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ON THE ABUSE of TRAVELLING.

A CANTO, In Imitation of SPENSER.

By GILBERT WEST, Esq;

The ARGUMENT.

Archimage tempts the Red-Cross Knight
From love of Fairy-land,
With show of foreign pleasures all,
The which he doth withstand.
I.
1 WISE was that Spartan Law-giver of old,
2 Who rais'd on Virtue's base his well-built state,
3 Exiling from her walls barbaric gold,
4 With all the mischiefs that upon it wait,
5 Corruption, luxury, and envious hate;
6 And the distinctions proud of rich and poor,
7 Which among brethren kindle foul debate,
8 And teach Ambition, that to Fame would soar,
9 To the false lure of wealth her stooping wing to low'r.
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II.
10 Yet would Corruption soon have entrance found,
11 And all his boasted schemes eftsoon decay'd,
12 Had not he cast a pow'rful circle round,
13 Which to a distance the arch felon fray'd,
14 And ineffectual his foul engines made:
15 This was, to weet, that politic command,
16 Which from vain travel the young Spartan stay'd,
17 Ne suffer'd him forsake his native land,
18 To learn deceitful arts, and science contraband.
III.
19 Yet had the ancient world her courts and schools;
20 Great Kings and Courtiers civil and refin'd;
21 Great Rabbins, deeply read in Wisdom's rules,
22 And all the arts that cultivate the mind,
23 Embellish life, and polish human kind.
24 Such, Asia, birth-place of proud monarchy,
25 Such, elder Aegypt, in thy kingdoms shin'd,
26 Mysterious Aegypt, the rank nursery
27 Of superstitions fond, and learned vanity.
IV.
28 But what accomplishments, what arts polite,
29 Did the young Spartan want his deeds to grace,
30 Whose manly virtues, and heroic spright,
31 Check'd by no thought impure, no falsehood base,
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32 With nat'ral dignity might well out-face
33 The glare of manners false, and mimic pride
34 And wherefore should they range from place to place,
35 Who to their country's love so firm were ty'd,
36 All homely as she was, that for her oft they dy'd?
V.
37 And
a Truth.
sooth it is (with rev'rence may ye hear,
38 And honour due to passion so refin'd)
39 The strong affection which true patriots bear
40 To their dear country, zealous is and blind,
41 And fond as is the love of womankind,
42 So that they may not her defects espy,
43 No other
b rival, or one to compare with her.
paragone may ever find,
44 But gazing on her with an aweful eye
45 And superstitious zeal, her learn to deify.
VI.
46 And, like as is the faith unsound, untrue,
47 Of him, who wand'ring aye from fair to fair,
48 Conceiveth from each object passion new,
49 Or from his heart quite drives the troublous care;
50 So with the patriot-lover doth it fare,
51 Who through the world delighting aye to rove,
52 His country changeth with each change of air,
53 Or weening the delights of all to prove,
54 On none, or all alike bestows his vagrant love.
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VII.
55
c moreover, besides.
Als doth corruption in a distant soil,
56 With double force
d assault.
assay the youthful heart,
57 Expos'd suspectless to the traytor's wile,
58 Expos'd unwarn'd to Pleasure's poison'd dart,
59 Expos'd unpractis'd in the world's wide mart,
60 Where each one lies, imposes, and betrays,
61 Without a friend due counsel to impart,
62 Without a parent's awe to rule his ways,
63 Without the check of shame, or spur of public praise
VIII.
64
e therefore.
Forthy, false Archimago, traytor vile,
65 Who burnt 'gainst Fairy-land with ceaseless ire,
66 'Gan cast with foreign pleasures to beguile
67 Her faithful knight, and quench the heav'nly fire
68 That did his virtuous bosom aye inspire
69 With zeal unfeigned for her service true,
70 And send him forth in chivalrous attire,
71 Arm'd at all points adventures to pursue,
72 And wreak upon her foes his vowed vengeance due.
IX.
