II.

There beauteous Emma flourish'd fair,

Beneath a mother's eye;

Whofe only wish on earth was now

To fee her bleft, and die.

The fofteft blush that Nature fpreads

Gave colour to her cheek:

Such orient colour smiles through heaven,. When vernal mornings break.

IV.

Nor let the pride of great ones fcorn
This charmer of the plains:

That fun, who bids her diamond blaze,
To paint our lilly deigns.

V.

Long had the fill'd each youth with love,

Each maiden with despair;

And though by all a wonder own'd,

Yet knew not fhe was fair.

VI.

Till Edwin came, the pride of fwains,

A foul devoid of art;

And from whofe eye, ferenely mild,

Shone forth the feeling heart.

VII.

A mutual flame was quickly caught;

Was quickly too reveal'd :

For neither bofom lodg'd a wish,

That virtue keeps conceal'd.

VIII.

What happy hours of home-felt blifs

Did love on both bestow!

But blifs too mighty long to last,

Where fortune proves a foe..

IX.

His fifter, who, like Envy form'd,.
Like her in mischief joy'd,

To work them harm, with wicked skill,

Each darker art employ'd.

X.

The father too, a fordid man,

Who love nor pity knew,

Was all-unfeeling as the clod

From whence his riches grew.

XI.

Long had he feen their fecret flames.

And faw it long unmov'd:

Then with a father's frown at last

Had fternly disapprov'd.

XII.

In Edwin's gentle heart, a wan
Of differing paffions ftrove:
His heart, that durft not disobey,

Yet could not ceafe to love.

XIII.

Deny'd her fight, he oft behind

The fpreading hawthorn crept,
To fnatch a glance, to mark the spot
Where Emma walk'd and wept.

XIV.

Oft too on Stanmore's wintry waste,
Beneath the moonlight fhade,
In fighs to pour his foften'd foul,
The midnight mourner ftray'd..
XV.

His cheek, where health with beauty glow'd

A deadly pale o'ercaft:

So fades the fresh rofe in its prime,

Before the northern blaft.

XVI.

The parents now, with late remorse,

Hung o'er his dying bed;

And weary'd Heaven with fruitless vows,

And fruitlefs forrow fhed.

XVII.

'Tis paft! he cry'd-but if your fouls

Sweet mercy yet can move,
Let thefe dim eyes once more behold,

What they must ever love!

XVIII.

She came; his cold hand foftly touch'd,

And bath'd with many a tear :

Faft-falling o'er the primrose pale,
So morning dews appear.

XIX.

But oh his fifter's jealous care,

A cruel fifter fhe!

Forbade what Emma came to say;

"My Edwin live for me."

XX.

Now homeward as the hopeless wept

The church-yard path along,

The blaft blew cold, the dark owl scream'd: Her lover's funeral fong.

XXI.

Amid the falling gloom of night,.
Her ftartling fancy found

In every bush his hovering fhade,.
His groan in every found.

XXII.

Alone, appall'd, thus had the pass'd

The vifionary vale

When lo! the death-bell fmote her ear,

Sad-founding in the gale!

. XXIII.

Juft then the reach'd, with trembling step,

Her aged mother's door-

He's gone! fhe cry'd; and I fhall fee

That angel-face no more!

、 XXIV.

I feel, I feel this breaking heart

Beat high against my side

From her white arm down funk her head;
She fhivering figh'd, and died.

A CONTEMPLATION

ON

NIGHT.

Br GAY

WHETHER amid the gloom of Night I stray,

Or my glad eyes enjoy revolving day,
Still Nature's various face informs my fenfe,
Of an all-wife, all-powerful Providence.

When the gay fun first breaks the shades of Night,
And strikes the diftant eastern hills with light,
Colour returns, the plains their livery wear,
And a bright verdure clothes the fmiling year;
The blooming flow'rs with opening beauties glow,
And grazing flocks their milky fleeces fhow;
The barren, cliffs with chalky fronts arise,
And a pure azure arches o'er the skies.
But when the gloomy reign of Night returns,
Stript of her fading pride, all Nature mourns: