But when she saw the lawless giant slain,

And heard the victor speak in soothing strain;
Soon re-assur'd, fair hope and gentle joy

Smil'd on her lips, and lighten'd in her eye.
Her modest cheek suffus'd with lively red,

Thus to the knight, in humble guise, she said,
Fair knight, heroic worth were ill repaid

'By grateful praises of a simple maid;

But, know, I serve an high and peerless queen :

'Great is her power, and goddess-like her mien.

The proud disturber of her gentle reign,

'Fierce as he was, and strong, thine arm has slain.

Joys above price, immortal and divine,

Her voice bestows, and these shall sure be thine... While yet the damsel speaks, by just degrees

Harmonious sounds come floating in the breeze,

Sweet as the sirens in Sicilian seas;

Or as, in Tempe's vale, th' Aonian choir

Responsive to Apollo's golden lyre.

}

The youth enraptur'd listens to the lay,

Unconscious following as it leads the way :
The dulcet lay, contriv'd with matchless art,
Each sense takes captive, and subdues the heart.
Sooth'd with the sound, he sees the rocks divide,
The tangled brakes recede on either side,

The wild thyme springs where'er he prints his feet,
While the south wind flings round the balmy sweet,
And, slowly gliding o'er the lucid stream,
Tempers with vapours thin the sultry beam.
On the slope bank luxuriant verdure grows,
And bowers of fragrant shade invite repose.
Seems there no cares intrude, no fears annoy,
But whisp'ring breezes prompt to gentle joy.
A lake before him wide extended lay,
Fair as heaven's pure expanse, and bright with day.
Upon the water's brink a damsel stood,

That seem'd the virgin goddess of the flood:

With downcast eyes she stood, and timid grace,

And blushes gave new beauty to her face;

But when she saw the lawless giant slain,

And heard the victor speak in soothing strai
Soon re-assur'd, fair hope and gentle joy
Smil'd on her lips, and lighten'd in her eye.
Her modest cheek suffus'd with lively red,
Thus to the knight, in humble guise, she sa
Fair knight, heroic worth were ill repaid
'By grateful praises of a simple maid;

But, know, I serve an high and peerless 'Great is her power, and goddess-like her

The proud disturber of her gentle reign,
Fierce as he was, and strong, thine arm

Joys above price, immortal and divine,

Her voice bestows, and these shall sure t
While yet the damsel speaks, by just degr
Harmonious sounds come floating in the b
Sweet as the sirens in Sicilian seas;

Or as, in Tempe's vale, th' Aonian choir
Responsive to Apollo's golden lyre.

About her soft lips play'd a dimpled smile,

Of power to curb the strong, the wise beguile;
While now and then, and almost as by chance,
She darted on the knight a tender glance :
His inmost soul the witching glance alarms;

But she seems all unconscious of her charms.

The rescu'd dame with out-spread arms she meets,
And kindly, with a sister's fondness, greets.

Then both, in courteous phrase, th' admiring knight

To the fair palace of their queen invite.

Beyond the silver lake's expanse it lies,

' And we thy willing guides.' Nor he denies. Then wav'd that second maid her graceful hand; A gilded vessel soon, at her command,

Appears self-mov'd, and quickly gains the land.

They enter in. Nor wind it asks, nor tides;

}

But, as instinct with life, o'er the smooth surface glides. Soft breath'd the gentle air; the gentle wave,

Rippling beside the keel, soft murmur gave.