73 So as he journeyed upon the way,
74 Him soon the sly enchaunter
f overtook.
over-hent,
75 Clad like a Fairy knight in armour gay,
76 With painted shield, and spear right forward bent,
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77 In knightly
g fashion.
guise and shew of
h courage.
hardiment,
78 That aye prepared was for bloody fight.
79 Whereat the
i fairy.
Elfin knight with speeches gent
80 Him first saluted, who, well as he might,
81 Him fair salutes again, as
k beseemeth.
seemeth courteous knight.
X.
82 Then 'gan he
l discourse, or argument.
purpose frame of valiant deeds
83 Atchiev'd by foreign knights of
m might, valour.
prowess great,
84 And mighty fame which emulation breeds
85 In virtuous breast, and kindleth martial heat;
86 Of arts and sciences for warriour
n proper, fit.
meet,
87 And knights that would in feats of arms excel,
88 Or him, who
o rather.
liefer choosing calm retreat,
89 With Peace and gentle Virtue aye would dwell,
90 Who have their triumphs, like as hath Bellona fell.
XI.
91 These, as he said, beseemed knight to know,
92 And all be they in Fairy-lond y-taught,
93 Where ev'ry art and all fair virtues grow;
94 Yet various climes with various fruits are fraught,
95 And such in one hath full perfection
p reach'd.
raught
96 The which no skill may in another rear,
97 So gloz'd th' enchaunter till he hath him brought
98 To a huge rock, that clomb so high in air,
99 That from it he
q hardly.
uneath the murmuring surge mote hear.
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XII.
100 Thence the salt wave beyond in prospect wide
101 A spacious plain the false enchaunter show'd,
102 With goodly castles deck'd on ev'ry side,
103 And silver streams, that down the champain flow'd,
104 And wash'd the vineyards that beside them stood,
105 And groves of myrtle; als the lamp of day
106 His orient beams display'd withouten cloud,
107 Which lightly on the glist'ning waters play,
108 And tinge the castles, woods, and hills with purple ray.
XIII.
109 So fair a landscape charm'd the wond'ring knight;
110 And eke the breath of morning fresh and sweet
111 Inspir'd his jocund spirit with delight,
112 And ease of heart for soft pursuasion meet.
113 Then him the traytor base 'gan fair entreat,
114 And from the rock as downward they descend,
115 Of that blest lond his praises 'gan repeat,
116 Till he him moved hath with him to
r to go.
wend;
117 So to the billowy shore their hasty march they bend.
XIV.
118 There in a painted bark all trim and gay,
119 Whose sails full glad embrac'd the wanton wind,
120 There sat a stranger
s man or woman.
wight in quaint array,
121 That seem'd of various garbs
t together.
attone combin'd,
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122 Of Europe, Afric, east and western Inde.
123 Als round about him many creatures stood,
124 Of several nations and of divers kind,
125 Apes, serpents, birds with human speech endow'd,
126 And monsters of the land, and wonders of the flood.
XV.
127 He was to weet a mighty traveller,
128 Who Curiosity thereafter
v was called.
hight,
129 And well he knew each coast and harbour fair,
130 And ev'ry nation's latitude and site,
131 And how to steer the wand'ring bark aright.
132 So to him strait the false enchaunter bore,
133 And with him likewise brought the red-cross knight.
134 Then fairly him besought to waft them o'er;
135 Swift flew the dauncing bark, and reach'd the adverse shore.
XVI.
136 There when they landed were, them ran to greet
137 A bevy of bright damsels gent and gay,
138 Who with soft smiles, and salutation sweet,
139 And courteous violence would force them stay,
140 And rest them in their bow'r not far away;
141 Their bow'r that most luxuriously was
w adorned, set forth.
dight
142 With all the dainties of air, earth and sea,
143 All that mote please the taste, and charm the sight,
144 The pleasure of the board, and charm of beauty bright.
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XVII.
