BLENHEIM.
Writ at the Univerſity of Oxford in the Year 1727.
[21][By the Same.]
PARENT of arts, whoſe ſkilful hand firſt taught
The tow'ring pile to riſe, and form'd the plan
With fair proportion; architect divine,
Minerva, thee to my advent'rous lyre
Aſſiſtant I invoke, that means to ſing
BLENHEMIA, monument of Britiſh fame,
Thy glorious work! For thou the lofty tow'rs
Didſt to his virtue raiſe, whom oft thy ſhield
In peril guarded, and thy wiſdom ſteer'd
Through all the ſtorms of war.—Thee too I call,
Thalia, ſylvan muſe, who lov'ſt to rove
Along the ſhady paths and verdant bow'rs
Of Woodſtock's happy grove: there tuning ſweet
Thy rural pipe, while all the Dryad train
Attentive liſten; let thy warbling ſong
Paint with melodious praiſe the pleaſing ſcene,
And equal theſe to Pindus' honour'd ſhades.
When Europe freed, confeſs'd the ſaving pow'r
Of MARLE'ROUGH's hand; Britain who ſent him forth
[22] Chief of confederate hoſts, to fight the cauſe
Of Liberty and Juſtice, grateful rais'd
This palace, ſacred to her leader's fame;
A trophy of ſucceſs; with ſpoils adorn'd
Of conquer'd towns, and glorying in the name
Of that auſpicious field, where CHURCHILL's ſword
Vanquiſh'd the might of Gallia, and chaſtis'd
Rebel Bavar.—Majeſtick in its ſtrength
Stands the proud dome, and ſpeaks its great deſign.
Hail happy chief, whoſe valour could deſerve
Reward ſo glorious! grateful nation hail,
Who paidſt his ſervice with ſo rich a meed!
Which moſt ſhall I admire, which worthieſt praiſe,
The Hero or the People? Honour doubts,
And weighs their virtues in an equal ſcale.
Not thus Germania pays th' uncancell'd debt
Of gratitude to us.—Bluſh, Caeſar, bluſh,
When thou behold'ſt theſe tow'rs, ingrate, to thee
A monument of ſhame. Canſt thou forget
Whence they are nam'd, and what an Engliſh arm
Did for thy throne that day? But we diſdain
Or to upbraid or imitate thy guilt.
Steel thy obdurate heart againſt the ſenſe
Of obligation infinite, and know,
Britain like heav'n protects a thankleſs world
For her own glory, nor expects reward.
Pleas'd with the noble theme, her taſk the muſe
Purſues untir'd, and through the palace roves
[23] With ever-new delight. The Tap'ſtry rich
With gold, and gay with all the beauteous paint
Of various colour'd ſilks, diſpos'd with ſkill,
Attracts her curious eye. Here Iſter rolls
His purple wave; and there the Granic flood
With paſſing ſquadrons foams: here hardy Gaul
Flies from the ſword of Britain; there to Greece
Effeminate Perſia yields.—In arms oppos'd
MARLB'ROUGH and ALEXANDER vie for fame
With glorious competition; equal both
In valour and in fortune, but their praiſe
Be different, for with different views they fought;
This to ſubdue, and That to free mankind.
Now through the ſtately portals iſſuing forth,
The muſe to ſofter glories turns, and ſeeks
The woodland ſhade, delighted. Not the vale
Of Tempe fam'd in ſong, or Ida's grove
Such beauty boaſts. Amid the mazy gloom
Of this romantick wilderneſs once ſtood
The bow'r of Roſamonda, hapleſs fair,
Sacred to grief and love; the cryſtal fount
In which ſhe us'd to bathe her beauteous limbs
Still warbling flows, pleas'd to reflect the face
Of SPENSER, lovely maid, when tir'd ſhe ſits
Beſide its flow'ry brink, and views thoſe charms
Which only Roſamond could once excel.
But ſee where flowing with a nobler ſtream,
A limpid lake of pureſt waters rolls
[24] Beneath the wide-ſtretch'd arch, ſtupendous work
Through which the Danube might collected pour
His ſpacious urn! Silent a while, and ſmooth
The current glides, till with an headlong ſorce
Broke and diſorder'd, down the ſteep it falls
In loud caſcades; the ſilver-ſparkling foam
Glitters relucent in the dancing ray.
In theſe retreats repos'd the mighty ſoul
Of CHURCHILL, from the toils of war and ſtate,
Splendidly private, and the tranquil joy
Of contemplation felt, while BLENHEIM's dome
Triumphal, ever in his mind renew'd
The mem'ry of his fame, and ſooth'd his thoughts
With pleaſing record of his glorious deeds.
So by the rage of faction, home recall'd,
Lucullus, while he wag'd ſucceſsful war
Againſt the pride of Aſia, and the pow'r
Of Mithridates, whoſe aſpiring mind
No loſſes could ſubdue, enrich'd with ſpoils
Of conquer'd nations, back return'd to Rome,
And in magnificent retirement paſt
The evening of his life.—But not alone,
In the calm ſhades of honourable eaſe,
Great MARLBRO' peaceful dwelt: Indulgent heav'n
Gave a companion to his ſofter hours,
With whom converſing, he forgot all change
Of fortune, or of taſte, and in her mind
Found greatneſs equal to his own, and lov'd
[25] Himſelf in her.—Thus each by each admir'd,
In mutual honour, mutual fondneſs join'd:
Like two fair ſtars with intermingled light,
In friendly union they together ſhone,
Aiding each other's brightneſs, till the cloud
Of night eternal quench'd the beams of one.
Thee CHURCHILL firſt, the ruthleſs hand ſo death
Tore from thy conſort's ſide, and call'd thee hence
To the ſublimer ſeats of joy and love;
Where fate again ſhall join her ſoul to thine,
Who now, regardful of thy fame, erects
The column to thy praiſe, and ſooths her woe
With pious honours to thy ſacred name
Immortal. Lo! where tow'ring on the height
Of yon aërial pillar proudly ſtands
Thy image, like a guardian god, ſublime,
And awes the ſubject plain: Beneath his feet,
The German eagles ſpread their wings, his hand
Graſps victory, its ſlave. Such was thy brow
Majeſtick, ſuch thy martial port, when Gaul
Fled from thy frown, and in the Danube ſought
A refuge from thy ſword.—There, where the field
Was deepeſt ſtain'd with gore, on Hochſtet's plain,
The theatre of thy glory, once was rais'd
A meaner trophy, by th' Imperial hand;
Extorted gratitude; which now the rage
Of Malice impotent, beſeeming ill
A regal breaſt, has levell'd to the ground:
[26] Mean inſult! this with better auſpices
Shall ſtand on Britiſh earth, to tell the world
How MARLBRO' fought, for whom, and how repay'd
His ſervices. Nor ſhall the conſtant love
Of Her who rais'd this Monument be loſt
In dark oblivion: That ſhall be the theme
Of future bards in ages yet unborn,
Inſpir'd with Chaucer's fire, who in theſe groves
Firſt tun'd the Britiſh harp, and little deem'd
His humble dwelling ſhould the neighbour be
Of BLENHEIM, houſe ſuperb; to which the throng
Of travellers approaching, ſhall not paſs
His roof unnoted, but reſpectful hail
With rev'rence due. Such honour does the Muſe
Obtain her favourites.—But the noble pile
(My theme) demands my voice.—O ſhade ador'd,
MARLB'ROUGH! who now above the ſtarry ſphere
Dwell'ſt in the palaces of heav'n, enthron'd
Among the demi-gods, deign to defend
This thy abode, while preſent here below,
And ſacred ſtill to thy immortal fame,
With tutelary care. Preſerve it ſafe
From Time's deſtroying hand, and cruel ſtroke
Of factious Envy's more relentleſs rage.
Here may, long ages hence, the Britiſh youth,
When Honour calls them to the field of war,
Behold the trophies which thy valour rais'd;
The proud reward of thy ſucceſsful toils
[27] For Europe's freedom, and Britannia's fame:
That fir'd with gen'rous envy, they may dare
To emulate thy deeds.—So ſhall thy name,
Dear to thy country, ſtill inſpire her ſons
With martial virtue; and to high attempts,
Excite their arms, till other battles won,
And nations ſav'd, new Monuments require,
And other BLENHEIMS ſhall adorn the land.
TO THE Reverend Dr. AYSCOUGH at Oxford.
Writ from Paris in the Year 1728.
[By the Same.]
SAY, deareſt friend, how roll thy hours away?
What pleaſing ſtudy cheats the tedious day?
Doſt thou the ſacred volumes oft explore
Of wiſe Antiquity's immortal lore,
Where virtue by the charms of wit refin'd,
At once exalts and poliſhes the mind?
[28] How diff'rent from our modern guilty art,
Which Pleaſes only to Corrupt the heart;
Whoſe curs'd refinements odious Vice adorn,
And teach to Honour what we ought to Scorn!
Doſt thou in ſage Hiſtorians joy to ſee
How Roman Greatneſs roſe with Liberty;
How the ſame hands that tyrants durſt controul,
Their empire ſtretch'd from Atlas to the Pole;
Till wealth and conqueſt into ſlaves refin'd
The proud luxurious maſters of mankind?
