(8a a 
OR GeN AL BOF FT RAY. 
THE SQUIRE’s TALE. 
Imitated from CHAUCER, 
WHERE wide the plains of Tartary ex 
tend, 
And Sarra’s Towers in glittering pomp afcend, 
A Monarch reign’d who made proud Ruffia 
Wield. 
Beneath his arm, in many a bloody field : 
Cambufcan was the mighty Hero’s name, 
Of yere unrival’d in the lift of Fame! 
In worth unrival’d 5; nature never join’d 
A form more faultlefs with a nobler mind. 
By fortune plac’d to rule a mighty land, 
He bore with dignity his high command ; 
Pure was his faith; wife, merciful and juft, 
His word was facred, honour feal’d his trut: 
Invincible his courage; never Knight - 
E’en of his race, could boat fuch ttrength in 
fight. 
Around his Court fuch wealth: and fplendor 
-fhone, 
-As Fortune pour’d her gifts on him alone. 
‘This Monarch by fiir Elfeta his wife 
Boafted two valiant Sons; ftout Algariife, 
His eldeft hope ; next valiant Cambal came 3 
A beauteous Daughter, Canace by name, 
Was youngeft of the three; her praife to 
fpeak, 
To paint her charms, my language is too 
weak, 
Thofe charms which eloquence itfelf might 
move ; 
To ftudy beauty, and to fing of love. 
My humble mufe dares not, with timid wing, 
Sobold a fight, content mid’ the low vale to 
fing. 
When twenty lingering winters now were 
flown, 
Since great Cambufcan wore the regal Crown, 
With feattsand tournaments, and revels gays 
He hail’d as he was wont, his natal day. 
. Now Phebus had renew'd his bright carcer, 
And waning March confirm’d the infant year, > 
€alm was the Sky, and through- the che- 
quer’d Grove 
‘The mezry’ Birds renew’d their Songs of - 
Love: 
‘With wild delight they view’d the tender 
{pray 
Cloath’d in frefh green, and felt the funny 
ray, ee 
Which feem’d.to tell, the fnow, and wintry 
blatt, 
And all the herrors of the Year were paft. 
High on his Throne, repos’d in kingly fate , 
“Adorn’d in royal robes Cambufcan fate, 
This rich and fplendid feftival to grace 
With every felemn rite; the facred place, 
‘In order to defcribe, my time would fail, 
And day be finifh’d, ¢’er I clos’d my tale. 
?T were needleis here the cuftoms to relate 
“Of rude magnificence; the maffy plate 
Pil’d high and fmoaking with a monitrous 
Lahti weight. — 
Of fAleth cr fowl; in foreign lands efeem’d, 
Yet here I guefs no dainties would. be 
deem’d, 
No longer to delay, I hafte to tell 
What wonders the admiring croud befel. 
Fre yet the feaft was ended; while the King 
Heard the rapt minfrel firike the founding 
ftring, re i 
Sudden betore the hall an armed Knight, 
High on a brazen fteed, advanced to fight; 
A dazzling mirror in his hand he borey 
A golden ring upon his finger xbre 5 
Bright by his fide'was hung a naked fword ; 
Proud thro’ the hall he rode, and fought the 
royal board. 
Attention now in every eye appear’d, 
And not a murmur from the croud was 
heard; 
Without a helmet wasthe Knight, his break 
And manly limbs in radiant armour drefs’d 3 
Such grace his mien, his {peech fuch art be- 
trayd, 
So high refpeét the royal pair he paid, 
And all the nobles as by ranks they fate 
Along the fplendid hall in princely ftate s 
Had Gawen bad the bowers ef blifs adieu 
On earth this folemn feftival to view, — 
E’en Gawen muft have owi’d no art could 
teach 
More faultlefs a@tion, or more pleafing fpeech; 
Each courtefy perform’d, before the throne 
He flood, and thus with manly voice made 
known 
The purport of hig meffage.---*¢ He who 
reigns 
“¢ In fovereign grandeur e’er the boundlefs 
“© plains ~ 
«¢ Of Indus and Arabia, to difplay 
C34 
His facred friendthip, on this folemn dayy 
<* Commanded me, your humbte& flave, to 
<< bring 
‘- Thefe matchlefs prefents, worthy of a 
‘¢ King: 
«¢ And firft this brazen horfe, whofe fpeed 
"¢ Can trace, 4 
«¢ Safe and with eafe, within a day’s fhort 
“¢ {pace, 
&e 
The outftretch’d earth; o’er barren de- 
<¢ farts fly, : 
“* Or through the pathlefs regions of the fky3 
Unburt mid? ftorms and tempett, you shall 
6 gain : 
The eagle’s tow’ring height, or fmoothly 
¢ fkim the plain; 
Turn but a pin, where’er you lift to go, 
‘¢ The confeious fteed his defia’d courfe 
“¢ fhall Inow ; 
*¢ And whether on his back, you wake, or 
SEC fceDs 
£¢ Unalter’d fill his fir pofition keep. 
The artift vers’d in magic, long furvey’d 
Each Heavenly conftellation ere he made 
‘¢ The wond’rcus fabric, though he knew 
7 ao SS eagh ark 
6 Great Nature’s hidden myfteries impart. 
6¢ Within 