145 Als might he therein hear a mingled sound
146 Of feast and song and laughing jollity,
147 That in the noise was all distinction drown'd
148 Of graver sense, or musick's harmony.
149 Yet were there some in that blithe company
150 That aptly could discourse of virtuous lore,
151 Of manners, wisdom and sound policy;
152 Yet
x would not.
nould they often ope their sacred store,
153 Ne might their voice be heard mid riot and uproar.
XVIII.
154 Thereto the joys of idleness and love,
155 And luxury, that besots the noblest mind,
156 And custom prevalent at distance drove
157 All sense and relish of a higher kind,
158 Whereby the soul to virtue is refin'd.
159 Instead whereof the arts of slavery
160 Were taught, of slavery perverse and blind,
161 That vainly boasts her native liberty,
162 Yet wears the chains of pride, of lust, and gluttony.
XIX.
163 Of which the red-cross knight right well aware,
164 Would in no wise agree with them to go,
165 Albeit with courtly glee their leader fair,
166
y called.
Hight Politessa, him did kindly woo.
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167 But all was false pretence, and hollow show,
168 False as the flow'rs which to their breasts they ty'd,
169 Or those which seemed in their cheeks to glow,
170 For both were false, and not by Nature dy'd,
171 False rivals of the spring, and beauty's rosy pride.
XX.
172 Then from behind then straightway 'gan advance
173 An uncouth stripling quaintly habited,
174 As for some revel mask, or antick daunce,
175 All chequer'd o'er with yellow, blue, and red;
176 Als in a vizor black he shrouds his head,
177 The which he tossed to and fro amain,
178 And
z often.
eft his lathy falchion brandished,
179 As if he meant fierce battle to
a attempt.
darrain,
180 And like a wanton ape eft skip'd he on the plain.
XXI.
181 And eft about him skip'd a gaudy throng
182 Of youthful gallants, frolick, trim, and gay,
183 Chanting in careless notes their amourous song,
184 Match'd with like careless gests, like amourous play.
185 Als were they gorgeous, dress'd in rich array,
186 And well accepted of that female train,
187 Whose hearts to joy and mirth devoted aye,
188 Each proffer'd love receive without disdain,
189 And part without regret from each late-favour'd swain.
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XXII.
190 And now they do accord in wanton daunce
191 To join their hands upon the flow'ry plain;
192 The whiles with amourous leer and eyes askaunce
193 Each damsel fires with love her glowing swain;
194 Till all-impatient of the tickling pain,
195 In sudden laughter forth at once they break,
196 And ending so their daunce, each tender twain
197 To shady bow'rs forthwith themselves betake,
198 Deep hid in myrtle groves, beside a silver lake.
XXIII.
199 Thereat the red-cross knight was much enmov'd,
200 And 'gan his heart with indignation swell,
201 To view in forms so made to be belov'd,
202 Ne faith, ne truth, ne heav'nly virtue dwell;
203 But lust instead, and falshood, child of hell;
204 And glutton sloth, and love of gay attire:
205 And sooth to say, them well could parallel
206 Their lusty
b lovers.
paramours in vain desire;
207 Well fitted to each dame was ev'ry gallant squire.
XXIV.
208 Yet when their sov'reign calls them forth to arms,
209 Their sov'reign, whose
c commands.
behests they most revere,
210 Right wisely can they menage war's alarms,
211 And wield with valour great the martial spear,
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212 So that their name is dreaded far and near.
213 Oh! that for Liberty they so did fight!
214 Then need no Fairy-land their prowess fear,
215 Ne give in charge to her advent'rous knight
216 Their friendship to beware, and sense-deluding sleight.
XXV.
217 But not for liberty they wagen war,
218 But solely to
d please.
aggrate their mighty lord,
219 For whom their dearest blood they
e will not.
nillen spare,
220 Whenso him listeth draw the conqu'ring sword;
221 So is that idol vain of them ador'd,
222 Who ne with might beyond his meanest thrall
223 Endued, ne superior wisdom stor'd,
224 Sees at his feet prostrated millions fall,
225 And with religious drad obey his princely call.
XXVI.
