STEEL

And, like a quivered Nymph with arrows keen, May trace huge forest, and unharboured heaths, Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds, Where, through the sacred rays of cliastity, No savage fierce, bandit, or mountaineer, Will dare to soil her virgin punty ; Yea there, where very désolation dwells, By grots, and caverns shagged with horrid shades S fie maypass on with unblencJied majesty, Be it not doue in pride, or in presumption.

Some say, no evil thing that walks by night In fog or fire, by lake or moorish fen, Blue meagre hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost That breaks his magie chains at curfew time, No goblin, or swart fairy of the mine, Hat h hurtful power o*er trne virginity.

Do ye believe me yet, or shall I call Antiquity from the old schools of Greece To testify tliearms ofchastity ?

Hence had the huntress Dian her dread bow, Fair silver-shafted queen, for ever chaste, Wherewith she tam'd the brinded lioness And spotted mountain-pard, but set at nought The frivolous boit of Cupid : god and men

Fear'd her stern frovm, and she was queen o'the

[woods.

What was that snaky-headed Grorgon shield,

That taise Minerva ivore, nnconquered virgin,

Wherewith shefreezed herfoes to congealed stone,

But rigid looks of chaste ansterity,

And noble grâce, that dashed brute viole?ice

With sudden adoration and blank awe ?