Page:The castle of Indolence - an allegorical poem - Written in imitation of Spenser (IA castleofindolenc00thomiala).pdf/56

 Accomplish'd thus he from the Woods issu'd, Full of great Aims, and bent on bold ; The Work, which long he in his Breast had brew'd, Now to perform he ardent did devise; To-wit, a barbarous World to civilize. Earth was till Then a boundless Forest wild; Nought to be seen but savage Wood, and Skies; No Cities nourish'd Arts, no Culture smil'd,

A rugged Wight, the Worst of Brutes, was Man: On his own wretched Kind he, ruthless, prey'd; The Strongest still the Weakest over-ran; In every Country mighty Robbers sway'd. And Guile and ruffian Force were all their Trade. Life was not Life, but Rapine, Want, and Woe; Which this brave Knight, in noble Anger, made To swear, he would the rascal Rout o'erthrow,