226 Thereto so high and stately was his port,
227 That all the petty kings him sore envy'd,
228 And would him imitate in any sort,
229 With all the mimick pageantry of pride,
230 And worship'd be like him, and deify'd
231 Of courtly sycophants and
f scoundrels.
caitifs vile,
232 Who to those services themselves apply'd,
233 And in that school of servitude ere while
234 Had learn'd to bow and grin, and flatter, and beguile.
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XXVII.
235 For to that seminary of fashions vain
236 The rich and noble from all parts repair,
237 Where grown enamour'd of the gaudy train,
238 And courteous haviour gent and debonair,
239 They cast to imitate such semblaunce fair;
240 And deeming meanly of their native lond,
241 Their own rough virtues they disdain to wear,
242 And back returning drest by foreign hond,
243 Ne other matter care, ne other understond.
XXVIII.
244 Wherefore th' enchaunter vile, who sore was griev'd
245 To see the knight reject those damsels gay,
246 Wherewith he thought him sure to have deceiv'd,
247 Was minded to that court him to convey,
248 And daze his eyen with Majesty's bright ray:
249 So to a stately castle he him brought,
250 Which in the midst of a great garden lay,
251 And wisely was by cunning craftsmen wrought,
252 And with all riches deck'd surpassing human thought.
XXIX.
253 There underneath a sumptuous canopy,
254 That with bright ore and diamonds glitter'd far,
255 Sate the swoln form of royal
g pride.
surquedry,
256 And deem'd itself
h by all means; omnino.
allgates some creature rare,
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257 While its own haughty state it mote compare
258 With the base count'nance of the vassal fry,
259 That seem'd to have nor eye, nor tongue, nor ear;
260 Ne any sense, ne any faculty,
261 That did not to his throne owe servile ministry.
XXX.
262 Yet wist he not that half that homage low
263 Was at a wizard's shrine in private pay'd,
264 The which conducted all that goodly show,
265 And as he list th' imperial puppet play'd,
266 By secret springs and wheels right wisely made,
267 That he the subtle wires mote not
i discover, perceive.
avize,
268 But deem in sooth that all he did or said,
269 From his own motion and free grace did rise,
270 And that he justly hight immortal, great, and wise.
XXXI.
271 And eke to each of that same gilded train,
272 That meekly round that lordly throne did stand,
273 Was by that wizard ty'd a magick chain,
274 Whereby their actions all he mote command,
275 And rule with hidden influence the land.
276 Yet to his lord he outwardly did bend,
277 And those same magick chains within his hand
278 Did seem to place, albeit by the end
279 He held them fast, that none them from his gripe mote rend.
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XXXII.
280 He was to weet an old and wrinkled mage,
281 Deep read in all the arts of policy,
282 And from experience grown so crafty sage,
283 That none his secret counsels mote descry,
284 Ne search the mines of his deep subtlety.
285 Thereto fair peace he lov'd and cherished;
286 And traffick did promote and industry,
287 Whereby the vulgar were in quiet fed,
288 And the proud lords in ease and plenty wallowed.
XXXIII.
289 Thence all the gorgeous splendor of the court,
290
k since.
Sith the sole bus'ness of the rich and great,
291 Was to that hope-built temple to resort,
292 And round their earthly god in glory wait,
293 Who with their pride to swell his royal state,
294 Did pour large sums of gold on ev'ry one,
295 Brought him by harpies fell, him to aggrate,
296 And torn from peasants vile, beneath the throne
297 Who lay deep sunk in earth, and inwardly did groan.
XXXIV.
298 Behold, says ARCHIMAGE, the envy'd height
299 Of human grandeur to the gods ally'd!
300 Behold yon sun of pow'r, whose glorious light,
301 O'er this rejoicing land out-beaming wide,
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302 Calls up those princely flow'rs on ev'ry side;
303 Which like the painted daughters of the plain,
304 Ne toil, ne spin, ne stain their silken pride
305 With care, or sorrow, sith withouten pain,
306 Them in eternal joy those heav'nly beams maintain.
XXXV.