Doſt thou in letter'd Greece each charm admire,
Each grace, each virtue Freedom could inſpire;
Yet in her troubled ſtates ſee all the woes,
And all the crimes that giddy Faction knows;
Till rent by parties, by corruption ſold,
Or weakly careleſs, or too raſhly bold,
She ſunk beneath a mitigated doom,
The Slave and Tut'reſs of protecting Rome?
Does calm Philoſophy her aid impart,
To guide the paſſions, and to mend the heart?
Taught by her precepts, haſt thou learnt the end
To which alone the wiſe their ſtudies bend;
For which alone by nature were deſign'd
The pow'rs of thought—To benefit mankind?
Not like a cloyſter'd drone, to read and doze,
In undeſerving, undeſerv'd repoſe;
But reaſon's influence to diffuſe; to clear
Th' enlighten'd world of ev'ry gloomy fear;
[29] Diſpel the miſts of error, and unbind
Thoſe pedant chains that clog the freeborn mind.
Happy who thus his leiſure can employ!
He knows the pureſt hours of tranquil joy;
Nor vex'd with pangs that buſier boſoms tear,
Nor loſt to ſocial virtue's pleaſing care;
Safe in the port, yet lab'ring to ſuſtain
Thoſe who ſtill float on the tempeſtuous main.
So Locke the days of ſtudious Quiet ſpent;
So Boyle in Wiſdom found divine Content;
So Cambray, worthy of a happier doom,
The virtuous ſlave of Louis and of Rome.
Good
a Wor'ſter thus ſupports his drooping age,
Far from court-flatt'ry, far from party-rage;
He, who in youth a tyrant's frown defy'd,
Firm and intrepid on his country's ſide,
Her boldeſt champion then, and now her mildeſt guide.
O generous warmth! O ſanctity divine!
To emulate his worth, my friend, be thine:
Learn from his life the duties of the Gown;
Learn not to flatter, nor inſult the Crown;
Nor baſely ſervile court the guilty Great,
Nor raiſe the Church a Rival to the State:
To Error mild, to Vice alone ſevere,
Seek not to ſpread the law of Love by Fear.
The prieſt, who plagues the world, can never mend:
No foe to Man was e'er to God a friend:
[30] Let Reaſon and let Virtue Faith maintain,
All Force but theirs is impious, weak, and vain.
Me other cares in other climes engage,
Cares that become my birth, and ſuit my age;
In various knowledge to improve my youth,
And conquer Prejudice, worſt foe to Truth;
By foreign arts domeſtick faults to mend,
Enlarge my notions, and my views extend;
The uſeful ſcience of the world to know,
Which books can never teach, or pedants ſhew.
A nation here I pity, and admire,
Whom nobleſt ſentiments of glory fire,
Yet taught by cuſtom's force, and bigot fear,
To ſerve with pride, and boaſt the Yoke they bear:
Whoſe Nobles born to Cringe, and to Command,
In courts a mean, in camps a gen'rous band;
From each low Tool of pow'r content receive
Thoſe laws, their dreaded arms to Europe give.
Whoſe People vain in Want, in Bondage bleſt,
Tho' plunder'd, gay; induſtrious, though oppreſs'd;
With happy follies riſe above their fate,
The Jeſt and Envy of each wiſer ſtate.
Yet here the Muſes deign'd a while to ſport
In the ſhort ſun-ſhine of a fav'ring court:
Here Boileau ſtrong in ſenſe, and ſharp in wit,
Who from the Ancients, like the Ancients writ;
Permiſſion gain'd inferior vice to blame,
By flatt'ring incenſe to his Maſter's fame.
[31] Here Moliere, firſt of comick wits, excell'd
Whate'er Athenian theatres beheld;
By keen, yet decent ſatire ſkill'd to pleaſe,
With Morals Mirth uniting, Strength with Eaſe.
Now charm'd, I hear the bold Corneille inſpire
Heroick thoughts with Shakeſpear's force and fire;
Now ſweet Racine with milder influence move
The ſoften'd heart to Pity and to Love.
With mingled pain and pleaſure I ſurvey
The pompous works of arbitrary ſway;
Proud Palaces, that drain'd the ſubjects ſtore,
Rais'd on the ruins of th' oppreſs'd and poor;
Where ev'n mute walls are taught to flatter ſtate,
And painted triumphs ſtile Ambition GREAT.
bWith more delight thoſe pleaſing ſhades I view,
Where Condé from an envious court withdrew:
cWhere, ſick of glory, faction, pow'r and pride,
(Sure judge how empty all, who all had try'd)
Beneath his palms the weary Chief repos'd,
And life's great ſcene in quiet Virtue clos'd.
With ſhame that other fam'd Retreat I ſee
Adorn'd by Art, diſgrac'd by Luxury;
dWhere Orleans waſted ev'ry vacant hour,
In the wild riot of unbounded pow'r;
Where feveriſh Debauch and impious Love
Stain'd the mad table and the guilty grove.
[32]With theſe amuſements is thy friend detain'd,
Pleas'd and inſtructed in a foreign land;
Yet oft a tender wiſh recals my mind
From preſent joys to dearer left behind:
O native iſle, fair freedom's happieſt ſeat!
At thought of thee my bounding pulſes beat;
At thought of thee my heart impatient burns,
And all my country on my ſoul returns.
When ſhall I ſee thy fields, whoſe plenteous grain
No pow'r can raviſh from th' induſtrious ſwain?
When kiſs with pious love the ſacred earth,
That gave a BURLEIGH, or a RUSSEL birth?
When, in the ſhade of laws, that long have ſtood
Prop'd by their care, or ſtrengthen'd by their blood,
Of fearleſs independence wiſely vain,
The proudeſt ſlave of Bourbon's race diſdain?
Yet oh! what doubt, what ſad preſaging voice
Whiſpers within, and bids me not rejoice;
Bids me contemplate ev'ry ſtate around,
From ſultry Spain to Norway's icy bound;
Bids their loſt rights, their ruin'd glories ſee;
And tells me, Theſe, like England, once were Free.
To Mr. POYNTZ,
Ambaſſador at the Congreſs of SOISSONS, in the Year 1728.
Written at Paris.
[33][By the Same.]
O Thou, whoſe friendſhip is my joy and pride,
Whoſe Virtues warm me, and whoſe Precepts guide;
Thou, to whom Greatneſs, rightly underſtood,
Is but a larger power of being good;
Say, Poyntz, amidſt the toils of anxious ſtate,
Does not thy ſecret ſoul deſire Retreat?
Doſt thou not wiſh (the taſk of glory done)
Thy buſy life at length might be thy own;
That to thy lov'd philoſophy reſign'd,
No care might ruffle thy unbended mind?
Juſt is the wiſh. For ſure the happieſt meed,
To favour'd man by ſmiling heav'n decreed,
Is to reflect at eaſe on glorious pains,
And calmly to enjoy what Virtue gains.
Not him I praiſe, who from the world retir'd,
By no enlivening generous paſſion fir'd,
On flow'ry couches ſlumbers life away,
And gently bids his active pow'rs decay;
[34] Who fears bright Glory's awful face to ſee,
And ſhuns Renown as much as Infamy.
But bleſt is he, who exercis'd in cares,
To private Leiſure publick Virtue bears?
Who tranquil ends the race he nobly run,
And decks Repoſe with trophies Labour won.
Him Honour follows to the ſecret ſhade,
And crowns propitious his declining head;
In his retreats their harps the Muſes ſtring,
For him in lays unbought ſpontaneous ſing;
Friendſhip and Truth on all his moments wait,
Pleas'd with Retirement better than with State;
And round the bow'r where humbly great he lies,
Fair olives bloom, or verdant laurels riſe.
So when thy Country ſhall no more demand
The needful aid of thy ſuſtaining hand;
When peace reſtor'd ſhall on her downy wing
Secure Repoſe and careleſs Leiſure bring;
Then to the ſhades of learned eaſe retir'd,
The world forgetting, by the world admir'd,
Among thy books and friends, thou ſhall poſſeſs
Contemplative and quiet Happineſs;
Pleas'd to review a life in Honour ſpent,
And painful Merit paid with ſweet Content.
Yet tho' thy hours unclogg'd with ſorrow roll,
Tho' wiſdom calm, and ſcience feed thy ſoul;
One dearer bliſs remains to be poſſeſs'd,
That only can improve and crown the reſt—
[35]Permit thy friend this ſecret to reveal,
Which thy own heart perhaps would better tell;
The point to which our ſweeteſt paſſions move,
Is to be truly lov'd, and fondly love.
This is the charm that ſmooths the troubled breaſt,
Friend to our health, and author of our reſt,
Bids ev'ry gloomy vexing paſſion fly,
And tunes each jarring ſtring to harmony.
Ev'n while I write, the name of love inſpires
More pleaſing thoughts, and more enlivening fires;
Beneath his pow'r my raptur'd fancy glows,
And ev'ry tender verſe more ſweetly flows.
Dull is the privilege of living free;
Our hearts were never form'd for Liberty:
Some beauteous image well imprinted there,
Can beſt defend them from conſuming care.
In vain to groves and gardens we retire,
And nature in her rural works admire;
Tho' grateful theſe, yet theſe but faintly charm;
They may Delight us, but can never Warm.
May ſome fair eyes, my friend, thy boſom fire
With pleaſing pangs of ever gay deſire;
And teach thee that ſoft ſcience, which alone
Still to thy ſearching mind reſts ſlightly known.
