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King Arthur

An Heroick Poem. In Twelve Books. By Richard Blackmore. To which is Annexed, An Index, Explaining the Names of Countrys, Citys, and Rivers, &c

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Then Caledon arose with solemn Air,
And to instruct them did himself prepare.
He Albion's Rights still labour'd to defend,
And pure Religion's Empire to extend.

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The finest Clay and pure Etherial Fire
Dispens'd with double Bounty did conspire
To make a Man, that should the World surprise,
A Genius near of Kindred to the Skys.
A Genius so sublime, so rich, and vast,
As all but famous Tylon far surpast.
He did with zeal true piety promote,
For Publick Good he Preach'd, and Pray'd, and Wrote,
All the great Ends for which his Monarch fought.
Prodigious was the Compass of his Mind,
Wide as his Love, which took in Humane Kind.
He Albion's Good, not Fame or Riches fought,
Generous, and open-hearted to a fault.
An unexhausted Magazin his Brain
Did all the Treasures of the Schools contain.
He shew'd as oft as he Religion taught
Such Fulness, such Fecundity of Thought,
Such Luxury of Sense, such Strength and Art
As soon subdu'd the Hearer's yielding Heart.
How Wise, how Great, how Good must he appear
Who was to Arthur and to Tylon dear?