His rising cares the hermit spied, With answering care opprest: And "Whence, unhappy youth," he cried, "The sorrows of thy breast? "From better habitations spurn'd, Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd, "Alas! the joys that fortune brings, Are trifling, and decay; And those who prize the paltry things, "And what is friendship but a name, A shade that follows wealth or fame, "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. "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. Surprised he sees new beauties rise, The bashful look, the rising breast, The lovely stranger stands confest And, "Ah! forgive a stranger rude- "But let a maid thy pity share, "My father lived beside the Tyne, A wealthy lord was he; And all his wealth was mark'd as mine— He had but only me. "To win me from his tender arms, Unnumber'd suitors came, Who praised me for imputed charms, “Each hour a mercenary crowd "In humble, simplest habit clad, "And when beside me in the dale, "The blossom opening to the day, "The dew, the blossom on the tree, With charms inconstant shine : Their charms were his, but, woe to me, Their constancy was mine. "For still I tried each fickle art, Importunate and vain ; And, while his passion touch'd my heart, I triumphed in his pain : 66 Till, quite dejected with my scorn, He left me to my pride, And sought a solitude forlorn, In secret, where he died. "But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, And well life shall pay ; my I'll seek the solitude he sought, And stretch me where he lay. "And there, forlorn, despairing, hid, And so for him will I." "Forbid it, Heaven!" the hermit cried, And clasp'd her to his breast: The wondering fair one turn'd to chide— "Twas Edwin's self that prest! "Turn, Angelina, ever dear, My charmer, turn to see Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here, "Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign : And shall we never, never part, 66 No, never from this hour to part, The sigh that rends thy constant heart Shall break thy Edwin's too." GOOD people all, of every sort, Give ear unto my song; And if you find it wondrous short,- |