made the fame request: What you (the cry'd) unlearn'd in arts to please, Slaves to yourselves, and ev❜n fatigu❜d with ease, Who lofe a length of undeferving days, Would you ufurp the lover's dear-bought praise ? To juft contempt, ye vain pretenders, fall, The people's fable, and the scorn of all. IMITATIONS. 400 might compare thefe twenty-eight lines following, which contain the fame matter, with eighty-four of Chaucer, beginning thus: Tho came the fixth companye, And gan fafte to Fame cry, etc. being too prolix to be here inferted. P. Straight the black clarion sends a horrid found, 405 Laft, those who boast of mighty mischiefs done, Of these a gloomy tribe furround the throne, This having heard and feen, fome pow'r unknown Strait chang'd the scene, and fnatch'd me from the throne. IMITATIONS. VER. 406. Laft, those who boast of mighty etc.] That had y-done the treachery, etc. P. VER.418. This having heard and feen, etc.] The Scene here changes from the temple of Fame to that of Rumour, which is almost entirely Chaucer's. The particulars follow. Tho faw I ftonde in a valey, Under the castle fast by Before my view appear'd a ftructure fair, With rapid motion turn'd the mansion round; Not less in number were the fpacious doors, 420 Than leaves on trees, or fands upon the fhores; 425 Pervious to winds, and open ev'ry way. As weighty bodies to the centre tend, IMITATIONS. That Labyrinthus cleped is, Ne never reft is in that place. P. VER. 428. As flames by nature to the etc.] This thought is transferred hither out of the third book of Fame, where it takes up no less than one hundred and twenty verses, beginning thus, Geffray, thou wotteft well this, etc. P. |