[ Tasso , : ] THIRSIS persuades AMINTOR not to despair upon the Predictions of Mopsus discov'ring him to be an Impostor . Thirsis . WHY dost thou still give way to such Despair Amintor . Too just , alas ! the weighty Causes are Mopsus , wise Mopsus , who in Art excels , And of all Plants the secret Vertue tells , Knows , with what healing Gifts our Spring a bound And of each Bird explains the mystick Sound ; 'Twas He , ev'n He ! my wretched Fate foretold Thir . Dost thou this Speech then of that Mopsus hold , Who , whilst his Smiles attract the easy View , Drops flatt'ring Words , soft as the falling Dew ; Whose outward Form all friendly still appears , Tho' Fraud and Daggers in his Thoughts he wears , And the unwary Labours to surprize With Looks affected , and with riddling Lyes . If He it is , that bids thy Love despair , I hope the happier End of all thy Care . So far from Truth his vain Predictions fall . Amint . If ought thou know'st , that may my Hopes recall , Conceal it not ; for great I've heard his Fame , And fear'd his Words — Thir . — When hither first I came , And in these Shades the false Impostor met , Like Thee I priz'd , and thought his Judgment great ; On all his study'd Speeches still rely'd , Nor fear'd to err , whilst led by such a Guide : When on a Day , that Bus'ness and Delight My Steps did to the Neighb'ring Town invite , Which stands upon that rising Mountain's side , And from our Plains this River do's divide , He check'd me thus — Be warn'd in time , My Son , And that new World of painted Mischiefs shun , Whose gay Inhabitants thou shalt behold Plum'd like our Birds , and sparkling all in Gold Courtiers , that will thy rustick Garb despise , And mock thy Plainness with disdainful Eyes . But above all , that Structure see thou fly , Where hoarded Vanities and Witchcrafts lie ; To shun that Path be thy peculiar Care . I ask , what of that Place the Dangers are : To which he soon replies , there shalt thou meet Of soft Enchantresses th' Enchantments sweet , Who subt'ly will thy solid Sense bereave , And a false Gloss to ev'ry Object give . Brass to thy Sight as polish'd Gold shall seem , And Glass thou as the Diamond shalt esteem . Huge Heaps of Silver to thee shall appear , Which if approach'd , will prove but shining Air . The very Walls by Magick Art are wrought , And Repetition to all Speakers taught : Not such , as from our Ecchoes we obtain , Which only our last Words return again ; But Speech for Speech entirely there they give , And often add , beyond what they receive . There downy Couches to false Rest invite , The Lawn is charm'd , that faintly bars the Light . No gilded Seat , no iv'ry Board is there , But what thou may'st for some Delusion fear : Whilst , farther to abuse thy wond'ring Eyes , Strange antick Shapes before them shall arise ; Fantastick Fiends , that will about thee flock , And all they see , with Imitation mock . Nor are these Ills the worst . Thyself may'st be Transform'd into a Flame , a Stream , a Tree ; A Tear , congeal'd by Art , thou may'st remain , 'Till by a burning Sigh dissolv'd again . Thus spake the Wretch ; but cou'd not shake my Mind . My way I take , and soon the City find , Where above all that lofty Fabrick stands , Which , with one View , the Town and Plains commands . Here was I stopt , for who cou'd quit the Ground , That heard such Musick from those Roofs resound ! Musick ! beyond th' enticing Syrene's Note ; Musick ! beyond the Swan's expiring Throat ; Beyond the softest Voice , that charms the Grove , And equal'd only by the Spheres above . My Ear I thought too narrow for the Art , Nor fast enough convey'd it to my Heart : When in the Entrance of the Gate I saw A Man Majestick , and commanding Awe ; Yet temper'd with a Carriage , so refin'd That undetermin'd was my doubtful Mind , Whether for Love , or War , that Form was most design'd . With such a Brow , as did at once declare A gentle Nature , and a Wit severe ; To view that Palace me he ask'd to go , Tho' Royal He , and I Obscure and Low . But the Delights my Senses there did meet , No rural Tongue , no Swain can e'er repeat . Celestial Goddesses , or Nymphs as Fair , In unveil'd Beauties , to all Eyes appear Sprinkl'd with Gold , as glorious to the View , As young Aurora , deck'd with pearly Dew ; Bright Rays dispensing , as along they pass'd , And with new Light the shining Palace grac'd . Phabus was there by all the Muses met , And at his Feet was our Elpino set . Ev'n humble Me their Harmony inspir'd , My Breast expanded , and my Spirits fir'd . Rude Past'ral now , no longer I rehearse , But Heroes crown with my exalted Verse . Of Arms I sung , of bold advent'rous Wars ; And tho' brought back by my too envious Stars , Yet kept my Voice and Reed those lofty Strains , And sent loud Musick through the wond'ring Plains : Which Mopsus hearing , secretly malign'd , And now to ruin Both at once design'd . Which by his Sorceries he soon brought to pass ; And suddenly so clogg'd , and hoarse I was , That all our Shepherds , at the Change amaz'd , Believ'd , I on some Ev'ning-Wolf had gaz'd : When He it was , my luckless Path had crost , By whose dire Look , my Skill awhile was lost . This have I told , to raise thy Hopes again , And render , by distrust , his Malice vain .