307 Them morn and evening joy eternal greets,
308 And for them thousands and ten thousands
l work hard.
moil,
309 Gathering from land and ocean honied sweets
310 For them, who in soft indolence the while
311 And slumb'ring peace enjoy the luscious spoil;
312 And as they view around the careful bees
313
m quite spent.
Forespent with labour and incessant toil,
314 With the sweet contrast learn themselves to please,
315 And heighten by compare the luxury of ease.
XXXVI.
316 Ungenerous man, quoth then the Fairy knight,
317 That can rejoice to see another's woe!
318 And thou, unworthy of that glory bright,
319 Wherewith the gods have deck'd thy princely brow,
320 That doth on Sloth and Gluttony bestow
321 The hard-earn'd fruits of Industry and Pain,
322 And to the dogs the labourer's morsel throw,
323 Unmindful of the hand that sow'd the grain,
324 The poor earth-trodden root of all thy greatness vain.
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XXXVII.
325 Oh foul abuse of sacred Majesty,
326 That boasteth her fair self from heav'n ysprong!
327 Where are the marks of thy divinity?
328 Truth, Mercy, Justice steady, bold and strong,
329 To aid the meek, and curb oppressive wrong?
330 Where is the care and love of publick good,
331 That to the people's father doth belong?
332 Where the vice-gerent of that bounteous God,
333 Who bids dispense to all, what he for all bestow'd?
XXXVIII.
334 Dwell'st thou not rather, like the prince of hell,
335 In Pandemonium full of ugly fiends?
336 Dissimulation, Discord, Malice fell,
337 Reckless Ambition, that right onward
n goes.
wends,
338 Tho' his wild march o'erthrow both fame and friends,
339 And virtue and his country; crooked Guile,
340 Obliquely creeping to his treach'rous ends,
341 And Flatt'ry, curs'd assassin, who the while
342 He holds the murd'rous knife, can fawn, and kiss, and smile.
XXXIX.
343 Then 'gan he strait unvail the mirrour bright,
344 The which fair
o Una in Spenser represents Truth, see B. 1. Fairy Queen.
Una gave him heretofore,
345 Ere he as yet, with
p Heathen, the usual enemy of knight-errants in Spenser.
Paynim foe to fight,
346 For foreign land had left his native shore.
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347 This in his careful breast he always bore,
348 And on it oft would cast his wary eye;
349 For it by magick framed was of yore,
350 So that no falshood mote it well abye,
351 But it was plainly seen, or fearfully did fly.
XL.
352 This on that gay assembly did he turn,
353 And saw confounded quite the gawdy scene;
354 Saw the close fire that inwardly did burn,
355 And waste the throbbing heart with secret
q pain, anguish.
teen;
356 Saw base dependence in the haughty mien
357 Of lords and princes; saw the magick chain
358 That each did wear, but deem'd he wore unseen,
359 The whiles with count'naunce glad he hid his pain,
360 And homage did require from each poor lowly swain.
XLI.
361 And tho' to that old mage they louted down,
362 Yet did they dearly wish for his decay:
363 Als trembled he, and aye upon the throne
364 Of his great lord his tott'ring steps did stay,
365 And oft behind him skulk'd for great dismay;
366 Als shook the throne, when so the villain crew,
367 That underneath oppress'd and groveling lay,
368 Impatient of the grievous burthen grew,
369 And loudly for redress and liberty did sue.
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XLII.
370 There mote he likewise see a ribbald train
371 Of dancers, broid'rers, slaves of luxury,
372 Who cast o'er all those lords and ladies vain
373 A veil of semblaunce fair, and richest dye,
374 That none their inward baseness mote descry.
375 But nought was hidden from that mirrour bright.
376 Which when false ARCHIMAGO 'gan espy,
377 He feared for himself, and warn'd the knight
378 From so detested place to maken speedy flight.
XLIII.
