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He marks his mighty foe, and coursing round,

Springs to his throat, and drags him to the ground.

Just at that moment, terror in her eye,

Morgana starting gave a piercing cry;

Thunder'd the heaven, and o'er the palace fell
Thick darkness; far resounds a dismal yell.
Then breaking quick, the fogs are roll'd away;
Shines forth again the cheering orb of day.
But the proud city, and the royal throne,
The dame that with such peerless beauty shone,
Appear no more. Alike the bridegroom knight
And giant monarch vanish from his sight;
And Paladour beholds where through the air
Morgana's chariot winged dragons bear.

The noble Cadwall with undaunted breast,
Well had perform'd Melissa's high behest.
And Archimago, bent on vengeance, found
The purpos'd mischief on himself rebound.
The shield of truth disclos'd the master spell:
The knight revers'd it, and th' enchantment fell.

Then smit with frantic fear the wizard fled,
And call'd the rocks to hide his guilty head.
In vain. The spirits seize, and whirl in air,
To plunge him in the cavern of despair;
Condemn'd through many a painful age to feel
Th' avenging furies, with their whips of steel:
Till by the powers of darkness rais'd again
With poisonous guile to taint the hearts of men;
On the Red Cross insensate war to wage;
And spotless truth pursue with unavailing rage.
Now Paladour, whom shame and joy divide,
Beholds his brother, and his fairy guide.

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'Lo here,' Melissa cried, the royal seat,

For which thy heart could change my calm retreat!

'Lo, here, Morgana's faithless wiles reveal'd!'

Then full before him plac'd the sacred shield.

Swift each delusive colour melts away,

And bursts upon his soul prophetic day.

He look'd and saw a narrow path, which led

Through a dark vale, with rugged rocks o'erspread;

A precipice abrupt on either side;

Above, before, perpetual mists reside;

Behind, more awful than the thunders roar, A voice proclaims aloud, ye turn no more. Sad lamentations sound, and plaintive sighs, Deep smother'd groans, and agonizing cries; And ev'ry where the ministers of fate,

Terrific forms, with threat'ning aspect wait: Dark Envy's livid hue, and snaky hair; Oppression, Want, and heart-corroding Care,

And restless Jealousy, and frantic Fear;
Treason and Fraud, and stern Revenge appear;
Despair, and Superstition's sullen brow,

And vain Regret, Remorse, and endless Woe:
One portal midst the gloom is seen to rear
Its front, now distant, now approaching near:
But there the king of terrors stands confest,
And hope itself with horror fills the breast.

The careful fairy still the knight survey'd,

And, ere despondence could his soul invade,

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Behold,' she cried, where yonder glimmering ray

Shews yet another passage to the day;

'Proceed, nor yield to fear. The noble mind

Compels reluctant fortune to be kind.

'No more let vain desires thy purpose bend,

'And heav'nly guards shall lead thee and defend.'

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She vanish'd. Nor was noble Cadwall there:

He too, like some vain shadow, lost in air.
The warrior paus'd. Meantime the glimmering light

By slow degrees gain'd on the cheerless night..

Forward he mov'd, and, fill'd with holy awe,

Before him soon a shining vision saw.

Less splendid in the rapt enthusiast's dream,
By sacred Meles, or the Syrian stream,
Seem'd Juno, consort of the thund'ring lord,
Or bright Astarte, as heav'n's queen ador❜d.

A book she held: unutterable day

Shed from the sacred page a glorious ray :

The stars compos'd her crown: her sweeping vest

Heaven's purest azure: and upon her breast

What seem'd a sun glow'd radiant: mercy's throne

Her forehead: and unclouded wisdom shone

In her majestic eyes. Upon her state

Life and immortal joy, her handmaids, wait.
The harmonies of heav'n give forth their voice,
And shouting angels bid the world rejoice—
Glory in the highest to th' eternal King!
On earth to men good will and peace! they sing.
Benignant was the smile with which she rais'd

The knight, who, lost in awe and wonder, gaz'd.
From her celestial touch new vigour flow'd

Through all his limbs: his heart with rapture glow'd. Smooth was the way bestrew'd with asphodel,

And ev'ry flower grateful to sight or smell,

While the pure æther, and the cloudless sky,
Inspir'd content, and hope, and mental joy.
Thus with kind heav'n to friend in happy hour,
Once more he reach'd Melissa's charming bow'r.
The choir of lovely dames his coming greet
With joyful symphonies, and voices sweet;

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