Thy ſoul, tho' great, is tender and refin'd,
To friendſhip ſenſible, to love inclin'd;
And therefore long thou canſt not arm thy breaſt
Againſt the entrance of ſo ſweet a gueſt.
[36] Hear what th' inſpiring Muſes bid me tell,
For heav'n ſhall ratify what they reveal.
A choſen bride ſhall in thy arms be plac'd,
With all th' attractive charms of beauty grac'd;
Whoſe wit and virtue ſhall thy own expreſs,
Diſtinguiſh'd only by their ſofter dreſs:
Thy greatneſs ſhe, or thy retreat ſhall ſhare,
Sweeten tranquillity, or ſoften care:
Her ſmiles the taſte of ev'ry joy ſhall raiſe,
And add new pleaſure to renown and praiſe;
Till charm'd you own the truth my verſe would prove,
That Happineſs is near ally'd to Love.
ADVICE to a LADY.
[By the Same. 1731.]
THE counſels of a friend, Belinda, hear,
Too roughly kind to pleaſe a Lady's ear,
Unlike the flatteries of a lover's pen,
Such truths as women ſeldom learn from men.
Nor think I praiſe you ill, when thus I ſhew
What female Vanity might fear to know:
Some merit's mine, to dare to be ſincere,
But greater your's, ſincerity to bear.
Hard is the fortune that your ſex attends;
Women, like Princes, find few real friends:
All who approach them their own ends purſue:
Lovers and Miniſters are ſeldom true.
[44] Hence oft from Reaſon heedleſs Beauty ſtrays,
And the moſt truſted Guide the moſt betrays:
Hence by fond dreams of fancy'd Pow'r amus'd,
When moſt you tyrannize you're moſt abus'd.
What is your ſex's earlieſt, lateſt care,
Your heart's ſupreme ambition? To be fair:
For this the toilet every thought employs,
Hence all the toils of dreſs, and all the joys:
For this, hands, lips, and eyes are put to ſchool,
And each inſtructed feature has its rule:
And yet how few have learnt, when this is giv'n,
Not to diſgrace the partial boon of heav'n?
How few with all their pride of form can Move?
How few are lovely, that were made for love?
Do you, my fair, endeavour to poſſeſs
An elegance of mind as well as dreſs;
Be that your ornament, and know to pleaſe
By graceful nature's unaffected eaſe.
Nor make to dangerous Wit a vain pretence,
But wiſely reſt content with modeſt Senſe;
For Wit, like wine, intoxicates the brain,
Too ſtrong for feeble woman to ſuſtain;
Of thoſe who claim it, more than half have none,
And half of thoſe who have it, are undone.
Be ſtill ſuperior to your ſex's arts,
Nor think Diſhoneſty a proof of Parts;
For you the plaineſt is the wiſeſt rule,
A CUNNING WOMAN is a KNAVISH FOOL.
[45]Be good yourſelf, nor think another's ſhame
Can raiſe your merit, or adorn your fame.
Prudes rail at whores, as ſtateſmen in diſgrace
At Miniſters, becauſe they wiſh their place.
Virtue is amiable, mild, ſerene,
Without, all beauty, and all peace within:
The honour of a prude is rage and ſtorm,
'Tis uglineſs in its moſt frightful form:
Fiercely it ſtands defying gods and men,
As fiery monſters guard a giant's den.
Seek to be good, but aim not to be great:
A woman's nobleſt ſtation is Retreat;
Her faireſt virtues fly from publick ſight,
Domeſtick worth, that ſhuns too ſtrong a light.
To rougher man Ambition's taſk reſign:
'Tis ours in Senates or in Courts to ſhine,
To labour for a ſunk corrupted ſtate,
Or dare the rage of envy, and be great.
One only care your gentle breaſts ſhould move,
Th'important Buſineſs of your life is Love;
To this great point direct your conſtant aim,
This makes your Happineſs, and this your Fame.
Be never cool reſerve with paſſion join'd:
With caution chuſe; but then be fondly kind.
The ſelfiſh heart, that but by halves is given,
Shall find no place in Love's delightful heav'n;
Here ſweet extreams alone can truly bleſs.
The virtue of a lover is exceſs.
[46]A maid unaſk'd may own a well-plac'd flame,
Not loving firſt but loving wrong is ſhame.
Contemn the little pride of giving pain;
Nor think that Conqueſt juſtifies Diſdain;
Short is the period of inſulting Pow'r;
Offended Cupid finds his vengeful hour,
Soon will reſume the empire which he gave,
And ſoon the Tyrant ſhall become the Slave.
Bleſt is the maid, and worthy to be bleſt,
Whoſe ſoul entire by him ſhe loves poſſeſs'd,
Feels every vanity in fondneſs loſt,
And aſks no pow'r, but that of pleaſing moſt:
Her's is the bliſs in juſt return to prove
The honeſt warmth of undiſſembled Love;
For her, inconſtant man might ceaſe to range,
And Gratitude forbid Deſire to change.
But leſt harſh Care the lover's peace deſtroy,
And roughly blight the tender buds of joy,
Let Reaſon teach what Paſſion fain wou'd hide,
That Hymen's bands by Prudence ſhould be ty'd.
Venus in vain the wedded pair would crown,
If angry fortune on their union frown:
Soon will the flatt'ring dream of bliſs be o'er,
And cloy'd imagination cheat no more.
Then waking to the ſenſe of laſting pain,
With mutual tears the nuptial couch they ſtain;
And that fond love, which ſhould afford relief,
Does but encreaſe the anguiſh of their grief;
[47] While both cou'd eaſier their own ſorrows bear,
Than the ſad knowledge of each other's care.
Yet may you rather feel that virtuous pain,
Than ſell your violated charms for gain;
Than wed the wretch whom you deſpiſe, or hate,
For the vain glare of uſeleſs wealth or ſtate.
The moſt abandon'd Proſtitutes are they,
Who not to Love, but Av'rice fall a prey:
Nor aught avails the ſpecious name of WIFE;
A maid ſo wedded, is a WHORE FOR LIFE.
Ev'n in the happieſt choice, where fav'ring heav'n
Has equal love, and eaſy fortune giv'n,
Think not, the Huſband gain'd, that all is done;
The prize of Happineſs muſt ſtill be won;
And oft, the careleſs find it to their coſt,
The Lover in the Huſband may be loſt:
The Graces might alone his heart allure;
They and the Virtues meeting muſt ſecure.
Let ev'n your Prudence wear the pleaſing dreſs
Of care for him, and anxious tenderneſs.
From kind concern about his weal, or woe,
Let each domeſtick duty ſeem to flow;
The HOUSHOLD SCEPTRE if he bids you bear,
Make it your pride his ſervant to appear:
Endearing thus the common acts of life,
The Miſtreſs ſtill ſhall charm him in the Wife;
And wrinkled age ſhall unobſerv'd come on,
Before his eye perceives one beauty gone:
[48] Ev'n o'er your cold, your ever-ſacred urn,
His conſtant flame ſhall unextinguiſh'd burn.
Thus I, Belinda, would your charms improve,
And form your heart to all the arts of love:
The taſk were harder to ſecure my own
Againſt the pow'r of thoſe already known;
For well you twiſt the ſecret chains that bind
With gentle force the captivated mind,
Skill'd every ſoft attraction to employ,
Each flatt'ring hope, and each alluring joy;
I own your genius, and from you receive
The rules of Pleaſing, which to you I give.
TO THE MEMORY of the ſame LADY, A MONODY. A.D. 1747
[69]Ipſe cavâ ſolans aegrum teſtudine amoram
Te dulcis conjux, ſolo te in littore ſecum
Te veniente die, te decedente canebat.
[By the Same.]
I.
AT length eſcap'd from ev'ry human eye,
From ev'ry duty, ev'ry care,
That in my mournful thoughts might claim a ſhare,
Or force my tears their flowing ſtream to dry,
Beneath the gloom of this embow'ring ſhade
This lone retreat, for tender ſorrow made,
I now may give my burden'd heart relief
And pour forth all my ſtores of grief,
Of grief ſurpaſſing ev'ry other woe,
Far as the pureſt bliſs, the happieſt love
Can on th'ennobled mind beſtow,
Exceeds the vulgar joys that move
Our groſs deſires, inelegant, and low.
II.
Ye tufted groves, ye gently falling rills,
Ye high o'erſhadowing hills,
Ye lawns gay-ſmiling with eternal green,
Oft have you my LUCY ſeen!
[70]But never ſhall you now behold her more:
Nor will ſhe now with fond delight
And taſte refin'd your rural charms explore.
Clos'd are thoſe beauteous eyes in endleſs night,
Thoſe beauteous eyes where beaming us'd to ſhine
Reaſon's pure light, and virtue's ſpark divine.
III.
Oft would the Dryads of theſe woods rejoice
To hear her heav'nly voice,
For her deſpiſing, when ſhe deign'd to ſing,
The ſweeteſt ſongſters of the ſpring:
The woodlark and the linnet pleas'd no more;
The nightingale was mute,
And ev'ry ſhepherd's flute
Was caſt in ſilent ſcorn away,
While all attended to her ſweeter lay.
Ye larks and linnets now reſume your ſong,
And thou, melodious Philomel
Again thy plaintive ſtory tell,
For death has ſtopt that tuneful tongue,
Whoſe muſick could alone your warbling notes excel.
IV.
