Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe That all was lost.

Praise from an enemy smells of craft.

For contemplation he and valour formed; / For softness she and sweet attractive grace, / He for God only, she for God in him: / His fair large front and eye sublime declared / Absolute rule.

And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.

And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?

Tis chastity, my brother, chastity; She that has that is clad in complete steel, And, like a quiver'd nymph with arrows keen, May trace huge forests, and unharbour'd heaths, Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds; Where, through the sacred rays of chastity, No savage fierce, bandite, or mountaineer, Will dare to soil her virgin purity.

I fled, and cry'd out, Death; Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sigh'd From all her caves, and back resounded, Death.