The Next Canto of the Tilts and Tournaments, is much like the Fifth Book of _Virgil_, and tho' we can't suppose our Poet ever saw that Author, yet we may believe he was directed to almost the same Passages, _by the same kind of Poetical Genius, and the same Copyings after Nature_.
Now he with Tilts and Tournaments, Was entertained so, That all the rest of _Arthur_'s Knights Did him much Pleasure show; And good Sir _Lancelot_ of _Lake_, Sir _Tristram_, and Sir _Guy_; But none like to _Tom Thumb_ For Acts of Chivalry.
Longeque ante omnia Corpora Nisus Emicat----
Post Elymus subit, & nunc tertia palma Diores.
In Honour of which noble Day, And for his Lady's Sake, A Challenge in King _Arthur_'s Court, _Tom Thumb_ did bravely make.
Talis prima Dares caput altum in prælia tollit, Ostendit[que] humeros latos, alterna[que] Iactat Brachia portendens, & verberat Ictibus auras, Quæritur huic alius:----
'Gainst whom those noble Knights did run, Sir _Chion_ and the rest, But, still _Tom Thumb_ with all his Might Did bear away the best.
Et primum ante omnes victorem appellat Acesten.
At the same time our Poet shews a laudable Partiality for his Hero, he represents Sir _Lancelot_ after a manner not unbecoming so bold and brave a Knight.
At last Sir _Lancelot_ of _Lake_, In manly sort came in, And with this stout and hardy Knight A Battle to begin.
Huic contra Æneas, speculatus in agmine longo Obvius ire parat----
This Canto concludes with the Presents made by the King to the Champion according to the Custom of the _Greeks_ and _Romans_ in such Cases; only his tumbling thro' the Queen's Ring is observable, and may serve to give some Light into the Original of that ingenious Exercise so much practis'd by the Moderns, of tumbling thro' an Hoop.
The last Canto treats of the Champion's Sickness and Death, and whoever considers the Beauty, Regularity and majestic Simplicity of the Relation, cannot but be surpris'd at the Advances that may be made in Poetry by the Strength of an uncultivated Genius, and may see how far Nature can proceed without the Ornamental Helps and Assistances of Art. The Poet don't attribute his Sickness to a Debauch, to the Irregularity or Intemperance of his Life, but to an Exercise becoming an Hero; and tho' he dies quietly in his Bed, he may be said in some measure to die in the Bed of Honour. And to shew the great Affection the King had for him, he sends for his Physicians, and orders all the Care imaginable to be taken for the Conservation of his Life.