In vain I look around
O'er all the well-known ground
My LUCY's wonted footſteps to deſcry;
Where oft we us'd to walk,
Where oft in tender talk
We ſaw the ſummer ſun go down the ſky;
[71] Nor by you fountain's ſide,
Nor where its waters glide
Along the valley, can ſhe now be found:
In all the wide-ſtretch'd proſpect's ample bound
No more my mournful eye
Can ought of her eſpy,
But the ſad ſacred earth where her dear relicks lie.
V.
O ſhades of H—y., where is now your boaſt?
Your bright inhabitant is loſt.
You ſhe preferr'd to all the gay reſorts
Where female vanity might wiſh to ſhine,
The pomp of cities, and the pride of courts.
Her modeſt beauties ſhun'd the publick eye:
To your ſequeſter'd dales
And flow'r-embroider'd vales
From an admiring world ſhe choſe to fly;
With nature there retir'd, and nature's GOD,
The ſilent paths of wiſdom trod,
And baniſh'd ev'ry paſſion from her breaſt,
But thoſe, the gentleſt, and the beſt,
Whoſe holy flames with energy divine
The virtuous heart enliven and improve,
The conjugal, and the maternal love.
VI.
Sweet babes, who, like the little playful fawns,
Were wont to trip along theſe verdant lawns
[72] By your delighted Mother's ſide,
Who now your infant ſteps ſhall guide!
Ah! where is now the hand whoſe tender care
To ev'ry Virtue would have form'd your Youth,
And ſtrew'd with flow'rs the thorny ways of Truth?
O loſs beyond repair!
O wretched Father, left alone
To weep their dire misfortune, and thy own!
How ſhall thy weaken'd mind, oppreſs'd with woe,
And drooping o'er thy LUCY's grave,
Perform the duties that you doubly owe,
Now She, alas! is gone,
From folly, and from vice, their helpleſs age to ſave?
VII.
Where were ye, Muſes, when relentleſs fate
From theſe fond arms your fair diſciple tore,
From theſe fond arms that vainly ſtrove
With hapleſs ineffectual Love
To guard her boſom from the mortal blow?
Could not your fav'ring power, Aonian maids,
Could not, alas! your power prolong her date,
For whom ſo oft in theſe inſpiring ſhades,
Or under Campden's moſs-clad mountains hoar,
You open'd all your ſacred ſtore,
Whate'er your ancient ſages taught,
Your ancient bards ſublimely thought,
And bade her raptur'd breaſt with all your ſpirit glow?
[73]VIII.
Nor then did Pindus, or Caſtalia's plain,
Or Aganippe's fount your ſteps detain,
Nor in the Theſpian vallies did you play;
Nor then on
a Mincio's bank
Beſet with oſiers dank,
Nor where
b Clitumnus rolls his gentle ſtream,
Nor where through hanging woods
Steep
c Anio pours his floods,
Nor yet where
d Meles, or
e Iliſſus ſtray.
Ill does it now beſeem
That of your guardian care bereft
To dire diſeaſe and death your darling ſhould be left.
IX.
Now what avails it that in early bloom,
When light fantaſtick toys
Are all her ſex's joys,
With you ſhe ſearch'd the wit of Greece and Rome,
And all that in her later days
To emulate her ancient praiſe
[74] Italia's happy genius could produce;
Or what the Gallick fire
Bright-ſparkling could inſpire,
By all the Graces temper'd and refin'd;
Or what in Britain's iſle,
Moſt favour'd with your ſmile,
The pow'rs of reaſon and of fancy join'd
To full perfection have conſpir'd to raiſe?
Ah what is now the uſe
Of all theſe treaſures that enrich'd her mind,
To blank oblivion's gloom for ever now conſign'd!
X.
At leaſt, ye Nine, her ſpotleſs name
'Tis yours from death to ſave,
And in the temple of immortal Fame
With golden characters her worth engrave.
Come then, ye virgin ſiſters, come,
And ſtrew with choiceſt flow'rs her hallow'd tomb.
But foremoſt thou, in ſable veſtment clad,
With accents ſweet and ſad,
Thou, plaintive Muſe, whom o'er his Laura's urn
Unhappy Petrarch call'd to mourn,
O come, and to this fairer Laura pay
A more impaſſion'd tear, a more pathetick lay.
XI.
Tell how each beauty of her mind and face
Was brighten'd by ſome ſweet, peculiar grace!
How eloquent in ev'ry look
Thro' her expreſſive eyes her ſoul diſtinctly ſpoke!
[75] Tell how her manners by the world refin'd
Left all the taint of modiſh vice behind,
And made each charm of poliſh'd courts agree
With candid truth's ſimplicity,
And uncorrupted innocence!
Tell how to more than manly ſenſe
She join'd the ſoft'ning influence
Of more than female tenderneſs!
How in the thoughtleſs days of wealth and joy
Which oft the care of other's Good deſtroy,
Her kindly-melting heart,
To ev'ry want, and ev'ry woe,
To guilt itſelf when in diſtreſs
The balm of pity would impart
And all relief that bounty could beſtow!
Ev'n for the kid or lamb that pour'd its life
Beneath the bloody knife,
Her gentle tears would fall,
As She the common mother were of all.
XII.
Nor only good, and kind,
But ſtrong and elevated was her mind:
A ſpirit that with noble pride
Could look ſuperior down
On fortune's ſmile, or frown;
That could without regret or pain
To virtue's loweſt duty ſacrifice
Or int'reſt's, or ambition's higheſt prize;
That injur'd or offended never try'd
[76] Its dignity by vengeance to maintain
But by magnanimous diſdain.
A wit, that temperately bright,
With inoffenſive light
All pleaſing ſhone, nor ever paſt
The decent bounds that wiſdom's ſober hand,
And ſweet benevolence's mild command,
And baſhful modeſty, before it caſt.
A prudence undeceiving, undeceiv'd,
That nor too little, nor too much believ'd,
That ſcorn'd unjuſt ſuſpicion's coward fear
And without weakneſs knew to be ſincere.
Such LUCY was, when in her faireſt days
Amidſt th' acclaim of univerſal praiſe
In life's and glory's freſheſt bloom
Death came remorſeleſs on, and ſank her to the tomb.
XIII.
So where the ſilent ſtreams of Liris glide,
In the ſoft boſom of Campania's vale,
When now the wintry tempeſts all are fled,
And genial Summer breathes her gentle gale,
The verdant orange lifts its beauteous head:
From ev'ry branch the balmy flow'rets riſe,
On ev'ry bough the golden fruits are ſeen;
With odours ſweet it fills the ſmiling ſkies,
The wood-nymphs tend it, and th' Idalian queen:
But in the midſt of all its blooming pride
[77] A ſudden blaſt from Apenninus blows
Cold with perpetual ſnows:
The tender, blighted plant ſhrinks up its leaves, and dies.
XIV.
Ariſe, O Petrarch, from th'Elyſian bowers
With never-fading myrtles twin'd,
And fragrant with ambroſial flowers,
Where to thy Laura thou again art join'd;
Ariſe, and hither bring the ſilver lyre
Tun'd by thy ſkilful hand
To the ſoft notes of elegant deſire,
With which o'er many a land
Was ſpread the fame of thy diſaſtrous love:
To me reſign the vocal ſhell,
And teach my ſorrows to relate
Their melancholy tale ſo well,
As may ev'n things inanimate,
Rough mountain oaks, and deſart rocks, to pity move.
XV.
What were, alas! thy woes compar'd to mine?
To thee thy miſtreſs in the bliſsful band
Of Hymen never gave her hand:
The joys of wedded love were never thine.
In thy domeſtick care
She never bore a ſhare,
Nor with endearing art
Would heal thy wounded heart
Of ev'ry ſecret grief that feſter'd there:
[78] Nor did her fond affection on the bed
Of ſickneſs watch thee, and thy languid head
Whole nights on her unwearied arm ſuſtain
And charm away the ſenſe of pain:
Nor did ſhe crown your mutual flame
With pledges dear, and with a father's tender name.
XVI.
O beſt of wives! O dearer far to me
Than when thy virgin charms
Were yielded to my arms,
How can my ſoul endure the loſs of thee?
How in the world to me a deſart grown,
Abandon'd, and alone,
Without my ſweet companion can I live?
Without thy lovely ſmile,
The dear reward of ev'ry virtuous toil,
What pleaſures now can pall'd ambition give?
Ev'n the delightful ſenſe of well-earn'd praiſe,
Unſhar'd by thee, no more my lifeleſs thoughts could raiſe.
XVII.
For my diſtracted mind
What ſuccour can I find?
Or whom for conſolation ſhall I call?
Support me, ev'ry friend,
Your kind aſſiſtance lend
To bear the weight of this oppreſſive woe.
Alas! each friend of mine
My dear departed love, ſo much was thine,
That none has any comfort to beſtow.
[79] My books the beſt relief
In ev'ry other grief,
Are now with your idea ſadden'd all:
Each fav'rite author we together read
My tortur'd mem'ry wounds, and ſpeaks of LUCY dead.
XVIII.
We were the happieſt pair of human kind!
The rolling year its varying courſe perform'd,
And back return'd again,
Another and another ſmiling came,
And ſaw our happineſs unchang'd remain:
Still in her golden chain
Harmonious Concord did our wiſhes bind:
Our ſtudies, pleaſures, taſtes the ſame.
