Robbers at land and pirates on the main,

Enchanters foil’d, spells broken, giants slain;

Legends of love, with tales of halls and bowers,

Choice of rare songs, and garlands of choice flowers,

And all the hungry mind without a choice devours.

From village-children kept apart by pride,

With such enjoyments, and without a guide,

Inspired by feelings all such works infused,

John snatch’d a pen, and wrote as he perused:

With the like fancy he could make his knight