2^o Somervile's [third 



His royal cares ; wife, potent, gracious prince ! 

 His fubjedts from their cruel foes he faved, 

 And from rapacious favages their flocks. 

 Cambria's proud kings (tho' with reludtance) paid 

 Their tributary wolves ; head after head. 

 In full account, till the woods yield no more, 

 And all the ravenous race extindt is loft. 

 In fertile paftures more fecurely graz'd 

 The fecial troops ; and foon their large increafe 

 With curling fleeces whiten'd all the plains. 

 But yet, alas ! the wily fox remained, 

 A fubtle, pilfVing foe, prowling around 

 In midnight Ihades, and wakeful to deftroy. 

 In the full fold, the poor defencelefs lamb, 

 Seiz'd by his guileful arts, with fweet warm blood 

 Supplies a rich repaft. The mournful ewe. 

 Her deareft treafure loft, thro' the dun night 

 Wanders perplex'd, and darkling bleats in vain ; 

 While, in th' adjacent bufli, poor Philomel 

 (Herfelf a parent once, till wanton churls 

 Defpoil'dher neft) joins in her loud laments. 

 With fweeter notes, and more melodious woe. 



For thefe nodturnal thieves, huntfman, prepare 

 Thy fharpeft vengeance. Oh ! how glorious 'tis 

 To right th' opprefs'd, and bring the felon vile 

 To juft difgrace ! Ere yet the morning peep. 

 Or ftars retire from the firft blufti of day. 

 With thy far-echoing voice alarm thy pack. 

 And roufe thy bold compeers. Then to the copfe. 



Thick 