O fatal, fatal ſtroke,
That all this pleaſing fabrick Love had rais'd
Of rare felicity,
On which ev'n wanton Vice with envy gaz'd,
And ev'ry ſcheme of bliſs our hearts had form'd,
With ſoothing hope, for many a future day,
In one ſad moment broke!—
Yet, O my ſoul, thy riſing murmurs ſtay,
Nor dare th'all-wiſe Diſpoſer to arraign,
Or againſt his ſupreme decree
With impious grief complain.
That all thy full-blown joys at once ſhould fade
Was his moſt righteous will, and be that will obey'd.
[80]XIX.
Would thy fond love his grace to her controul,
And in theſe low abodes of ſin and pain
Her pure, exalted ſoul
Unjuſtly for thy partial good detain?
No—rather ſtrive thy groveling mind to raiſe
Up to that unclouded blaze,
That heav'nly radiance of eternal light,
In which enthron'd ſhe now with pity ſees
How frail, how inſecure, how ſlight
Is ev'ry mortal bliſs,
Ev'n love itſelf, if riſing by degrees
Beyond the bounds of this imperfect ſtate,
Whoſe fleeting joys ſo ſoon muſt end,
It does not to its ſov'reign Good aſcend.
Riſe then, my ſoul, with hope elate,
And ſeek thoſe regions of ſerene delight,
Whoſe peaceful path and ever-open gate
No feet but thoſe of harden'd Guilt ſhall miſs.
There Death himſelf thy LUCY ſhall reſtore,
There yield up all his pow'r e'er to divide you more.
ON THE ABUSE of TRAVELLING.
A CANTO In IMITATION of SPENSER.
[82][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.
WISE was that Spartan Lawgiver of old,
Who rais'd on Virtue's baſe his well-built ſtate,
Exiling from her walls barbarick gold
With all the miſchiefs that upon it wait,
Corruption, luxury, and envious hate,
And the diſtinctions proud of rich and poor,
Which among brethren kindle fould debate,
And teach Ambition, that to Fame would ſoar,
To the falſe lure of wealth her ſtooping wing to low'r.
[83]II.
Yet would Corruption ſoon have entrance found,
And all his boaſted ſchemes eftſoon decay'd,
Had not he caſt a powerful circle round,
Which to a diſtance the arch felon fray'd,
And ineffectual his foul engines made:
This was, to weet, that politick command,
Which from vain travel the young Spartan ſtay'd,
Ne ſuffer'd him forſake his native land,
To learn deceitful arts, and ſcience contraband.
III.
Yet had that ancient world her courts and ſchools;
Great Kings and Courtiers civil and refin'd;
Great Rabbins, deeply read in wiſdom's rules,
And all the arts that cultivate the mind,
Embelliſh life, and poliſh human kind.
Such, Aſia, birth-place of proud monarchy,
Such elder Aegypt, in thy kingdoms ſhin'd,
Myſterious Aegypt, the rank nurſery
Of ſuperſtitions fond, and learned vanity.
IV.
But what accompliſhments, what arts polite,
Did the young Spartan want his deeds to grace,
Whoſe manly virtues, and heroick ſpright,
Check'd by no thought impure, no falſhood baſe,
[84] With nat'ral dignity might well out-face
The glare of manners falſe, and mimick pride?
And wherefore ſhould they range from place to place,
Who to their country's love ſo firm were ty'd,
All homely as ſhe was, that for her oft they dy'd?
V.
And
a ſooth it is (with reverence may ye hear,
And honour due to paſſion ſo refin'd)
The ſtrong affection, which true patriots bear
To their dear country, zealous is and blind
And fond, as is the love of womankind,
So that they may not her defects eſpy,
Ne other
b paragone may ever find,
But gazing on her with an aweful eye,
And ſuperſtitious zeal, her learn to deify.
VI.
And, like as is the faith unſound, untrue,
Of him, who wand'ring aye from fair to fair,
Conceiveth from each object paſſion new,
Or from his heart quite drives the troublous care;
So with the patriot-lover doth it fare,
Who through the world delighting aye to rove,
His country changeth with each change of air,
Or weening the delights of all to prove,
On none, or all alike beſtows his vagrant love.
[85]VII.
c Als doth corruption in a diſtant ſoil,
With double force
d aſſay the youthful heart,
Expos'd ſuſpectleſs to the traytor's wile,
Expos'd unwarn'd to pleaſure's poiſon'd dart,
Expos'd unpractis'd in the world's wide mart,
Where each one lies, impoſes, and betrays,
Without a friend due counſel to impart,
Without a parent's awe to rule his ways,
Without the check of ſhame, or ſpur of publick praiſe.
VIII.
e Forthy, falſe Archimago, traytor, vile,
Who burnt 'gainſt Fairy-land with ceaſeleſs ire,
Gan caſt with foreign pleaſures to beguile
Her faithful knight, and quench the heav'nly fire
That did his virtuous boſom aye inſpire
With zeal unfeigned for her ſervice true,
And ſend him forth in chivalrous attire,
Arm'd at all points adventures to purſue,
And wreak upon her foes his vowed vengeance due.
IX.
So as he journeyed upon the way,
Him ſoon the ſly enchaunter
f over-hent,
Clad like a Fairy knight in armour gay,
With painted ſhield, and ſpear right forward bent,
[86] In knightly
g guiſe and ſhew of
h hardiment,
That aye prepared was for bloody fight.
Whereat the
i Elfin knight with ſpeeches gent
Him firſt ſaluted, who, well as he might,
Him fair ſalutes again, as
k ſeemeth courteous knight.
X.
Then gan he
l purpoſe frame of valiant deeds
Atchiev'd by foreign knights of
m proweſs great,
And mighty fame, which emulation breeds
In virtuous breaſt, and kindleth martial heat;
Of arts and ſciences for warriour
n meet,
And knight that would in feats of arms excell,
Or him, who
o liefer chooſing calm retreat,
With peace and gentle virtue aye would dwell,
Who have their triumphs, like as hath Bellona fell.
XI.
Theſe, as he ſaid, beſeemed knight to know,
And all be they in Fairy-lond y-taught,
Where every art and all fair virtues grow:
Yet various climes with various fruits are fraught,
And ſuch in one hath full perfection
p raught,
The which no ſkill may in another rear.
So gloz'd th' enchaunter till he hath him brought
To a huge rock, that clomb ſo high in air,
That from it he
q uneath the murmuring ſurge mote hear.
[87]XII.
Thence the ſalt wave beyond in proſpect wide
A ſpacious plain the falſe enchaunter ſhow'd,
With goodly caſtles deck'd on every ſide,
And ſilver ſtreams, that down the champain flow'd,
And waſh'd the vineyards that beſide them ſtood,
And groves of myrtle; als the lamp of day
His orient beams diſplay'd withouten cloud,
Which lightly on the gliſtening waters play,
And tinge the caſtles, woods, and hills with purple ray.
XIII.
So fair a landſcape charm'd the wondring knight;
And eke the breath of morning freſh and ſweet
Inſpir'd his jocund ſpirit with delight,
And eaſe of heart for ſoft perſuaſion meet.
Then him the traytor baſe gan fair entreat,
And from the rock as downward they deſcend,
Of that bleſt lond his praiſes can repeat,
Till he him moved hath with him to
r wend;
So to the billowy ſhore their haſty march they bend.
XIV.
There in a painted bark all trim and gay,
Whoſe ſails full glad embrac'd the wanton wind,
There ſat a ſtranger
s wight in quaint array,
That ſeem'd of various garbs
t attone combin'd,
[88] Of Europe, Afric, eaſt and weſtern Inde.
Als round about him many creatures ſtood,
Of ſeveral nations and of diverſe kind,
Apes, ſerpents, birds with human ſpeech endow'd,
And monſters of the land, and wonders of the flood.
XV.
He was to weet a mighty traveller,
Who Curioſity thereafter
u hight,
And well he knew each coaſt and harbour fair,
And every nation's latitude and ſite,
And how to ſteer the wand'ring bark aright.
So to him ſtrait the falſe enchaunter bore,
And with him likewiſe brought the red-croſs knight:
Then fairly him beſought to waft them o'er;
Swift flew the dauncing bark, and reach'd the adverſe ſhore.
XVI.
There when they landed were, them ran to greet
A bevy bright of damſels gent and gay,
Who with ſoft ſmiles, and ſalutation ſweet,
And courteous violence would force them ſtay,
And reſt them in their bow'r not far away;
Their bow'r that moſt luxuriouſly was
w dight
With all the dainties of air, earth, and ſea,
All that mote pleaſe the taſte, and charm the ſight,
The pleaſure of the board, and charm of beauty bright.
[89]XVII.
Als might he therein hear a mingled ſound
Of feaſt and ſong and laughing jollity,
That in the noiſe was all diſtinction drown'd
Of graver ſenſe, or muſick's harmony.
Yet were there ſome in that blithe company
That aptly could diſcourſe of virtuous lore,
Of manners, wiſdom and ſound policy;
Yet
x nould they often ope their ſacred ſtore,
Ne might their voice be heard mid riot and uproar.
XVIII.
Thereto the joys of idleneſs and love,
And luxury, that beſots the nobleſt mind,
And cuſtom prevalent at diſtance drove
All ſenſe and reliſh of a higher kind,
Whereby the ſoul to virtue is refin'd.
