Califthe there ftood manifeft of Shame,

And turn'd a Bear, the Northern Star became :
Her Son was next, and by peculiar Grace
In the cold Circle held the fecond Place:
The Stag Acteon in the Stream had spy'd
The naked Huntress, and, for feeing, dy'd:
His Hounds, unknowing of his Change, pursue
The Chace, and their mistaken Mafter flew.
Peneian Daphne too was there to fee
Apollo's Love before, and now his Tree:
Th'adjoining Fane th' affembled Greèks express'd,
And hunting of the Caledonian Beaft.
Oenidés Valour, and his envy'd Prize;
The fatal Pow'r of Atalanta's Eyes;
Diana's Vengeance on the Victor shown,
The Murdrefs Mother, and confuming Son.
The Volfcian Queen extended on the Plain;
The Treafon punish'd, and the Traitor slain.
The rest were various Huntings, well defign'd,
And Salvage Beasts destroy'd, of ev'ry Kind:
The graceful Goddess was array'd in Green;
About her Feet were little Beagles feen, [Queen.
That watch'd with upwardEyes theMotions of their

Her Legs were Buskin'd, and the Left before,In act to shoot, a Silver Bow fhe bore,

And at her Back a painted Quiver wore.

She trod a wexing Moon, that foon wou'd wane,
And drinking borrow'd Light, be fill'd again:
With down-caft Eyes, as feeming to furvey
The dark Dominions, her alternate Sway.
Before her stood a Woman in her Throws,
And call'd Lucina's Aid, her Burden to disclose.
All these the Painter drew with such Command,
That Nature fnatch'd the Pencil from his Hand,
Asham'd and angry that his Art could feign
And mend the Tortures of a Mother's Pain,
Thefeus beheld the Fanes of ev'ry God,

And thought his mighty Coft was well beftow'd:
So Princes now their Poets fhould regard;
But few can write, and fewer can reward.

The Theatre thus rais'd, the Lifts enclos'd,
And all with vaft Magnificence difpos'd,

१

We leave the Monarch pleas'd, and hafte to bring The Knights to Combate; and their Arms to fing.

The End of the Second Book.

Palamon and Arcite:

OR, THE

KNIGHT'S TALE.

BOOK III.

HE Day approach'd when Fortune fhou'd decide

Th' important Enterprize, and give

the Bride;

For now, the Rivals round the World had fought,
And each his Number, well appointed, brought.
The Nations far and near, contend in Choice,
And fend the Flow'r of War by Publick Voice;
That after, or before, were never known
Such Chiefs; as each an Army feem'd alone:

Befide the Champions; all of high Degree,
Who Knighthood lov'd, and Deeds of Chivalry,
Throng'd to the Lifts, and envy'd to behold
The Names of others, not their own enroll'd.
Nor feems it strange; for ev'ry Noble Knight,
Who loves the Fair, and is endu'd with Might,
In fuch a Quarrel wou'd be proud to fight.
There breaths not scarce a Man on British Ground
(An Ifle for Love, and Arms of old renown'd)
But would have fold his Life to purchase Fame,
To Palamon or Arcite sent his Name:

And had the Land selected of the best, [the rest.
Half had come hence, and let the World provide
A hundred Knights with Palamon there came,

Approv'd in Fight, and Men of mighty Name;
Their Arms were fev'ral, as their Nations were,
But furnish'd all alike with Sword and Spear.
Some wore Coat-armour, imitating Scale;
And next their Skins were stubborn Shirts of Mail.
Some wore a Breastplate and a light Juppon,
Their Horfes cloth'd with rich Caparison:
Some for Defence would Leathern Bucklers use,
Of folded Hides; and others Shields of Pruce.

One hung a Poleax at his Saddle-bow,

And one a heavy Mace, to stun the Foe:
One for his Legs and Knees provided well,
With Jambeux arm'd, and double Plates of Steel:
This on his Helmet wore a Lady's Glove,
And that a Sleeve embroider'd by his Love.
With Palamon, above the reft in Place,
Lycurgus came, the furly King of Thrace;
Black was his Beard, and manly was his Face:
The Balls of his broad Eyes roll'd in his Head,
And glar'd betwixt a Yellow and a Red:
He look'd a Lion with a gloomy Stare,

}

And o'er his Eye-brows hung his matted Hair: Big-bon'd, and large of Limbs, with Sinews strong, Broad-fhoulder'd,and his Arms were round and long. Four Milk-white Bulls (the Thracian Use of old) Were yok'd to draw his Car of burnish'd Gold. Upright he stood, and bore aloft his Shield, Confpicuous from afar, and over-look'd the Field. His Surcoat was a Bear-skin on his Back; HisHair hung long behind,and gloffyRaven-black. His ample Forehead bore a Coronet

With sparkling Diamonds, and with Rubies fet: