Life's gayer enfigns once he bore Ah! what avails the mournful tale? Suffice it, when the fcene was o'er, He fled to the fequefter'd vale. "What tho' the joys I lov'd fo well, "The charms," he cry'd, "that youth has "known, Fly from the hermit's lonely cell! "Yet is not Armine ftill my own? "Yes, Armine, yes, thou valued youth! "'Midft every grief thou ftill art mine! "Dear pledge of Winifreda's truth, "And folace of my life's decline. "" Tho' from the world and worldly care My wearied mind I mean to free, Yet ev'ry hour that heaven can spare, My Armine, I devote to thee. 66 And fure that heaven my hopes fhall blefs; "And make thee fam'd for virtues fair, And happy too, if happiness "Depend upon a parent's pray'r Laft hope of life's departing day, "In whom its future fcenes I fee! "No truant thought fhall ever ftray "From this lone hermitage and thee." Thus, to his humble fate refign'd, His breaft each anxious care foregoes; All but the care of Armine's mind, The dearest task a parent knows! And well were all his cares repaid; In Armine's breaft each virtue grew, In full maturity display'd To fond Affection's anxious view. Nor yet neglected were to charms To polifh'd life that grace impart: Virtue, he knew, but feebly warms Till science humanize the heart. And when he faw the lawless train Of paffions in the youthful breast, He curb'd them not with rigid rein, But ftrove to footh them into reft. "Think not, my fon, in this," he cry'd, "A father's precept fhall difplease; "No-be cach paffion gratify'd "That tends to happiness or ease. "Nor fhall th' ungrateful task be mine "Their native generous warmth to blame, "That warmth if reafon's fuffrage join "To point the object and the aim. This fuffrage wanting, know, fond boy, "That every paffion proves a foe: "Tho' much it deal in promis'd joy, "It pays, alas! in certain woe. "Complete Ambition's wildest scheme; "In Power's most brilliant robes appear; "Indulge in Fortune's golden dream; "Then afk thy breaft if Peace be there. "No: it fhall tell thee, Peace retires "If once of her lov'd friends depriv'd; "Contentment calm, fubdued defires, "And happiness that 's self-deriv'd." To temper thus the ftronger fires Of youth he ftrove; for well he knew, Boundless as thought tho' man's defires, The real wants of life were few. And oft revolving in his breaft Th' infatiate luft of wealth or fame, He, with no common care oppreft, To Fortune thus would oft exclaim: "O Fortune! at thy crowded shine "What wretched worlds of fuppliants bow! "For ever hail'd thy power divine, "For ever breath'd the ferious vow. "With tottering pace and feeble knee, "See age advance in fhameless hafte, "The palfy'd hand is ftretch'd to thee "For wealth he wants the power to taste. "See, led by Hope, the youthful train, "Her fairy dreams their hearts have won ; "She points to what they ne'er fhall gain, "Or dearly gain-to-be undone. "Muft I too form the votive prayer, "And wilt thou hear one fuppliant more? "His prayer, O Fortune! deign to hear, "To thee who never pray'd before. "O may one dear, one favour'd youth, May Armine ftill thy power difclaim; "Kneel only at the fhrine of truth, 66 "Count freedom wealth, and virtue fame!" Lo! to his utmost wishes bleft, The prayer was heard; and freedom's flame, And truth the funthine of the breaft, Were Armine's wealth, were Armine's fame. His heart no felfifh cares confin'd, He felt for all that feel diftrefs; And, ftill benevolent and kind, He blefs'd them, or he wish'd to blefs. For what tho' Fortune's frown deny A balm the never knew to give: The wounds no ruder hand can heal, When grief, defpair, diftraction rage, While Death the lips of love fhall feal Ah then, his anguish to remove, Depriv'd of all his heart holds dear, How fweet the ftill furviving love Of Friendship's fmile, of Pity's tear! This knew the fire: he oft would cry, From thefe, my fon, O ne'er depart! "Thefe tender charities that tie "In mutual league.the human heart. "Be thine thofe feelings of the mind, "That wake at Honour's, Friendship's call; "Benevolence, that unconfin'd "Extends her liberal hand to all. Mm "By "By Sympathy's untutor'd voice "Be taught her focial laws to keep; "Rejoice if human heart rejoice, "And weep if human eye fhall weep. "The heart that bleeds for others' woes "Shall feel each felfish forrow lefs; His breaft, who happinefs beftows, "Reflected happiness shall bless. Each ruder paffion fill withstood "That breaks o'er virtue's fober line, "The tender, noble, and the good, "To cherish and indulge be thine. And yet, my Armine, might I name "One paffion as a dangerous gueft, "Well mayft thou wonder when I blame "The tendereft, nobleft, and the best. "Nature, 'tis true, with love defign'd "To finooth the race our fathers ran "The favage of the human kind 66 By love was foften'd into