TASSO GERUS. LIB. CANT. XIV. ST. 32.

ISMISS'D at length, they break through all

delay

To tempt the dangers of the doubtful way;

And first to Afcalon their steps they bend,

Whose walls along the neighbouring fea extend,
Nor yet in profpect rose the distant shore;

Scarce the hoarfe waves from far were heard to roar,
When thwart the road a river roll'd its flood
Tempeftuous, and all further courfe withstood;
The torrent stream his ancient bounds difdains,
Swoll'n with new force, and late-descending rains.
Irrefolute they stand; when lo, appears

The wondrous Sage: vigorous he feem'd in years,
Awful his mien, low as his feet there flows

A vestment unadorn'd, though white as new-fall'n fnows;

Against the stream the waves fecure he trod,
His head a chaplet bore, his hand a rod.

As on the Rhine, when Boreas' fury reigns,
And winter binds the floods in icy chains,
Swift shoots the village-maid in rustic play
Smooth, without step, adown the shining way,
Fearless in long excurfion loves to glide,

And sports and wantons o'er the frozen tide.

So moved the Seer, but on no harden'd plain; The river boil'd beneath, and rush'd toward the main. Where fix'd in wonder ftood the warlike pair,

His course he turn'd, and thus relieved their care: "Vast, oh my friends, and difficult the toil

To feek your hero in a distant foil!

No common helps, no common guide ye need,
Art it requires, and more than winged speed.
What length of sea remains, what various lands,
Oceans unknown, inhofpitable fands!

For adverse fate the captive chief has hurl'd

Beyond the confines of our narrow world:

Great things and full of wonder in your ears
I shall unfold; but first dismiss your fears;
Nor doubt with me to tread the downward road
That to the grotto leads, my dark abode."

Scarce had he faid, before the warriors' eyes
When mountain-high the waves difparted rise;
The flood on either hand its billows rears,
And in the midst a spacious arch appears.
Their hands he seized, and down the steep he led
Beneath the obedient river's inmoft bed;

The watery glimmerings of a fainter day Discover'd half, and half conceal'd their way; As when athwart the dusky woods by night The uncertain crefcent gleams a fickly light. Through fubterraneous paffages they went, Earth's inmost cells, and caves of deep defcent; Of many a flood they view'd the secret source, The birth of rivers rifing to their course, Whate'er with copious train its channel fills, Floats into lakes, and bubbles into rills;

The Po was there to fee, Danubius' bed,
Euphrates' fount, and Nile's myfterious head.
Further they pass, where ripening minerals flow,
And embryon metals undigested glow,

Sulphureous veins and living filver shine,

Which foon the parent fun's warm powers refine,

In one rich mass unite the precious store,

The parts combine and harden into ore :

Here gems break through the night with glittering beam,

And paint the margin of the costly stream,

All stones of luftre shoot their vivid ray,

And mix attemper'd in a various day;

Here the foft emerald fmiles of verdant hue,
And rubies flame, with fapphire's heavenly blue,
The diamond there attracts the wondrous fight,
Proud of its thousand dies and luxury of light.

1738. Æt. 22.

РОЕМАТА.

HYMENEAL

ON THE MARRIAGE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

THE PRINCE OF WALES.1

GNARE noftrûm mentes, et inertia corda,
Dum curas regum, et fortem miferamur

iniquam,

Quæ folio affixit, vetuitque calefcere flammâ

Dulci, quæ dono divûm, gratiffima ferpit
Viscera per, mollefque animis lene implicat æstus
Nec teneros fenfus, Veneris nec præmia nôrunt,
Eloquiumve oculi, aut facunda filentia linguæ :

Scilicet ignorant lacrymas, fævofque dolores,
Dura rudimenta, et violentæ exordia flammæ ;

Scilicet ignorant, quæ flumine tinxit amaro

;