379 So on he passed, till he comen hath
380 To a small river, that full slow did glide,
381 As it uneath mote find its watry path
382 For stones and rubbish, that did choak its tide;
383 So lay the mould'ring piles on ev'ry side,
384 Seem'd there a goodly city once had been,
385 Albeit now fallen were her royal pride,
386 Yet mote her auncient greatness still be seen,
387 Still from her ruins prov'd the world's imperial queen.
XLIV.
388 For the rich spoil of all the continents,
389 The boast of art and nature there was brought,
390 Corinthian brass, Aegyptian monuments,
391 With hieroglyphick sculptures all inwrought,
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392 And Parian marbles, by Greek artists taught
393 To counterfeit the forms of heroes old,
394 And set before the eye of sober thought
395 Lycurgus, Homer, and Alcides bold.
396 All these and many more that may not here be told.
XLV.
397 There in the middest of a ruin'd pile,
398 That seem'd a theatre of circuit vast,
399 Where thousands might be seated, he erewhile
400 Discover'd hath an uncouth trophy plac'd;
401 Seem'd a huge heap of stone together cast
402 In nice disorder and wild symmetry,
403 Urns, broken freezes, statues half defac'd,
404 And pedestals with antique imagery
405 Emboss'd, and pillars huge of costly porphyry.
XLVI.
406 Aloft on this strange basis was
r placed.
ypight
407 With girlonds gay adorn'd a golden chair,
408 In which aye smiling with self-bred delight,
409 In careless pride reclin'd a lady fair,
410 And to soft musick lent her idle ear;
411 The which with pleasure so did her enthrall,
412 That for aught else she had but little care,
413 For wealth, or fame, or honour feminal,
414 Or gentle love, sole king of pleasures natural.
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XLVII.
415 Als by her side, in richest robes array'd,
416 An eunuch sate, of visage pale and dead,
417 Unseemly paramour for royal maid!
418 Yet him she courted oft and honoured,
419 And oft would by her place in princely
s seat or place.
sted,
420 Though from the dregs of earth he springen were,
421 And oft with regal crowns she deck'd his head,
422 And oft, to sooth her vain and foolish ear,
423 She bade him the great names of mighty
t emperors.
Kesars bear.
XLVIII.
424 Thereto herself a pompous title bore,
425 For she was vain of her great auncestry,
426 But vainer still of that prodigious store
427 Of arts and learning, which she vaunts to lie
428 In the rich archives of her treasury.
429 These she to strangers oftentimes would shew,
430 With grave demean and solemn vanity,
431 Then proudly claim as to her merit due,
432 The venerable praise and title of Vertù.
XLIX.
433 Vertù she was
v called or named.
yclep'd, and held her court
434 With outward shews of pomp and majesty,
435 To which natheless few others did resort,
436 But men of base and vulgar industry.
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437 Or such perdy as of them cozen'd be,
438 Mimes, fidlers, pipers, eunuchs squeaking fine,
439 Painters and builders, sons of masonry,
440 Who could well measure with the rule and line,
441 And all the orders five right craftily define.
L.
442 But other skill of cunning architect,
443 How to contrive the house for dwelling best,
444 With self-sufficient scorn they wont neglect,
445 As corresponding with their purpose least;
446 And herein be they copied of the rest,
447 Who aye pretending love of science fair,
448 And gen'rous purpose to adorn the breast
449 With lib'ral arts, to Vertù's court repair,
450 Yet nought but tunes and names, and coins away do bear.
LI.
451 For long, to visit her once-honour'd seat
452 The studious sons of learning have forbore:
453 Who whilom thither ran with pilgrim feet
454 Her venerable reliques to adore,
455 And load her bosom with the sacred store,
456 Whereof the world large treasure yet enjoys.
457 But
w since.
sithence she declin'd from wisdom's lore,
458 They left her to display her pompous toys
459 To virtuosi vain, and wonder-gaping boys.
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LII.