man. 66 "As feels the ore the fearching fire, Expanding and refining too, So fairer glow'd each fair defire, "Each gentle thought fo gentler grew. "How chang'd, alas' thofe happy days! "A train how different now fucceeds! While fordid Avarice betrays, "Or empty Vanity misleads. "Fied from the heart each nobler guest, "Each genuine feeling we forego; "What nature planted in the breaft 66 The flowers of love, are weeds of woe. "Hence all the pangs the heart must fee! "Between contending paflions toft, "Wild Jealoufy's avenging fteel, "And life and fame and virtue loft! "Yet falling life, yet fading fame, 66 Compar'd to what his heart annoy "Who cherishes a hopelets flame, "Are terms of happiness and joy. "Ah, then the foft contagion fly! "And timely fun th' alluring bait!" The riting blush, the downcaft eye Proclaim'd-the precept was too late. PART II. DEEP m the bofem of a wood, Where art had form'd the moated isle, An antique cafle tow'ring ftood, In Gothic grandeur rofe the pile. Here Raymond, long in arms renown'd, From focnes of war would oft repair; His bed an only daughter crown'd, And fmil'd away a father's care. Be Nature's happieft pencil drawn, She wore the vernal morning's ray; The vernal morning's blufhing dawn Breaks not to beauteous into day. Her breaft, impatient of controul, Well feem'd the emblem of her mind, Where fnowy innocence we trace With blufhing modesty combin’d. To thefe refiftlefs grace impart That look of tweetnefs form'd to pleafe, That elegance devoid of art, That dignity that's loft in cafe. What vouch fo cold could view unmov'd The maid that ev'ry beauty fhar'd? Her Armine faw; he faw, he lov'd; He lov'd-alas! and he defpair'd! Unhappy youth he funk oppreft; For much he labour'd to conceal That gentleft paffion of the breast, Which all can feign, but few can feel. Ingenuous fears fupprefs'd the flame, Yet till he own'd its hidden power; With tranfport dwelling on her name, He footh'd the folitary hour. How long," he cry'd, muft I conceal "What yet my heart could with were known' "How long the trueft paffion feel, "And yet that paffion fear to own? Ah, might I breathe my humble row! Might the too deign to lend an ear! "Elvira's felf fhould then allow 66 "That Armine was at leaft fincere. "Wild with! to deem the matchlefs maid "Would liften to a youth like me, Or that my vows could e'er perfuade, "Sincere and conftant tho' they be! Ah! what avail my love or truth? "She liftens to no lowly Swain; "Her charms must blefs fome happier youth, "Some youth of Fortune's titled train. "Then go, fallacious Hope! adieu ! "The flattering profpect I refign; "And bear from my deluded view "The blifs that never must be inine! Yet will the youth, whoe'er he be, "In truth or tendernefs excell? "Or will he on thy charms like me "With fondnefs never-dying dwell' "Will he with thine his hopes unite? "With ready zeal thy joys improve? With fond attention and delight "Each with prevent, each fear remove? "Will he, fill faithful to thy charms, "For conftant love be long rever'd? "Nor quit that heaven within thy arms 46 "By every tender tie endear'd? "What tho' his boastful heart be vain "Of all that birth or fortune gave, "Yet is not mine, tho' rude and plain, "At least as noble and as brave? "Then 66 "Then be its gentle fuit preferr'd! Uncheer'd by hope his paffion grew. In Raymond's groves the deepest shade; The image of his long-lov'd maid. Swells in wild whifpeis foft and clear. Sweep from the string with touch prophane ? Can human lip with breath divine Pour on the gale fo fweet a strain ? 'Tis fhe-the fource of Armine's woe "Tis fhe-whence all his joy muft fpringFrom her lov'd lips the numbers flow, Her magic hand awakes the ftring. Now, Armine, now thy love proclaim, Thy inftant fuit the time demands; Delay not-Tumult fhakes his frame, And loft in ecftafy he stands. What magic chains thee to the ground? Each fenfe entranc'd hath loft its pow'r? The trance difpel! awake! arife! Speak what untutor'd love infpires! The moment's paft-thy wild furprise She fees, nor unalarm'd retires. "Stay, fweet illufion ftay thy flight! "'Tis gone!-Elvira's form it wore"Yet one more glimpfe of fhort delight! "'Tis gone, to be beheld no more! "Fly, loitering feet! the charm pursue "That plays upon my hopes and fears! "Hah!