Each various region's various wealth explore, 'Or bring the son of David's vaunted store; 'Or all combin'd; unmatch'd would still remain 'What tongue of man their beauty shall relate? Oh, far less charming in the Idalian grove, The sister graces, and the queen of love : 'Or rather here the graces learn to please, 'And golden Venus borrows charms from these. 'Such is their power, their magic smiles dispense 'Fair forms, sweet sounds, whatever sooths the sense; 'Whatever curious, useful, or refin'd, Instructs, illumines, and, delights the mind, 'But come, thyself the royal court behold; 'The queen decrees a tournament to hold. i The Fine Arts, Learning, and Good-breeding. < Four days consum'd in banquet and in fight, The fifth is destin'd to the nuptial rite.' Soon Paladour assents, the tale has fir'd His soul, and boundless thirst of fame inspir'd. Proceeds meanwhile the stranger to relate What evils vex, what dangers threat the state. 'Here envy lurks, there force and vengeance storm, And there ambition lifts his giant form; But now, restrain'd by that victorious arm, 'No clouds of war the tranquil land alarm; < The tumults of the troubled ocean cease, And sleeps the tempest in reluctant peace.' But still the guardian fairy, hov'ring near, Watch'd o'er her fav'rite knight with ceaseless care; The sacred shield to noble Cadwall's hands She gave, and thus to willing ears commands; • Haste, mount thy steed, and grasp th' enchanted blade, The sorcerer's towers with instant force invade. 'Ev'n now, ev'n now, our fell malicious foes • With snares th' unconscious Paladour enclose: "But his lov'd head I will myself protect, 'Their spells unravel, and their charms detect. " And well I trust Morgana's arts shall fail, ' And truth and virtue against hell prevail.' No need to tell with what a gracious air, The queen to Paladour gave welcome fair. Rous'd noble knights their prowess to display. Four times victorious, in the martial game, Brave Paladour triumphant notes proclaim. Four evenings saw th' illustrious train prolong Now the fifth morning rose, and smil'd so fair, So fragrant and so pure the gentle air, It seem'd that, with auspicious influence sweet, The bright Morgana in her royal place, Shone with such modest, yet majestic grace, The gazing crowd stood fix'd in fond amaze, And ev'ry rapturous voice breaks forth in praise. Rich gifts, from many a tributary king, Ambassadors in solemn order bring, By heralds led. Each, in his master's name, Then to the bridegroom, where he sits in state, But chief they hail him fortune's fav'rite care, As when some stately stream its current leads Through ancient groves, and flow'r-bespangled meads, If on the bank a cliff with stately brow, Breasting the wave, surveys the plain below, The master there, to spread through time his praise, Some fair and stately dome decrees to raise : While, ev'ry hour, the never-ceasing tide Beneath some fragment severs from the side, Till many a gaping fissure rends the wall, And the whole fabric totters to its fall. So Paladour drinks in at ev'ry vein, Through ev'ry sense, the heart-corrupting bane. Now love of praise and emulation fire; And, as the queen in all her charms appears, The native subjects next their homage pay; Successive they approach in meet array, Marshall'd with care. Great lords their offerings bear, And warlike troops in glitt'ring arms appear. |