Inſtead whereof the arts of ſlavery
Were taught, of ſlavery perverſe and blind,
That vainly boaſts her native liberty,
Yet wears the chains of pride, of luſt, and gluttony.
XIX.
Of which the red-croſs knight right well aware,
Would in no wiſe agree with them to go,
Albeit with courtly glee their leader fair,
y Hight Politeſſa, him did kindly woo.
[90]But all was falſe pretence, and hollow ſhow,
Falſe as the flow'rs which to their breaſts they ty'd,
Or thoſe which ſeemed in their cheeks to glow,
For both were falſe, and not by nature dy'd,
Falſe rivals of the ſpring, and beauty's roſy pride.
XX.
Then from behind them ſtraitway gan advaunce,
An uncouth ſtripling quaintly habited,
As for ſome revel maſk, or antick daunce,
All chequer'd o'er with yellow, blue, and red;
Als in a vizor black he ſhrouds his head,
The which he toſſed to and fro amain,
And
z eft his lathy falchion brandiſhed,
As if he meant fierce battle to
a darrain
And like a wanton ape eft ſkip'd he on the plain.
XXI.
And eſt about him ſkip'd a gaudy throng
Of youthful gallants, frolick, trim, and gay,
Chanting in careleſs notes their amourous ſong,
Match'd with like careleſs geſts, like amourous play.
Als were they gorgeous, dreſs'd in rich array,
And well accepted of that female train,
Whoſe hearts to joy and mirth devoted aye,
Each proffer'd love receive without diſdain,
And part without regret from each late-favour'd ſwain.
[91]XXII.
And now they do accord in wanton daunce
To join their hands upon the flow'ry plain;
The whiles with amourous leer and eyes aſkaunce
Each damſel fires with love her glowing ſwain;
Till all-impatient of the tickling pain,
In ſudden laughter forth at once they break,
And ending ſo their daunce, each tender twain
To ſhady bow'rs forthwith themſelves betake,
Deep hid in myrtle groves, beſide a ſilver lake.
XXIII.
Thereat the red-croſs knight was much enmov'd,
And gan his heart with indignation ſwell,
To view in forms ſo made to be belov'd,
Ne faith, ne truth, ne heav'nly virtue dwell;
But luſt inſtead, and falſhood, child of hell;
And glutton ſloth, and love of gay attire:
And ſooth to ſay, them well could parallel
Their luſty
b paramours in vain deſire;
Well fitted to each dame was every gallant ſquire.
XXIV.
Yet when their ſovereign calls them forth to arms,
Their ſovereign, whoſe
c beheſts they moſt revere,
Right wiſely can they menage war's alarms,
And wield with valour great the martial ſpear,
[92] So that their name is dreaded far and near.
Oh! that for Liberty they ſo did fight!
Then need not Fairy-land their proweſs fear,
Ne give in charge to her advent'rous knight
Their friendſhip to beware, and ſenſe-deluding ſleight.
XXV.
But not for liberty they wagen war,
But ſolely to
d aggrate their mighty lord,
For whom their deareſt blood they
e nillen ſpare,
Whenſo him liſteth draw the conquering ſword;
So is that idol vain of them ador'd,
Who ne with might beyond his meaneſt thrall
Endued, ne with ſuperior wiſdom ſtor'd,
Sees at his feet proſtrated millions fall,
And with religious drad obey his princely call.
XXVI.
Thereto ſo high and ſtately was his port,
That all the petty kings him ſore envy'd,
And would him imitate in any ſort,
With-all the mimick pageantry of pride,
And worſhip'd be like him, and deify'd
Of courtly ſycophants and
f captives vile,
Who to thoſe ſervices themſelves apply'd,
And in that ſchool of ſervitude ere while
Had learn'd to bow and grin, and flatter and beguile.
[93]XXVII.
For to that ſeminary of faſhions vain
The rich and noble from all parts repair,
Where grown enamour'd of the gaudy train,
And courteous haviour gent and debonair,
They caſt to imitate ſuch ſemblaunce fair;
And deeming meanly of their native lond,
Their own rough virtues they diſdain to wear,
And back returning dreſs'd by foreign hond,
Ne other matter care, ne other underſtond.
XXVIII.
Wherefore th' enchaunter vile, who ſore was griev'd
To ſee the knight reject thoſe damſels gay,
Wherewith he thought him ſure to have deceiv'd,
Was minded to that court him to convey,
And daze his eyen with Majeſty's bright ray:
So to a ſtately caſtle he him brought,
Which in the midſt of a great garden lay,
And wiſely was by cunning craftſmen wrought,
And with all riches deck'd ſurpaſſing human thought.
XXIX.
There underneath a ſumptuous canopy,
That with bright ore and diamonds glitter'd far,
Sate the ſwoln form of royal
g Surquedry,
And deem'd itſelf
h allgates ſome creature rare,
[94] While its own haughty ſtate it mote compare
With the baſe count'nance of the vaſſal fry,
That ſeem'd to have nor eye, nor tongue, nor ear,
Ne any ſenſe, ne any faculty,
That did not to his throne owe ſervile miniſtry.
XXX.
Yet wiſt he not that half that homage low
Was at a wizard's ſhrine in private pay'd,
The which conducted all that goodly ſhow,
And as he liſt th' imperial puppet play'd,
By ſecret ſprings and wheels right wiſely made,
That he the ſubtle wires mote not
i avize,
But deem in ſooth that all he did or ſaid,
From his own motion and free grace did riſe,
And that he juſtly hight immortal, great, and wiſe.
XXXI.
And eke to each of that fame gilded train,
That meekly round that lordly throne did ſtand,
Was by that wizard ty'd a magick chain,
Whereby their actions all he mote command,
And rule with hidden influence the land.
Yet to his lord he outwardly did bend,
And thoſe ſame magick chains within his hand
Did ſeem to place, albeit by the end
He held them faſt, that none them from his gripe mote rend
[95]XXXII.
He was to weet an old and wrinkled mage,
Deep read in all the arts of policy,
And from experience grown ſo crafty ſage,
That none his ſecret counſels mote deſcry,
Ne ſearch the mines of his deep ſubtlety.
Thereto fair peace he lov'd and cheriſhed;
And traffick did promote and induſtry,
Whereby the vulgar were in quiet fed,
And the proud lords in eaſe and plenty wallowed.
XXXIII.
Thence all the gorgeous ſplendor of the court,
k Sith the ſole bus'neſs of the rich and great,
Was to that hope-built temple to reſort,
And round their earthly god in glory wait,
Who with their pride to ſwell his royal ſtate,
Did pour large ſums of gold on every one,
Brought him by harpies fell, him to aggrate,
And torn from peaſants vile, beneath the throne
Who lay, deep ſunk in earth, and inwardly did groan.
XXXIV.
Behold, ſays ARCHIMAGE, the envy'd height
Of human grandeur to the gods ally'd!
Behold yon ſun of pow'r, whoſe glorious light,
O'er this rejoicing land out-beaming wide,
[96] Calls up thoſe princely flowers on every ſide:
Which like the painted daughters of the plain,
Ne toil, ne ſpin, ne ſtain their ſilken pride
With care or ſorrow, ſith withouten pain,
Them in eternal joy thoſe heav'nly beams maintain.
XXXV.
Them morn and evening joy eternal greets,
And for them thouſands and ten thouſands
l moil,
Gathering from land and ocean honied ſweets
For them, who in ſoft indolence the while
And ſlumb'ring peace enjoy the luſcious ſpoil;
And as they view around the careful bees
m Foreſpent with labour and inceſſant toil,
With the ſweet contraſt learn themſelves to pleaſe,
And heighten by compare the luxury of eaſe.
XXXVI.
Ungenerous man, quoth then the Fairy knight,
That can rejoice to ſee another's woe!
And thou, unworthy of that glory bright,
Wherewith the gods have deck'd thy princely brow,
That doſt on Sloth and Gluttony beſtow
The hard-earn'd fruits of Induſtry and Pain,
And to the dogs the labourer's morſel throw,
Unmindful of the hand that ſow'd the grain,
The poor earth-trodden root of all thy greatneſs vain.
[97]XXXVII.
Oh! foul abuſe of ſacred Majeſty,
That boaſteth her fair ſelf from heav'n yſprong!
Where are the marks of thy divinity?
Truth, Mercy, Juſtice ſteady, bold and ſtrong,
To aid the meek, and curb oppreſſive wrong?
Where is the care and love of publick good,
That to the people's father doth belong?
Where the vice-gerent of that bounteous God,
Who bids diſpenſe to all, what he for all beſtow'd?
XXXVIII.
Dwell'ſt thou not rather, like the prince of Hell,
In Pandemonium foul of ugly fiends?
Diſſimulation, Diſcord, Malice fell,
Reckleſs Ambiton, that right onward
n wends,
Tho' his wild march o'erthrow both fame and friends,
And virtue and his country; crooked Guile,
Obliquely creeping to his treach'rous ends,
And Flattery, curs'd aſſaſſm, who the while
He holds the murd'rous knife, can ſawn, and kiſs, and ſmile.
XXXIX.
Then 'gan he ſtrait unvail the mirrour bright,
The which fair
o Una gave him heretofore,
Ere he as yet, with
p Paynim foe to fight,
For foreign land had left his native ſhore.
[98] This in his careful breaſt he always bore,
And on it oft would caſt his wary eye;
For it by magick framed was of yore,
So that no falſhood mote it well abye,
But it was plainly ſeen, or fearfully did fly.