-no illufion mocks my view! "'Tis the-Elvira's felf appears! "And fhall I on her fteps intrude? "Alarm her in thefe lonely fhades? "Oftay, fair nymph! no ruffian rude "With base intent your walk invades. "Far gentler thoughts"—his faltering tongue, By humble diffidence reftrain'd, Paus'd in fufpenfe-but thus ere long, As love impell'd, its power regain'd: "Far gentler thoughts that form inspires; "With me far gentler paffions dwell; "This heart hides only blameless fires, "Yet burns with what it fears to tell. "The faltering voice that fears controul, "Blushes that inward fires declare, "Each tender tumult of the foul "In filence owns Elvira there." He faid; and as the trembling dove Sent forth t'explore the watery plain, Sought refuge in his inmoft breast. Diftreft, and as fome parent mild, When arm'd with words and looks of awe, Melts o'er the terrors of her child, Reproof prepar'd and angry fear In foft fenfations died away; They felt the force of Armine's tear, And fled from pity's rifing sway. "That mournful voice, that modeft air, 46 Young ftranger, fpeak the courteous breaft; Then why to thefe rude fcenes repair, "Of fhades the folitary gueft? "And who is the whofe fortunes bear "A heart," he cries, "that's yours alone; "Long has it own'd Elvira's fway, "Tho' long unnotic'd and unknown. "On Sherwood's old heroic plain "Elvira grac'd the feftal day; "There, foremost of the youthful train, "Her Armine bore the prize away. "There first that form my eyes furvey'd, "With future hopes that fill'd my heart; "But ah! beneath that frown they fade"Depart, vain, vanquish'd hopes! depart!" He faid; and on the ground his eyes Were fix'd abafh'd: th' attentive maid, Loft in the tumult of furprise, The well-remember'd youth furvey'd. The tranfient colour went and came, The ftruggling bofom funk and rofe; The trembling tumults of her frame The ftrong conflicting foul disclose. The time, the fcene fhe faw with dread, Like Cynthia fetting glanced away; But fcatter'd blushes as the fled, Blushes that fpoke a brighter day. Her brow no fern refentments arm, Should humble Love afpire to fuc. Shall fly where gentler virtues dwell. Tis then the mind, from bondage free, And all its former weaknefs o'er, Afferts its native dignity, And fcorns what folly priz'd before. The feanty pane the rifing ray On the plain wall in diamonds threw; The lover hail'd the welcome day, And to his favourite fcene he flew. There foon Elvira bent her way, Where long her lonely walks had been; Nor lefs had the preceding day, Nor Armine lefs endear'd the fcene. Oft, as the pafs'd, her rifing heart Its ftronger tendernefs confefs'd, And oft the linger'd to impart To fome foft hade her fecret breast. "How flow the heavy hours advance," She cry'd, "fince that eventful day, "When first I caught the fatal glance "That ftole me from myfelf away! "Ah, youth belov'd! tho' low thy birth, "The nob air, the manly grace, "That look that fpeaks fuperior worth, "Can fashion, folly, fear erase? Yet fure from no ignoble stem 66 Thy lineage fprings, tho' now unknown: "The world cenforious may condemn, "But, Armine, I am thine alone. "To splendour only do we live? "Muft pomp alone our thoughts employ? "All, all that pomp and fplendour give "Is dearly bought with love and joy! "But oh !-the favour'd youth appears "In penfive grief he feems to move: "My heart forebodes unnumber'd fears; "Support it Pity, Virtue, Love! "Hither his footsteps feem to bend "Come, Refolution, to my aid! "My breaft what varying paffions rend! "Averfe to go-to stay-afraid!" "Dear object of each fond defire "That throbs tumultuous in my breaft! "Why with averted glance retire? "At Armine's prefence why diftreft? "What tho' he boast no titled name, "No wide extent of rich domain, "Yet muft he feed a hopclefs flame, "Muft truth and nature plead in vain ?” “Think not," the faid, "by forms betray'd, "To humbier worth my heart is blind; "For foon fhall every Splendour fade, "That beams not from the gifted mind. "But first thy heart explore with care, "Prompts not ambition bold to love " "That wealth, or rank, or power bestow; "Be yours the grovelling blifs ye prize, "Ye fordid minds that ftoop fo low! "Be mine the more refin'd delights "Of love that banishes controul, "When the fond heart with heart unites, "And foul's in unifon with foul.” Elvira blufh'd the warm reply, (To love a language not unknown) The milder glories fill'd her eye, And there a fofter luftre fhone. "Art thou," the raging Raymond said, "Nor bade his peafant foul expire !? Flash'd from the confcious father's eye : "I long have liv'd unknown to fame, "Thou too haft heard of Egbert's name." "My friend, my warrior ftands confeft! "A parent, once who pitied thee!" Seems from fome fudden trance to start, United tears o'er Hymen's reign, "fee; § 142. An Italian Song. The ring-dove builds and warbles there; ROGERS, TO CLOE. THOU, to whofe eyes I bend; at whofe mand Bright Cloc, object of my conftant vow, As beauty's potent queen, with ev'ry grace, Let men once more the bright example fee; that one WHERE beauteous Ifis and her husband Tame From the loud camp retir'd and noify court, One child he had, a daughter chaßte and fair, § 143. Henry and Emma, a Porm upon the Model His age's comfort, and his fortune's heir. PRIOR. They call'd her Einma; for the beauteous dame, Ufage |