THE HERMIT.

A BALLAD.

L.

"Turn, gentle Hermit of the dale,
And guide my lonely way,

To where yon taper cheers the vale
With hospitable ray.*

II.

"For here forlorn and lost I tread,

With fainting steps and slow;
Where wilds immeasurably spread,
Seem lengthening as I go."

III.

"Forbear, my son," the Hermit cries,
"To tempt the dangerous gloom;
For yonder faithless phantom flies
To lure thee to thy doom.

[The opening stanza originally stood thus:

"Deign, saint-like tenant of the dale,

To guide my nightly way,

To yonder fire that cheers the vale
With hospitable ray."]

IV.

"Here to the houseless child of want

My door is open still;

And though my portion is but scant,

I give it with good will.

V.

"Then turn to-night, and freely share
Whate'er my cell bestows;
My rushy couch and frugal fare,

My blessing and repose.

VI.

"No flocks that range the valley free,
To slaughter I condemn;

Taught by that Power that pities me,
I learn to pity them:

VIL

"But from the mountain's grassy side

A guiltless feast I bring;

A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied,

And water from the spring.

VIII.

"Then, pilgrim, turn; thy cares forego;
All earth-born cares are wrong:
'Man wants but little here below,
Nor wants that little long."

* [Goldsmith has been charged with here appropriating to himself, without acknowledgment, a line of Young

IX.

Soft as the dew from heaven descends,

His gentle accents fell:

The modest stranger lowly bends,

And follows to the cell.

X.

Far in a wilderness obscure

The lonely mansion lay,*

A refuge to the neighb'ring poor
And strangers led astray.

XI.

No stores beneath its humble thatch

Requir'd a master's care;

The wicket, opening with a latch,t
Receiv'd the harmless pair.

XII.

And now, when busy crowds retire
To take their evening rest,
The Hermit trimm'd his little fire,
And cheer'd his pensive guest;

XIII.

And spread his vegetable store,
And gayly press'd, and smil'd;

"Man wants but little, nor that little long: "

but in the original copy the passage was given in the usual manner of quota tions; and this has now been restored accordingly.]

["Far shelter'd in a glade obscure

The modest mansion lay."-First edit.]

["The door just opening with a latch.”—Ibid.]
["And now, when worldly crowds retire
To revels or to rest."-Ibid.]

And, skill'd in legendary lore,

The ling'ring hours beguil'd.

XIV.

Around in sympathetic mirth
Its tricks the kitten tries,
The cricket chirrups in the hearth,
The crackling faggot flies.

XV.

But nothing could a charm impart
To soothe the stranger's woe;
For grief was heavy at his heart,
And tears began to flow.*

XVI.

His rising cares the Hermit spied,
With answ'ring care opprest:

"And whence, unhappy youth," he cried, "The sorrows of thy breast?

XVII.

'From better habitations spurn'd, Reluctant dost thou rove?

Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd,

Or unregarded love?

XVIII.

"Alas! the joys that fortune brings

Are trifling, and decay;

["But nothing mirthful could assuage

The pensive stranger's woe;

For grief had seized his early age,

And tears would often flow."-First edit.}

"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.

"Surpris'd he sees new beauties rise,

Swift mantling to the view;
Like colors o'er the morning skies,
As bright, as transient too.†

XXIII.

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

"["The bashful guest betray'd."-First edit.] t["He sees unnumber'd beauties rise,

Expanding to the view;

Like clouds that deck the morning skies,

As bright, as transient too."-Ibid.]

["Her looks, her lips, her panting breast," &c.—Ibid.]