BOOK.] Chace> 243 



A wide circumference ; full many a league 

 In compafs round ; woods, rivers, hills, and plains. 

 Large provinces ; enough to gratify 

 Ambition's highefl aim, could reafon bound 

 Man's erring will. Now fit in clofe divan 

 The mighty chiefs of this prodigious hoft. 

 He from the throne high- eminent preiides. 

 Gives out his mandates proud, laws of the chace, 

 From ancient records drawn. With rev'rence lovVj 

 And proftrate at his feet, the chiefs receive 

 His irreverfible decrees, from which 

 To vary, is to die. Then his brave bands 

 £ach to his flation leads ; encamping round. 

 Till the wide circle is compleatly form'd. 

 Where decent order reigns, what thefe command 

 Thofe execute with fpeed, and pundtual care 5 

 In all the ftridteft difcipline of war : 

 As if fome watchful foe, with bold infult. 

 Hung low'ring o'er their camp. The high refolve^ 

 That flies on wings thro' all th' encircling line^ 

 Each naotion fleers, and animates the whole. 

 So, by the fun's attradive pow'r controll'd. 

 The planets in their fpheres roll round his orb. 

 On all he fliines, and rules the great machine. 

 Ere yet the morn difpels the fleeting mifts. 

 The fignal giv'n by the loud trumpet's voice^ 

 Now high in air th' imperial flandard waves. 

 Emblazon 'd rich with gold, and glitt'ring gems 5 

 And like a flieet of fire thro' the dun gloom 



R 2 Streaming 



