A form unknown explor'd the trackless way, Who harp'd, and sung of feats in bloody fight; He, like a fon of heav'n in clouds conceal'd, At length emerging, greets their ravish'd eyes, The Mufes' vot'ry, patron, friend, reveal'd, The Royal Saxon in a minstrel's guife. "Dear to our train," from ev'ry tongue was heard, "Who fedft our fleeping fires, whofe hand our altars rear'd." VIII. Transported, Clio feiz'd her golden lyre : "Say, nymphs, to whom belongs the hymn of "Thou first, who doft the foul divine infpire, [praise? "And god-like Alfred, fhall adorn our lays : "From thee, great shade, shall streams of radiance flow, "And light new ftars to gild the northern fky; "Here, at our new-built fhrines, fhall Britain bow, "And Cam and Ifis with Iliffus vie : "Scar'd from Pieria's fpring, by turban'd foes, "Befide their willow'd banks we fix our last repose." For well they knew, what Æfop spake, The bow, that's always bent, will break. Allur'd by op'ning prospects round, Beyond the reach of claffic ground, They liftless stray'd, on this and that Mark'd the fweet hawthorn's blooming spray, And heard with joy the throftle's lay; Nor longer thought of College drear, The tutor's crofs, or tafk fevere: Nor yet had thought, what ftomach crav'd Of noontide commons thus bereav'd, Till the gay fcenes had left their view, For defert heaths of ruffet hue ; And Phoebus too, retir'd from fight, Which way our errant youths fhould go. Dif Distance and night forbad return; They feek then, where to lodge till morn. As on they rov'd, at length from far Bolder they fteer'd; the glimm'ring led They knock'd: a crippled dame appears, With agues craz'd, and bow'd with years, 1 Surpriz❜d to see such strangers there, Yet bids them welcome to her cheer; Though coarfe, to hunger's eye were spread The best of dainties in its ftead. Meanwhile their courteous hoftess ftrews A rushy couch for their repose, Whereon, forgetful of return, 'They fink in wholefome fleep till morn. But foon as morning bade them rife, One ugly want their thoughts employs. They They both were generously inclin❜d, But each had left the means behind. Bethought they then, what courfe to take, And in high phrase the dame bespake ; "What thanks are due for this our fare! Our fcrips no worldly treasures bear. Train'd in fublimer arts, we know To eafe the plaints of corp'ral woe; We fee thee wither'd, craz'd, and weak, A firmer fyftem to restore." They then in paper fcroll inclos'd A line in language ftrange compos'd, Haply, from fome Batavian fage, Or grave Smiglecius' fubtile page. The dame furvey'd them with furprize, Then o'er the fcroll fhe caft her eyes; And |