THE

CASTLE OF INDOLENCE.

This Poem being writ in the manner of Spenser, the obsolete words, and a simplicity of diction in some of the lines, which borders on the ludicrous, were necessary to make the imitation more perfect. And the style of that admirable poet, as well as the measure in which he wrote, are, as it were, appropriated by custom to all allegorical Poems writ in our language; just as in French, the style of Marot, who lived under Francis the First, has been used in tales, and familiar epistles, by the politest writers of the age of Louis the Fourteenth.

GLOSSARY.

ARCHIMAGE-The chief, Hight-named, called :

or greatest of magicians,

or enchanters.

Apaid-paid.

and sometimes it is used for is called. See Stanza vii. Idless-Idleness.

Imp-Child, or offspring; from the Saxon impan, to graft or plant.

Appal-affright.

Kest for cast.

Benempt-named.

Lad-for led.

playing.

Blazon-painting, dis- Lea-a piece of land, or

Breme-cold, raw.

Carol-to sing songs of

joy.

Caucus

the north-east

Losel-a loose idle fellow.
Louting bowing, bend-

wind.

ing.

Certes certainly.

Lithe-loose, lax.

names.

Dan--a word prefixed to Mell-mingle.

Deftly-skilfully.

Depainted-painted.

Drowsy - head-drowsi

ness.

Mote-might.
Muchel or Mochel

Moe-more.

Moil-to labour.

much, great.

Ne-nor.

often, afterwards.

Nathless-nevertheless.

Needments-necessaries.

Eke-also.

Fays-fairies.

Noursling-a child that is nursed.

Gear or Geer-furniture, | Noyance-harm.

Prankt-coloured, adorn

THE

CASTLE OF INDOLENCE.

CANTO I.

The castle hight of Indolence,
And its false luxury ;
Where for a little time, alas!
We lived right jollily.

I.

O MORTAL man, who livest here by toil, Do not complain of this thy hard estate; That like an emmet thou must ever moil, Is a sad sentence of an ancient date; And, certes, there is for it reason great; [wail, For, though sometimes it makes thee weep and And curse thy star, and early drudge and late; Withouten that would come an heavier bale, Loose life, unruly passions, and diseases pale.

II.

In lowly dale, fast by a river's side,

With woody hill o'er hill encompass'd round,
A most enchanting wizard did abide,

Than whom a fiend more fell is no where found.
It was, I ween, a lovely spot of ground;
And there a season atween June and May,
Half prankt with spring, with summer half im-
brown'd,

A listless climate made, where, sooth to say, No living wight could work, ne cared e'en for play.