TO cede, at first, their numbers forced the train; But rallied by our knight they were again; A desp'rate push he made; repulsed their force; And by his valour stopt, at length, their course; In which attack a mortal wound he got, But was not left for dead upon the spot. BEFORE his death he full instructions gave, To grant the belle whatever she might crave; He ordered too, his nephew should convey, Alaciel to her home without delay, Bequeathing him whatever he possessed, And--what the princess owed among the rest. AT length, from dread alarms and tears released, The pair fulfilled the will of our deceased; Discharged each favour was, of which the last Was cancelled just as they the frontiers passed. THE nephew here his precious charge resigned, For fear the king should be displeased to find, His daughter guarded by a youthful swain:-- The tutor only with her could remain. NO words of mine, no language can express The monarch's joy his child to re-possess; And, since the difficulty I perceive, I'll imitate old Sol's retreat at eve, Who falls with such rapidity of view, He seems to plunge, dame Thetis to pursue. THE tutor liked his own details to hear, And entertaining made his tales appear: The num'rous perils that the fair had fled, Who laughed aside, no doubt, at what he said. I SHOULD observe, the aged tutor cried, The princess, while for liberty she sighed, And quite alone remained (by Hispal left,) That she might be of idleness bereft, Resolved most fervently a god to serve, From whom she scarcely since would ever swerve, A god much worshipped 'mong the people there, With num'rous temples which his honours share, Denominated cabinets and bow'rs, In which, from high respect to heav'nly pow'rs, They represent the image of a bird, A pleasing sight, though (what appears absurd) 'Tis bare of plumage, save about the wings; To this each youthful bosom incense brings, While other gods, as I've been often told, They scarcely notice, till they're growing old.