Chapter 8 No.8

The scene then changed: with bold erected look

Our martial king the sight with reverence strook:

For not content to express his outward part,

Her hand call'd out the image of his heart:

His warlike mind, his soul devoid of fear,

His high-designing thoughts were figured there,

As when, by magic, ghosts are made appear.

Our phoenix queen was portray'd too so bright,

Beauty alone could beauty take so right;

Her dress, her shape, her matchless grace,

Were all observed, as well as heavenly face.

With such a peerless majesty she stands,

As in that day she took the crown from sacred hands:

Before a train of heroines was seen,

In beauty foremost, as in rank, the queen.

Thus nothing to her genius was denied,

But like a ball of fire the further thrown,

Still with a greater blaze she shone,

And her bright soul broke out on every side.

What next she had design'd Heaven only knows:

To such immoderate growth her conquest rose,

That fate alone its progress could oppose.