Or is there none of all his race,

Whofe features would a fign-board grace?

Oft' in the wizard's cell I've feen
A forrel man, of awkward mien ;
Prying with bufy leer about,
As if he were the devil's fcout.
I ne'er was vers'd in modifh vice,
But fure those whorefon gloating eyes
Have travell'd much on love affairs,
Between the key-hole and the stairs.
O cheat the gibbet of a fign,

And with his head commute for mine.
When first I heard his damn'd intent,
To Tryphon's bed by night I went;
Where he lay bleft with dreams of gain,
Furs, fcarlet, and a golden chain.
I rouz'd the wretch, and weeping faid,
O! take my wit, and spare my head,
Urge not the wags to fneer, and jape us,
Juft as of old they us'd Priapus.
But as a whelp ftarts up with fear
When a bee 's humming at his ear:
With upper lip elate, he grins,
Whilft round the little teazer spins;
But when aloof in air it foars,

He straight forgets th' alarm, and fnores:

So did his fellow-creature flight

The fleeting vision of the night.

My prayers were loft, though while I stay'd

I fmelt they strong impreffions made.

h

There is a Knight, who takes the field
With Saxon pen, and fable fhield;
Who doubtlefs can relieve my ghost,
And difinchant me from the poft.
Then I could reft as ftill, as thofe
Whom he has drudg'd to fure repose:
As if he traded in the whole,
And with the body kill'd the foul.
To him for aid with speed repair---
"But foft! I fcent the morning air :"
Be mindful of my piteous plight,
And to my caufe engage the Knight.
Now, gentle Sir, give ear to me,
For I prefcribe without a fee;
From Curll's remove the feat of war,
Encamp on t' other fide the Bar:

Level your eye at Tryphon's shop,
Another epic at him pop;

What though without report it move,
Like the fure darts of death or love?
I know your powder is so strong,
No mortal fign can stand you long.
But if by magic, this oppofe
The volley of your verse and profe;
I'll be your 'fquire, and firm ally,
Write, crimp, and coax him up to buy;
Not all the necromancer's art

Will fave it then, befhrew his heart!
What can fupport a fhop, or fign,
When two fuch perilous wits combine

THE

To th' Orphean lyre,

"He fung of Chaos and eternal night;

"Taught by the heavenly Mufe to venture down "The dark defcent, and up to re-ascend,

"Though hard, and rare."

PARADISE LOST, B. iii.

WHEN fpeeding fea-ward, to the fleet we came

That anchor'd nigh the coaft, we launch'd our ship

Into the facred deep: the maft up-rear'd
Bore every fail expanded; whilst aboard
We flow'd devoted victims, and afcend
The veffel, inly griev'd, and filent showers
Fell from our drooping eyes. A friendly wind
Circe the fair, of human race divine,
Propitious fent; to ply the struggling oar
Small need remain'd, the freshening gale fuffic'd
Each bellying canvas, On with fpeed we fare

R 4

Prof.

Profperous; and when the fun careering prone
Sunk to the western ifles, and dewy shade

Sabled the pole, we tilting o'er the waves
On Ocean's utmost bound, approach the realms
Unblefs'd, where the Cimmerians darkling dwell;
(A lamentable race!) of heavenly light
Unvifited, and the fun's glad fome ray.

Mooring the veffel on that dreary beach
We take the deftin'd fheep, and flow fojourn
Along the marifh, till the fated place

We found, which Circe will'd we should explore.
Eurylochus and Perimedes guard

The holy offerings; I meantime unheath
My faulchion, and prepare t' intrench the ground
A cubit fquare, and there oblations pour
To reconcile the Shades; infufing milk
With honey temper'd sweet, and bowls of must
Pure from the melloweft grape, with added store
Of water; and with flower of wheat beftrow
The mix'd ingredients: to the feeble ghosts
Then vow'd, if heaven to my dear native land
Should favour my return, a barren cow
Of statelieft growth; and to th' oraculous * Seer
A ram of fable fleece, the leading pride
Of all my flocks. Thefe folemn rites perform'd
And vows prefer'd, the deftin'd fheep I flew :
Forth gush'd the vital purple, and furcharg'd
The hollow'd trench; when lo! from the dun verge

*Tirefias.

Of

Of Erebus, the ghofts promifcuous troop
Unnumber'd, youths and maidens immature
Cropt in their fpring, who wandering penfive wail'd
The shortness of their date : trembling, and hoar
With age, fomne flowly pace; others more fierce
Array'd in arms, enfanguin'd o'er with wounds
Receiv'd in battle, clamorous approach

To drink the reeking gore. Shuddering and pale
I ftood astounded, but with quick dispatch
Bade burn the facrifice, a grateful steam
To Proferpine, who there with Dis divides
The regency of night fudden I wav'd
My glittering falchion, from the fanguine pool
Driving th' unbody'd host that round me swarm'd ;
Nor deign'd to let them fip, before I faw

Th' oraculous feer. Foremost of all the crowd
Elpenor came, whose unregarded corfe
Unwept, unbury'd, eager to pursue

Our voyage: Strait to tender pity mov'd,
With words diffolv'd in tears I cry'd, Relate,
Elpenor, how thefe rueful fhades you reach'd
We left behind in Circe's fumptuous dome,
Sooner than I full-fail'd. He thus reply'd
In accents of much dolour; Me, O king,
The minifter of adverfe fate malign'd,
Unweeting of mishap; and wrought me doom,
Drench'd with excefs of wine: prone from the top
Of Circe's tower I fell, and the neck-bones
Disjointing dy'd. But to your pious care
Suppliant, I beg by thofe endearing names

Of parent, wife, and fon (though diftant, dear