XXI.

Stretch'd on the ground when lewd Aftolpho view'â
His trusty squire, he chaf'd with double rage,
And made his steel drink deep his rival's blood,
And by his fall his anger fought t' affuage.t
XXII.

But Ulfinore not wounds or blood could tame; 85
In fuch a cause refolv'd to spend his breath,
To fave his friend, to purchase honett fame,
And live victorious, or be great in death.

And Sigebert his friend, with courage warm'd,
That other squire whom falfe Aftolpho brought 90
Had overpower'd, and on the ground disarm'd,"
His death deferv'd had with his poniard wrought.
XXIV..

When at that inftant Elfinore wav'd high
His fhining blade, which on Aftolpho fell,
And ere brave Sigebert approach'd him nigh,
Had fent his treach'rous foul to deepest hell.~

XXV.

95

Thefe flain, the knightsholdftraighttheir onward road
To Dalga's manfion, where their friend they found,
Loft in the feas of joy which round him flow'd,
And rapt in musick's foul-dissolving found.

XXVI.

Faft on a couch befide him Dalga fate,
Her artful head reclining on his breast,

Volume II,

And round about the neat-hand damsels wait,

Whom now the bids prepare the sumptuous feast.
XXVII.

For gray-ey'd Twilight o'er the world had spread 105
Her dufky curtain, and the heav'ns high
Had loft their last remains of parting red,

And dipp'd their mantle in a deeper dye.

XXVIII.

Straight in the hall a thousand glitt’ring fires
Shoot forth like meteors to adorn the night,
And bring new day, when Phoebus' car retires,
On western shores to dart his welcome light.

XXIX.

Ev'n now the forc'refs rears a massy bowl,
Replete with juices of the purple vine,

Which hides beneath fell drugs and poisons foul,

Mix'd with the fpirit of the gen'rous wine.

XXX.

Unheeding Goltho to his lips had rear'd
The dreadful potion, with a gentle fmile,
When Ulfinore and Sigebert appear'd,

Seiz'd the fell Dalga, and disclos'd her guile,

XXXI.

110

136

120

The bowl they wrefted from their wond'ring friend,

To his vile mistress instant they preferr'd,

Who tells them death does on the draught attend,

And owns that death she has herself incurr'd.

XXXII.

For long Aftolpho's coming did the wait,

125

On Goltho's head who fhould have wreck'd his ire, But when no fuch approach'd her open gate,

She doom'd the youth by poifon to expire.

XXXIII.

And by that draught (fo Heav'n divinely wrought) Which for her guest she foully did intend,

130

By that fame draught her own fall now is wrought,`
Which brings her foon to an unpity'd end.
XXXIV.

Her wicked damfels ftraightway fled amain,
And the rich house, and all its bravest store,
The fpoils of nymphs decoy'd and heroes flain, 135
Remain'd to Goltho and to Ulfinore.

XXXV.

But no fuch bawbles charm their longing eyes: Not wealth they seek, but quit the house of Guile, Nor wish to make the golden hoards their prize, Gain'd by the triumphs of an harlot's fmile.

XXXVI.

With hafte the hated manfion did they leave, And o'er the lawn, and thro' the forest sped, Where mazy paths their wand'ring steps deceive, By the faint glimm'ring of the starlight led. XXXVI.

140

While thus perplex'd and unresolv'd they food, 145 Seeking in vain fome human track t' explore,

The fouth winds whiftled wildly thro' the wood, And diftant thunders roll'd with folemn roar. diasat 9/XXXVIII. T

Meteors, foreboding ftorms, with horrid glare
Gilt the dun horrours of approaching night, 150
A difmal radiance darting thro' the air,
A dire effulgence and unwelcome light.
banual 5 XXXIX.

And nearer ftill as the rude tempest drew,
Still farthertow'rds the foreft's chequer'd shade
The youths approach, while at each stepthey view 155
The horcours of the awful scene display'd.

XL...

"Yet here, faid. Ulfinore, "let not our hearts d "Sink in defpair, which erst amidst alarms

"Have never fail'd, while show'rs of hostile darts
"Pour'd like this tempeft on our shatter'd arms." 160
XLIzid

Thus while he spoke, thick globes of hail descend,
And all the winds of heav'n their forces try;
Vaft dreadful fheets of livid fire extend

From either pole, and blaze along the sky,

XLII.

To the loud winds the louder thunders roar,
Refponfive, while the hail's continu'd found,
With all the storms that from the heav'ns pour,
The rattling branches thro' the wood refound:

165

XLIII.

And swelling waters bursting from each rill,
In flowing torrents courfing thro' the shade,
With murm'rings hoarse, the troubled welkin fill,
And the vex'd ear with deaf'ning founds invade. 172
XLIV.

"Methinks the Pow'rs above," faid Goltho, then,
"Resolve to shake this globe's substantial base,
"And hurl fwift ruin on the fons of men,
"Long try'd an impious and ungodly race:

XLV.

176

"Elfe why these pealing sounds, these sheets of flame,
"And heav'n's eternal fluices open'd round?
"This heavy gloom that wraps th' ethereal frame,
"And these rude shocks that shake the folid ground?"
XLVI.

For as he spoke the rending glebe gave way,
And fires infernal from beneath broke forth,
Disclosing horrid caves unknown to-day,
Deep in the bowels of the groaning earth.

XLVII.

"Brave Goltho," then faid Ulfinore the fage,
"Ev'n 'midst the horrours of this dreadful scene,
"This boift'rous ftrife of elemental rage,

"The philofophick foul may fit ferene.

XLVIII.

"What if the jarring feeds of Nature, pent

"In hollow caves, thefe dreadful shocks supply,

O j

184

188