The cattle brouze the lawn with dew bespread,
While every bird from out the buskets flies.
Then to the field our lover issued ;

But sleep had seal'd l'Allegro's drousy eyes,
And Bon-vivant also in downy slumber lies.

XXIII.

Our Squire withouten drad, pursu'd his way,
And look'd around to spy this monster fell,
And many a well conceited roundelay

He sung in honor of his Columbel :

Mote he, perchaunce, destroy this spawn of hell, How easy were the task to him assign'd!

The lond of Fairy doth each lond excel;

View there the paragons of womankind;

View the bright virgins there, and leave thy heart behind.

XXIV.

Ah! lever should'st thou try the females there Than thus unwise another course pursue; There every nymph is innocent as fair: Try what I here advance, you'll find it true. Hard is our fate while bliss in hopes we few, Some deadly fiend to blast our joy appears; Contentment sweet, alas! is known to few. Thus for awhile the sun the welkin chears, But soon he hides his head, and melts in dropping tears.

XXV.

Life is a scene of conteck and distress,
Ne is it longer than a winter's day;

And shall we make our few enjoyments less?
Far from my cot, thou blatant-beast, away.
No husband's noul will I with horns array,
Ne shall my tongue its venom'd malice wreak
On tuneful bards, whom laurel crowns apay;
Ne will I 'gainst the comely matron speak,
Or draw one pearly drop down beauty's rosy cheek.

XXVI.

The Squire of Dames rode on with muchel tine, And, as he cast askaunce his greedy look, He saw empight beneath an auncient pine A hoary shepherd leaning on his crook : His falling tears increas'd the swelling brook: And he did sigh as he would break his heart. "O thou deep-read in sorrow's baleful book, The Squire exclaim'd, areed thy burning smart ; Our dolors grow more light when we the tale impart."

XXVII.

To whom the swain reply'd, "O gentle Youth,
Yon fruitful meads my num'rous herds possess'd,
My days roll'd on unknown to pain or ruth,
And one fair daughter my old age ybless'd.

Oh, had you seen her for the wake ydress'd With kirtle ty'd with many a color'd string, Thy tongue to all the world had then confess'd That she was sheener than the pheasant's wing, And, when she rais'd her voice, no lark so soot could sing.

XXVIII.

"In virtue's thews I bred the lovely maid,
And she right well the lessons did pursue;
Too wise she was to be by man betray'd;
But the curst blatant-beast her form did view,
And round our plains did spread a tale untrue,
That Rosabella, spurning marriage band,
Had felt those pangs which virgin never knew,
And that Sir Topas my poor girl trepann'd ;
He, who in sable stole doth in our pulpit stand.

XXIX.

"Nay, more, the hellish monster has invented, How a young swain on Shannon's banks yborn (Had not my care the deep-laid plot prevented) Would from my arms my Rosabel have born. Have not I cause to weep from rising morn 'Till Phoebus welketh in the western main, To see my dearling's fame thus vildly torn? Have I not cause to nourish endless pain ?” At this he deeply sigh'd, and wept full sore again.

XXX.

"Curst be this blatant-beast, reply'd the Squire, That thus infests your sea-begirted isle;

Shew me his face, that I may wreak mine ire Upon this imp of hell, this monster vile." "Away from hence not passing sure a mile, Might I advise you, you had better wend," Return'd the Swain, "deep-read in magic-style There Merlins wons, sue him to be your friend; And lest you miss your way, myself will you attend."

XXXI.

Together now they seek the hermitage
Deep in the covert of a dusky glade,
Where in his dortour wons the hoary Sage.

The moss-grown trees did form a gloomy shade,
Their rustling leaves a solemn music made,
And fairies nightly tripp'd the aweful green,
And if the tongue of fame hath truth display'd,
Full many a spectre was at midnight seen,

Torn from his earthly grave, a horrid sight! I

ween.

XXXII.

Ne rose, ne vi'let, glads the chearless bow'r,

Ne fringed pink from earth's green

bosom grew,

But hemloc dire, and every baleful flow'r

Might here be found, and knots of mystic rue. Close to the cell sprong up an auncient yew, And store of imps were on its boughs ypight, At his behests they from its branches flew, And, in a thousand various form bedight, Frisk'd to the moon's pale wain, and revell'd all the night.

XXXIII.

Around the cave a clust'ring ivy spread In wide embrace his over-twining arms, Within the walls with characters bespread Declar'd the pow'rful force of magic charms. Here drugs were plac'd destructive of all harms, And books that deep futurity could scan : Here stood a spell that of his rage disarms The mountain lyon 'till he yields to man; With many secrets more, which scarce repeat I can.

XXXIV.

The Squire of Dames deep enters in the cell! What will not valiant heart for beauty dare? His borrel fere here bids his friend farewell, And home he wends renewing cark and care. When, louting low with a becoming air, The Youth cry'd out, "O thrice renowned Mage, Vouchsafe to cure me of my black dispair; For thou not only art grown wise through age, But art of mortal man by far the wisest sage.”