XL.
This on that gay aſſembly did he turn,
And ſaw confounded quite the gawdy ſcene;
Saw the cloſe fire that inwardly did burn,
And waſte the throbbing heart with ſecret
q teen;
Saw baſe dependence in the haughty mien
Of lords and princes; ſaw the magick chain
That each did wear, but deem'd he wore unſeen,
The whiles with count'naunce glad he hid his pain,
And homage did require from each poor lowly ſwain.
XLI.
And tho' to that old mage they louted down,
Yet did they dearly wiſh for his decay:
Als trembled he, and aye upon the throne
Of his great lord his tottering ſteps did ſtay,
And oft behind him ſkulk'd for great diſmay;
Als ſhook the throne, when ſo the villain crew,
That underneath oppreſs'd and groveling lay,
Impatient of the grievous burthen grew,
And loudly for redreſs and liberty did ſue.
[99]XLII.
There mote he likewiſe ſee a ribbald train
Of dancers, broid'rers, ſlaves of luxury,
Who caſt o'er all thoſe lords and ladies vain
A vail of ſemblaunce fair, and richeſt dye,
That none their inward baſeneſs mote deſcry.
But nought was hidden from that mirrour bright,
Which when falſe ARCHIMAGO 'gan eſpy,
He feared for himſelf, and warn'd the knight
From ſo deteſted place to maken ſpeedy flight.
XLIII.
So on he paſſed, till he comen hath
To a ſmall river, that full ſlow did glide,
As it uneath mote find its watry path
For ſtones and rubbiſh, that did choak its tide,
So lay the mould'ring piles on every ſide.
Seem'd there a goodly city once had been,
Albeit now fallen were her royal pride,
Yet mote her auncient greatneſs ſtill be ſeen,
Still from her ruins prov'd the world's imperial queen.
XLIV.
For the rich ſpoil of all the continents,
The boaſt of art and nature there was brought,
Corinthian braſs, Aegyptian monuments,
With hieroglyphick ſculptures all inwrought,
[100] And Parian marbles, by Greek artiſts taught
To counterfeit the forms of heroes old,
And ſet before the eye of ſober thought
Lycurgus, Homer, and Alcides bold.
All theſe and many more that may not here be told.
XLV.
There in the middeſt of a ruin'd pile,
That ſeem'd a theatre of circuit vaſt,
Where thouſands might be ſeated, he erewhile
Diſcover'd hath an uncouth trophy plac'd;
Seem'd a huge heap of ſtones together caſt
In nice diſorder and wild ſymmetry,
Urns, broken freezes, ſtatues half defac'd,
And pedeſtals with antique imagery
Emboſs'd, and pillars huge of coſtly Porphyry.
XLVI.
Aloft on this ſtrange baſis was
r ypight
With girlonds gay adorn'd a golden chair,
In which aye ſmiling with ſelf-bred delight,
In careleſs pride reclin'd a lady fair,
And to ſoft muſick lent her idle ear;
The which with pleaſure ſo did her enthrall,
That for aught elſe ſhe had but little care,
For wealth, or fame, or honour feminal,
Or gentle love, ſole king of pleaſures natural.
[101]XLVII.
Als by her ſide, in richeſt robes array'd,
An eunuch ſate, of viſage pale and dead,
Unſeemly paramour for royal maid!
Yet him ſhe courted oft and honoured,
And oft would by her place in princely
s ſted,
Though from the dregs of earth he ſpringen were,
And oft with regal crowns ſhe deck'd his head,
And oft, to ſooth her vain and fooliſh ear,
She bade him the great names of mighty
t Keſars bear.
XLVIII.
Thereto herſelf a pompous title bore,
For ſhe was vain of her great aunceſtry,
But vainer ſtill of that prodigious ſtore
Of arts and learning, which ſhe vaunts to lie
In the rich archives of her treaſury.
Theſe ſhe to ſtrangers oftentimes would ſhew,
With grave demean and ſolemn vanity,
Then proudly claim as to her merit due,
The venerable praiſe and title of Vertù.
XLIX.
Vertù ſhe was
u yclep'd, and held her court
With outward ſhews of pomp and majeſty,
To which natheleſs few others did reſort,
But men of baſe and vulgar induſtry,
[102] Or ſuch perdy as of them cozen'd be,
Mimes, fidlers, pipers, ennuchs ſqueaking ſine,
Painters and builders, ſons of maſonry,
Who well could meaſure with the rule and line,
And all the orders five right craftily define.
L.
But other ſkill of cunning architect,
How to contrive the houſe for dwelling beſt,
With ſelf-ſufficient ſcorn they wont neglect,
As correſponding with their purpoſe leaſt;
And herein be they copied of the reſt,
Who aye pretending love of ſcience fair,
And gen'rous purpoſe to adorn the breaſt
With liberal arts, to Vertu's court repair,
Yet nought but tunes and names, and coins away do bear.
LI.
For long, to viſit her once-honour'd ſeat
The ſtudious ſons of learning have forbore;
Who whilom thither ran with pilgrim feet
Her venerable reliques to adore,
And load their boſoms with the ſacred ſtore,
Whereof the world large treaſure yet enjoys.
But
w ſithence ſhe declin'd from wiſdom's lore,
They left her to diſplay her pompous toys
To virtuoſi vain, and wonder-gaping boys.
[103]LII.
Forthy to her a numerous train doth
x long
Of uſhers in her court well practiſed,
Who aye about the monied ſtranger throng,
Off'ring with ſhews of courteous
y bountihed
Him through the rich apartments all to lead,
And ſhew him all the wonders of her ſtate,
Whoſe names and price they wiſely can
z areed,
And tell of coins of old and modern date,
And pictures falſe and true right-well diſcriminate.
LIII.
Als are they named after him, whoſe tongue
Shook the dictator in his curule chair,
And thund'ring through the Roman ſenate, rung
His bold Philippics in Antonius' ear;
Which when the Fairy hear'd, he ſigh'd full dear,
And caſting round his quick diſcerning eye,
At every
a deal he dropt a manly tear,
As he the ſtately buildings mote deſcry,
Baths, theatres and fanes in mould'ring fragments lie.
[104]LIV.
And, oh! imperial city! then he ſaid,
How art thou tumbled from thine Alpine throne!
Whereon, like Jove on high Olympus' head,
Thou ſittedſt erſt unequal'd and alone,
And madedſt through the world thy greatneſs known;
While from the weſtern iſles, to Indus' ſhore,
From ſeven-mouth'd Nilus, to the frozen Don,
Thy dradded bolts the ſtrong-pounc'd Eagle bore,
And taught the nations round thy Faſces to adore!
LV.
And doth among thy reliques nought remain,
No little portion of that haughty ſpright?