460 Forthy to her a num'rous train doth
x belong.
long
461 Of ushers in her court well practised,
462 Who aye about the monied stranger throng,
463 Off'ring with shews of courteous
y good-nature or civility.
bountihed
464 Him through the rich apartments all to lead,
465 And shew him all the wonders of her state,
466 Whose names and price they wisely can
z relate or declare. These under sort of antiquarians, who go about with strangers to shew them the antiquities, &c. of Rome, are called Ciceroni.
areed,
467 And tell of coins of old and modern date,
468 And pictures false and true right well discriminate.
LIII.
469 Als are they named after him, whose tongue
470 Shook the dictator in his curule chair,
471 And thund'ring through the Roman senate, rung
472 His bold Philippics in Antonius' ear;
473 Which when the Fairy heard, he sigh'd full dear,
474 And casting round his quick discerning eye,
475 At ev'ry
a At every turn, every now and then.
deal he dropt a manly tear,
476 As he the stately buildings mote descry,
477 Baths, theatres, and fanes in mould'ring fragments lie.
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LIV.
478 And, oh! imperial city! then he said,
479 How art thou tumbled from thine Alpine throne!
480 Whereon, like Jove on high Olympus' head,
481 Thou sittedst erst unequall'd and alone,
482 And madedst through the world thy greatness known;
483 While from the western isles, to Indus' shore,
484 From seven-mouth'd Nilus, to the frozen Don,
485 Thy dradded bolts the strong-pounc'd Eagle bore,
486 And taught the nations round thy Fasces to adore.
LV.
487 And doth among thy reliques nought remain,
488 No little portion of that haughty spright?
489 Which made thee whilom scorn soft Pleasure's chain,
490 And in free Virtue place thy chief delight,
491 Whereby through ages shone thy glory bright?
492 And is there nought remaining to confound
493 Those, who regardless of thy woeful plight,
494 With idle wonder view thy ruins round,
495 And without thought survey thy memorable wound?
LVI.
496 Arise, thou genuine Cicero, and declare
497 That all these mighty ruins scatter'd wide,
498 The sepulchres of Roman virtue were,
499 And trophies vast of Luxury and Pride,
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500 Those fell diseases whereof Rome erst dy'd.
501 And do you then with vile mechanic thought
502 Your course, ye sons of Fairy, hither guide,
503 That ye those gay refinements may be taught,
504 Which Liberty's fair lond to shame and thraldom brought?
LVII.
505 Let Rome those vassal arts now meanly boast,
506 Which to her vanquish'd thralls she erst resign'd;
507 Ye who enjoy that freedom she has lost,
508 That great prerogative of human-kind,
509 Close to your hearts the precious jewel bind,
510 And learn the rich possession to maintain,
511 Learn Virtue, Justice, Constancy of Mind,
512 Not to be mov'd by Fear or Pleasure's train;
513 Be these your arts, ye brave, these only are humane.
LVIII.
514 As he thus spake, th' enchaunter half asham'd
515 Wist not what fitting answer to devise,
516 Als was his caitive heart well-nigh inflam'd,
517 By that same knight so virtuous, brave and wise,
518 That long he doubts him farther to entice.
519 But he was harden'd and remorseless grown,
520 Through practice old of villainy and vice;
521 So to his former wiles he turns him soon,
522 As in another place hereafter shall be shown.

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): ON THE ABUSE of TRAVELLING. A CANTO, In Imitation of SPENSER.
Author: Gilbert West
Themes: travel
Genres: alexandrine; Spenserian stanza; satire; imitation
References: DMI 22345

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Source edition

Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. II. London: printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley, 1763 [1st ed. 1758], pp. 80-103. 6v.: music; 8⁰. (ESTC T131163; OTA K104099.002) (Page images digitized by the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive from a copy in the archive's library.)

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