Page:The Pleasures of Imagination - Akenside (1744).djvu/69

Rh Her features. From the glooms which hung around, No stain of darkness mingled with the beam Of her divine effulgence. Now they stoop Upon the river-bank; and now to hail His wonted guests, with eager steps advanc'd The unsuspecting inmate of the shade.


 * As when a famish'd wolf, that all night long

Had rang'd the Alpine snows, by chance at morn Sees from a cliff incumbent o'er the smoke Of some lone village, a neglected kid That strays along the wild for herb or spring; Down from the winding ridge he sweeps amain, And thinks he tears him: so with tenfold rage, The monster sprung remorseless on his prey. Amaz'd the stripling stood; with panting breast Feebly he pour'd the lamentable wail Of helpless consternation, struck at once, And rooted to the ground. The queen beheld His terror, and with looks of tend'rest care Advanc'd to save him. Soon the tyrant felt Her awful pow'r. His keen, tempestuous arm Hung nerveless, nor descended where his rage Had aim'd the deadly blow: then dumb retir'd With sullen rancour. Lo! the sov'reign maid Folds with a mother's arms the fainting boy, Till life rekindles in his rosy cheek; Then grasps his hand, and chears him with her tongue. O