His scepter'd hand, and thus dissembling speaks:

"This graceful ardour, Turon, well beseems
Thy vigorous years, and fits thy fame in arms.
Me too the voice of honourable praise
Delights: I kindle at the sound of war.
But ever should the ear of kings be clos'd
Against the syren Glory: then most happy,
Then greatest, when, by their paternal care
Preserv'd, their people bless their peaceful reign.
Hear then our just resolve. If thirst of wealth
Inflame the fierce Cornubian, and provoke

His hostile inroad on our country's peace;

Wealth I have store. Within my spacious hall
Spoils upon spoils in glitt'ring order pil'd,

From bleeding Greece, or from the boastful Gaul,

Torn in the bloody conflict, when the might

Of Brutus foil'd their bravest: nor alone

The spoils by Brutus won, my sword achiev'd
No vulgar trophies, when the Scythian chief
Bow'd in the dust his warlike head. All these

Freely your king shall give, and more than these, Resign his martial fame, to purchase peace,

And from his people turn the rage of war.

But who our offer to the foe shall bear?

Will great Assaracus, in arms renown'd?

Or sage Mempricius, from whose honied tongue Persuasion flows?" He ended. With a frown,

The stern Assaracus thus answer'd fierce,

And shook the hoary honours of his head,

"To others, king, commit th' ungrateful task:

If in the numerous host a slave be found

So

poor of soul, so lost to sense of shame. Degenerate prince! Not thus our noble sires

Su'd to confed'rate Greece; but with bold arms Repell'd her fierce assault, and ten long years. Maintain'd the doubtful war with adverse heav'n. Shall we, Loëgria's gather'd strength in arms, Purchase precarious safety, and belie

Our honourable scars? Go thou, base prince!

Go ransom that unwarlike head, while we

By hardy daring, and illustrious deeds, Assert our ancient fame!" As when the gale Slow rising, first invades the rustling leaves; Now scarcely heard, now loud, and louder still Swells on the ear the sullen sound, prophetic Of the swift-rushing tempest: as he spoke. So rose th' indignant murmur. Ev'ry chief Darts on the king his angry eyes. With joy He marks their warlike ardour. Now arose The hoary sage Mempricius, and at once In mute attention all was hush'd around, While thus experienc'd age discerning spoke. "Blest is the monarch of the brave and free. His throne is fix'd secure, and Fame for him The laurel wreath prepares, th' immortal verse: And blest the people, whom a prince commands In action valiant, and in council wise.

These eyes, oh king, have seen thy crested helm Flame like a meteor foremost in the war,

While, like the pestilence, thy dreadful sword

Made armies fall. I wish'd my years renew'd
To emulate thy daring. Yet methought

Our youth, by thy example fir'd, display'd
Their fathers' spirit, and thy soaring flight
With no unequal wing pursu'd. They burn
With thirst of glory, and demand the war.
Ev'n hoary age beneath the pond'rous casque
Has crush'd his furrow'd brow. Shall coward fear,
Thought of precarious peace, and purchas'd safety,
Possess Loëgria, when Fame sounds th' alarm,
And Locrine leads the battle? Monarch, no.
Prove in the field our faith. Yet hear my counsel.
Pallas inspires my tongue. From Humber's stream,
The winding course of Trent, and where the Thames
Rolls his full tribute to the eastern main;

Ten thousand warriors by Elanius led,

Morindus, Elidurus, and the might

Of Britomarus, now with rapid march
Advance;

and ere six times the sun has dipp'd

His flaming axle in the western wave,

Their friendly banners, and their glitt'ring arms,

Shall greet our eyes. Let some illustrious chief,
Of high command, in solemn embassy

Approach Cornubia's leaders, thence to note

Their posture, strength, and number; (to prevail By fraud or force, alike is victory,)

The cause of their fierce inroad to demand;

And with fair shew of words, and specious gloss,

Or else with terms allure, and proffer'd treaty,

To some suspense of war. So may our vengeance Pour on their heads inevitable ruin."

Thus spake the wily chief. The king approv'd.

Mempricius, Malim, Galgacus, receive

The royal mandate. To the hostile camp

They bend their course: the heralds march before.

Beyond the hills of Mendip, where the soil

The grass nutritious, and the fragrant herb,

Yields rarely, but the ore of useful lead