Which made thee whilom ſcorn ſoft Pleaſure's chain,
And in free Virtue place thy ch
500 Internal Server Error
Internal Server Error
net.sf.saxon.s9api.SaxonApiException: I/O error reported by XML parser processing char:EOLhyphen
java.lang.RuntimeException: net.sf.saxon.s9api.SaxonApiException: I/O error reported by XML parser processing char:EOLhyphen
at com.google.common.base.Throwables.propagate(Throwables.java:234)
at info.textgrid.services.aggregator.html.HTMLWriter.write(HTMLWriter.java:302)
at org.apache.cxf.jaxrs.provider.BinaryDataProvider.writeTo(BinaryDataProvider.java:176)
at org.apache.cxf.jaxrs.utils.JAXRSUtils.writeMessageBody(JAXRSUtils.java:1651)
at org.apache.cxf.jaxrs.interceptor.JAXRSOutInterceptor.serializeMessage(JAXRSOutInterceptor.java:249)
at org.apache.cxf.jaxrs.interceptor.JAXRSOutInterceptor.processResponse(JAXRSOutInterceptor.java:122)
at org.apache.cxf.jaxrs.interceptor.JAXRSOutInterceptor.handleMessage(JAXRSOutInterceptor.java:84)
at org.apache.cxf.phase.PhaseInterceptorChain.doIntercept(PhaseInterceptorChain.java:307)
at org.apache.cxf.interceptor.OutgoingChainInterceptor.handleMessage(OutgoingChainInterceptor.java:90)
at org.apache.cxf.phase.PhaseInterceptorChain.doIntercept(PhaseInterceptorChain.java:307)
at org.apache.cxf.transport.ChainInitiationObserver.onMessage(ChainInitiationObserver.java:121)
at org.apache.cxf.transport.http.AbstractHTTPDestination.invoke(AbstractHTTPDestination.java:267)
at org.apache.cxf.transport.servlet.ServletController.invokeDestination(ServletController.java:233)
at org.apache.cxf.transport.servlet.ServletController.invoke(ServletController.java:207)
at org.apache.cxf.transport.servlet.ServletController.invoke(ServletController.java:159)
at org.apache.cxf.transport.servlet.CXFNonSpringServlet.invoke(CXFNonSpringServlet.java:224)
at org.apache.cxf.transport.servlet.AbstractHTTPServlet.handleRequest(AbstractHTTPServlet.java:312)
at org.apache.cxf.transport.servlet.AbstractHTTPServlet.doGet(AbstractHTTPServlet.java:222)
at jakarta.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:564)
at org.apache.cxf.transport.servlet.AbstractHTTPServlet.service(AbstractHTTPServlet.java:279)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:193)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:138)
at org.apache.tomcat.websocket.server.WsFilter.doFilter(WsFilter.java:51)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:162)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:138)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve.invoke(StandardWrapperValve.java:165)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:88)
at org.apache.catalina.authenticator.AuthenticatorBase.invoke(AuthenticatorBase.java:482)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:113)
at org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorReportValve.invoke(ErrorReportValve.java:83)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngineValve.invoke(StandardEngineValve.java:72)
at org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:342)
at org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11Processor.service(Http11Processor.java:399)
at org.apache.coyote.AbstractProcessorLight.process(AbstractProcessorLight.java:63)
at org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocol$ConnectionHandler.process(AbstractProtocol.java:903)
at org.apache.tomcat.util.net.NioEndpoint$SocketProcessor.doRun(NioEndpoint.java:1774)
at org.apache.tomcat.util.net.SocketProcessorBase.run(SocketProcessorBase.java:52)
at org.apache.tomcat.util.threads.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:973)
at org.apache.tomcat.util.threads.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:491)
at org.apache.tomcat.util.threads.TaskThread$WrappingRunnable.run(TaskThread.java:63)
at java.base/java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:840)
Caused by: net.sf.saxon.s9api.SaxonApiException: I/O error reported by XML parser processing char:EOLhyphen
at net.sf.saxon.s9api.XsltTransformer.transform(XsltTransformer.java:371)
at info.textgrid.services.aggregator.html.HTMLWriter.write(HTMLWriter.java:296)
... 39 more
Caused by: net.sf.saxon.trans.XPathException: I/O error reported by XML parser processing char:EOLhyphen
at net.sf.saxon.resource.ActiveSAXSource.deliver(ActiveSAXSource.java:245)
at net.sf.saxon.event.Sender.send(Sender.java:104)
at net.sf.saxon.functions.DocumentFn.makeDoc(DocumentFn.java:309)
at net.sf.saxon.functions.DocumentFn$DocumentMappingFunction.mapItem(DocumentFn.java:159)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.ItemMappingIterator.next(ItemMappingIterator.java:161)
at net.sf.saxon.om.SequenceTool.supply(SequenceTool.java:153)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.sort.DocumentOrderIterator.<init>(DocumentOrderIterator.java:41)
at net.sf.saxon.functions.DocumentFn.call(DocumentFn.java:130)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.SystemFunctionCall$SystemFunctionCallElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPull$1(SystemFunctionCall.java:608)
at net.sf.saxon.value.SingletonClosure.asItem(SingletonClosure.java:105)
at net.sf.saxon.value.SingletonClosure.head(SingletonClosure.java:89)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.LocalVariableReference$LocalVariableReferenceElaborator.lambda$elaborateForItem$2(LocalVariableReference.java:245)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.SimpleStepExpression$SimpleStepExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPull$0(SimpleStepExpression.java:184)
at net.sf.saxon.functions.Exists$ExistsFnElaborator.lambda$elaborateForBoolean$0(Exists.java:111)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Choose$ChooseExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$10(Choose.java:1177)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$4(Block.java:895)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.FixedElement$FixedElementElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$0(FixedElement.java:641)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.LetExpression$LetExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$6(LetExpression.java:942)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TemplateRule.applyLeavingTail(TemplateRule.java:376)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.handleRuleNotNull(Mode.java:587)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.applyTemplates(Mode.java:521)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ApplyTemplates$ApplyTemplatesElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(ApplyTemplates.java:655)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(Block.java:853)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComputedElement$ComputedElementElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(ComputedElement.java:655)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TemplateRule.applyLeavingTail(TemplateRule.java:376)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.handleRuleNotNull(Mode.java:587)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.applyTemplates(Mode.java:521)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ApplyTemplates$ApplyTemplatesElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(ApplyTemplates.java:655)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(Block.java:864)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Choose$ChooseExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$13(Choose.java:1198)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.LetExpression$LetExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$6(LetExpression.java:942)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(Block.java:867)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.NamedTemplate.expand(NamedTemplate.java:247)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.CallTemplate$CallTemplateElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(CallTemplate.java:633)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(Block.java:885)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComputedElement$ComputedElementElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(ComputedElement.java:655)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Choose$ChooseExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$11(Choose.java:1183)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(Block.java:867)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.NamedTemplate.expand(NamedTemplate.java:247)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.CallTemplate$CallTemplatePackage.processLeavingTail(CallTemplate.java:515)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.Expression.dispatchTailCall(Expression.java:976)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Choose$ChooseExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$14(Choose.java:1205)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.LetExpression$LetExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$6(LetExpression.java:942)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TemplateRule.applyLeavingTail(TemplateRule.java:376)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.handleRuleNotNull(Mode.java:587)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.applyTemplates(Mode.java:521)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ApplyTemplates$ApplyTemplatesElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(ApplyTemplates.java:655)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(Block.java:864)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Choose$ChooseExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$13(Choose.java:1198)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.LetExpression$LetExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$6(LetExpression.java:942)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(Block.java:867)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.NamedTemplate.expand(NamedTemplate.java:247)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.CallTemplate$CallTemplateElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(CallTemplate.java:633)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(Block.java:885)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComputedElement$ComputedElementElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(ComputedElement.java:655)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Choose$ChooseExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$11(Choose.java:1183)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(Block.java:867)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.NamedTemplate.expand(NamedTemplate.java:247)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.CallTemplate$CallTemplatePackage.processLeavingTail(CallTemplate.java:515)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.Expression.dispatchTailCall(Expression.java:976)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Choose$ChooseExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$14(Choose.java:1205)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.LetExpression$LetExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$6(LetExpression.java:942)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TemplateRule.applyLeavingTail(TemplateRule.java:376)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.handleRuleNotNull(Mode.java:587)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.applyTemplates(Mode.java:521)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.rules.TextOnlyCopyRuleSet.process(TextOnlyCopyRuleSet.java:72)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.applyTemplates(Mode.java:518)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ApplyTemplates$ApplyTemplatesElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(ApplyTemplates.java:655)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(Block.java:867)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Choose$ChooseExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$12(Choose.java:1190)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(Block.java:879)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.NamedTemplate.expand(NamedTemplate.java:247)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.CallTemplate$CallTemplateElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(CallTemplate.java:633)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$4(Block.java:895)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.FixedElement$FixedElementElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$0(FixedElement.java:641)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(Block.java:853)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(Block.java:853)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.FixedElement$FixedElementElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$0(FixedElement.java:641)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$4(Block.java:895)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TemplateRule.applyLeavingTail(TemplateRule.java:376)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.handleRuleNotNull(Mode.java:587)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.applyTemplates(Mode.java:521)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ApplyTemplates$ApplyTemplatesPackage.processLeavingTail(ApplyTemplates.java:553)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.Expression.dispatchTailCall(Expression.java:976)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Block$BlockElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$1(Block.java:853)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Choose$ChooseExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$14(Choose.java:1205)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.NamedTemplate.expand(NamedTemplate.java:247)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.CallTemplate$CallTemplatePackage.processLeavingTail(CallTemplate.java:515)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.Expression.dispatchTailCall(Expression.java:976)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TemplateRule.applyLeavingTail(TemplateRule.java:376)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.NextMatch$NextMatchPackage.processLeavingTail(NextMatch.java:171)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.Expression.dispatchTailCall(Expression.java:976)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.Choose$ChooseExprElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$11(Choose.java:1183)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TraceExpression$TraceExpressionElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$3(TraceExpression.java:476)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.ComponentTracer$ComponentTracerElaborator.lambda$elaborateForPush$2(ComponentTracer.java:348)
at net.sf.saxon.expr.instruct.TemplateRule.applyLeavingTail(TemplateRule.java:376)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.handleRuleNotNull(Mode.java:587)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.Mode.applyTemplates(Mode.java:521)
at net.sf.saxon.trans.XsltController.applyTemplates(XsltController.java:684)
at net.sf.saxon.s9api.AbstractXsltTransformer.applyTemplatesToSource(AbstractXsltTransformer.java:431)
at net.sf.saxon.s9api.XsltTransformer.transform(XsltTransformer.java:359)
... 40 more
Caused by: java.net.MalformedURLException: unknown protocol: char
at java.base/java.net.URL.<init>(URL.java:681)
at java.base/java.net.URL.<init>(URL.java:569)
at java.base/java.net.URL.<init>(URL.java:516)
at java.xml/com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.impl.XMLEntityManager.setupCurrentEntity(XMLEntityManager.java:650)
at java.xml/com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.impl.XMLVersionDetector.determineDocVersion(XMLVersionDetector.java:150)
at java.xml/com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.parsers.XML11Configuration.parse(XML11Configuration.java:861)
at java.xml/com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.parsers.XML11Configuration.parse(XML11Configuration.java:825)
at java.xml/com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.parsers.XMLParser.parse(XMLParser.java:141)
at java.xml/com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.parsers.AbstractSAXParser.parse(AbstractSAXParser.java:1224)
at java.xml/com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.jaxp.SAXParserImpl$JAXPSAXParser.parse(SAXParserImpl.java:637)
at net.sf.saxon.resource.ActiveSAXSource.deliver(ActiveSAXSource.java:192)
... 200 more