THE HERMIT. AR in a wild unknown to pub- | For yet by swains alone the world he knew, lic view, From youth to age a rever end hermit grew; The moss his bed, the cave his humble cell, His food the fruits, his drink the crystal well, Remote from man, with God he passed the days, Prayer all his business, all his pleasure praise. A life so sacred, such serene repose, rose: That vice should triumph, virtue vice obey, This sprung some doubt of Providence's sway; His hopes no more a certain prospect boast, And all the tenor of his soul is lost. So when a smooth expanse receives imprest Calm Nature's image on its watery breast, Down bend the banks, the trees depending grow, dew He quits his cell; the pilgrim-staff he bore, And fixed the scollop in his hat before; Then with the sun a rising journey went, Sedate to think, and watching each event. The morn was wasted in the pathless grass, And long and lonesome was the wild to pass; But when the southern sun had warmed the day, A youth came posting o'er a crossing way, Then, near approaching, "Father, hail!" he cried, And "Hail, my son !" the reverend sire replied. Words followed words, from question answer flowed, And talk of various kind deceived the road, And skies beneath with answering colors Till, each with other pleased and loath to glow; But if a stone the gentle scene divide, part, While in their age they differ, join in heart: Now sunk the sun, the closing hour of day To clear this doubt, to know the world by Came onward, mantled o'er with sober gray, sight, To find if books or swains report it right Nature in silence bade the world repose, When near the road a stately palace rose; There by the moon through ranks of trees | Disordered stops to shun the danger near, Then walks with faintness on and looks with they pass, Deep sunk in sleep and silk and heaps of The changing skies hang out their sable down. At length 'tis morn, and at the dawn of day Along the wide canals the zephyrs play; Fresh o'er the gay parterres the breezes creep, clouds ; A sound in air presaged approaching rain, And beasts to covert scud across the plain. Warned by the signs, the wandering pair retreat To seek for shelter at a neighboring seat. And shake the neighboring wood to banish 'Twas built with turrets, on a rising Then, pleased and thankful, from the porch As near the miser's heavy doors they drew At length some pity warmed the master's | The weather courts them from the poor rebreast treat, ('Twas then his threshold first received a And the glad master bolts the wary gate. guest): Slow creaking turns the door with jealous While hence they walk the pilgrim's bosom wrought care, And half he welcomes in the shivering With all the travail of uncertain thought; His partner's acts without their cause ap pair. One frugal fagot lights the naked walls, And Nature's fervor through their limbs recalls; Bread of the coarsest sort, with eager wineEach hardly granted-served them both to dine; pear: 'Twas there a vice, and seemed a madness here; Detesting that, and pitying this, he goes, And when the tempest first appeared to Now night's dim shades again involve the cease, A ready warning bid them part in peace. sky: Again the wanderers want a place to lie; With still remark the pondering hermit The soil improved around, the mansion neat, viewed And neither poorly low nor idly great, It seemed to speak its master's turn of mind, "And why should such," within himself he Content, and not for praise, but virtue kind. cried, In one so rich a life so poor and rude; "Lock the lost wealth a thousand want be- Hither the walkers turn with weary feet, At length the world, renewed by calm re- Was strong for toil; the dappled morn arose. "Detested wretch!" But scarce his speech began, When the strange partner seemed no longer man: His youthful face grew more serenely sweet; His robe turned white and flowed upon his feet; Oh strange return!—grew black, and gasped, Fair rounds of radiant points invest his and died. Horror of horrors! what! his only son! How looked our hermit when the fact was done? Not hell, though hell's black jaws in sunder part hair; Celestial odors breathe through purpled air; The form ethereal bursts upon his sight, And breathe blue fire, could more assault his And moves in all the majesty of light. heart. Confused and struck with silence at the deed, He flies, but trembling fails to fly with speed: Though loud at first the pilgrim's passion grew, Sudden he gazed, and wist not what to do: But silence here the beauteous angel broke His steps the youth pursues. The country And in a calm his settling temper ends. way; A river crossed the path; the passage o'er The youth, who seemed to watch a time to Approached the careless guide and thrust him in; Plunging he falls, and, rising, lifts his head, Then flashing turns, and sinks among the dead. Wild, sparkling rage inflames the father's In this the right of Providence is laid; Its sacred majesty through all depends He bursts the bands of fear and madly cries, On using second means to work his ends; eyes; |