From an ill cause to draw a good effect. Inspired from heaven, he homeward took his way, Nor palled his new design with long delay; But of his train a trusty servant sent, To call his friends together at his tent. They came, and usual salutations paid, With words premeditated thus he said:-- What you have often counselled, to remove My vain pursuit of unregarded love, By thrift my sinking fortune to repair, Though late, yet is at last become my care: My heart shall be my own; my vast expence Reduced to bounds, by timely providence: This only I require; invite for me Honoria, with her father's family, Her friends, and mine, (the cause I shall display,) On Friday next; for that's the appointed day.-- Well pleased were all his friends; the task was light, The father, mother, daughter, they invite; Hardly the dame was drawn to this repast, But yet resolved, because it was the last. The day was come, the guests invited came, And, with the rest, the inexorable dame: A feast prepared with riotous expence, Much cost, more care, and more magnificence. The place ordained was in that haunted grove, Where the revenging ghost pursued his love: The tables in a proud pavilion spread, With flowers below, and tissue overhead: The rest in rank, Honoria, chief in place, } Was artfully contrived to set her face } To front the thicket, and behold the chace. } The feast was served, the time so well forecast, That just when the desert and fruits were placed, The fiend's alarm began; the hollow sound } Sung in the leaves, the forest shook around, } Air blackened, rolled the thunder, groaned the ground. } Nor long before the loud laments arise, Of one distressed, and mastiffs' mingled cries; And first the dame came rushing through the wood, } And next the famished hounds that sought their food, } And griped her flanks, and oft essayed their jaws in blood. } Last came the felon, on the sable steed, Armed with his naked sword, and urged his dogs to speed. She ran, and cried, her flight directly bent, } (A guest unbidden) to the fatal tent, } The scene of death, and place ordained for punishment. } Loud was the noise, aghast was every guest, The women shrieked, the men forsook the feast; The hounds at nearer distance hoarsely bayed; } The hunter close pursued the visionary maid, } She rent the heaven with loud laments, imploring aid. } The gallants to protect the lady's right, } Their faulchions brandished at the grisly sprite; } High on his stirrups he provoked the fight. } Then on the crowd he cast a furious look, And withered all their strength before he strook:--[218] Back, on your lives! let be, said he, my prey, And let my vengeance take the destined way: