Imagens da página
PDF
ePub

XIX.

"And what is friendship but a name,
"A charm that lulls to sleep;
"A shade that follows wealth or fame,
"But leaves the wretch to weep?

XX.

"And love is still an emptier sound,
"The modern fair-one's jest :
"On earth unseen, or only found
"To warm the turtle's nest.

XXI.

"For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush,
"And spurn the sex," he said:
But while he spoke, a rising blush
His love-lorn guest betray'd.

XXII.

Surpriz'd he sees new beauties rise,
Swift mantling to the view;
Like colours o'er the morning skies,
As bright, as transient too.

XXIII.

The bashful look, the rising breast,
Alternate spread alarms:

The lovely stranger stands confest

A maid in all her charms.

"And,

XXIV.

"And, ah! forgive a stranger rude,
"A wretch forlorn," she cry'd;
"Whose feet unhallow'd thus intrude
"Where Heav'n and you reside.

XXV.

"But let a maid thy pity share,
"Whom love has taught to stray:
"Who seeks for rest, but finds despair

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

"My father liv'd beside the Tyne,

"A wealthy lord was he;

"And all his wealth was mark'd as mine, "He had but only me.

XXVII.

"To win me from his tender arms,

"Unnumber'd suitors came;

"Who prais'd me for imputed charms, "And felt, or feign'd a flame.

XXVIII.

"Each hour a mercenary crowd
With richest proffers strove;
"Amongst the rest young Edwin bow'd,
"But never talk'd of love.

[ocr errors][merged small]

XXIX.

"In humble simplest habit clad,

"No wealth nor power had he; "Wisdom and worth where all he had, "But these were all to me.

XXX.

"And when, beside me in the dale, "He carol'd lays of love,

"His breath lent fragrance to the gale

"And music to the grove.*

XXXI.

"The blossom opening to the day,
"The dews of Heav'n refin'd
"Could nought of purity display
"To emulate his mind.

XXXII.

"The dew, the blossom on the tree,

"With charms inconstant shine;

"Their charms were his, but woe to me, "Their constancy was mine.

XXXIII.

"For still I try'd each fickle art,

66

Importunate and vain ;

"And while his passion touch'd my heart, "I triumph'd in his pain.

"Till

*This stanza, never before printed, was communicated by Richard Archdal, Esq. who received it from the Author himself.

XXXIV.

"Till quite dejected with my scorn,

"He left me to my pride;

"And sought a solitude forlorn, "In secret where he dy❜d.

XXXV.

"But mine the sorrow, mine the fault,
"And well my life shall pay;
"I'll seek the solitude he sought,
"And stretch me where he lay.

XXXVI.

"And there forlorn despairing hid,
"I'll lay me down and die;
""Twas so for me that Edwin did,

"And so for him will I."

XXXVII.

"Forbid it Heav'n!" the Hermit cry'd,
And clasp'd her to his breast:
The wond'ring fair one turn'd to chide,-
'Twas Edwin's self that prest.

XXXVIII.

"Turn, Angelina, ever dear,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small]

Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here,
"Restor'd to love and thee,

"Thus

XXXIX.

"Thus let me hold thee to my heart, "And ev'ry care resign:

"And shall we never, never part,

[blocks in formation]

"No, never from this hour to part, "We'll live and love so true;

"The sigh that rends thy constant heart, "Shall break thy Edwin's too."

« AnteriorContinuar »