Force not my tongue to ask its scanty bread, Haply, when age has silver'd o'er my hair, She spoke -nor was I born of savage race; Nor could these hands a niggard boon assign; Grateful she clasp'd me in a last embrace, `And vow'd to waste her life in pray'rs for mine. I saw her foot the lofty bark ascend; I saw her breast with ev'ry passion heave; I left her, torn from ev'ry earthly friend; O! hard my bosom, which could bear to leave. Brief let me be; the fatal storm arose; The billows rag'd; the pilot's art was vain: O'er the tall mast the circling surges close; My Jessy floats upon the wat❜ry plain! And see my youth's impetuous fires decay; Seek not to stop reflection's bitter tear; But warn the frolic, and instruct the gay, From Jessy floating on her wat'ry bier! THE HERMIT. PARNELL. FAR in a wild unknown to public view, A life so sacred, such serene repose, Swift ruffling circles curl on ev'ry side, 5 To clear this doubt, to know the world by sight, To find if books, or swains, report it right; (For yet by swains alone the world he knew, Whose feet came wand'ring o'er the nightly dew) He quits his cell, the pilgrim-staff he bore, And fix'd the scallop 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 wind had warm'd the day, A youth came posting o'er a crossing way; His raiment decent, his complexion fair, And soft in graceful ringlets wav'd his hair. Then near approaching, Father, hail! he cry'd; And hail, my son! the rev'rend sire reply'd: Words follow'd words, from question answer flow'd, And talk of various kind deceiv'd the road: Till each with other pleas'd, and loath to part, While in their age they differ, join in heart; Thus stands an aged elm in ivy bound, Thus youthful ivy clasps an elm around. Now sunk the sun; the closing hour of day Came onward, mantled o'er with sober grey; Nature in silence bid the world repose; When near the road a stately palace rose There by the moon thro' ranks of trees they pass, Still made his house the wand'ring stranger's home: Then led to rest, the day's long toil they drown, 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, And shake the neighb'ring wood to banish sleep. Up rise the guests, obedient to the call; An early banquet deck'd the splendid hall; Rich luscious wine a golden goblet grac'd, Which the kind master forc'd the guests to taste. Then pleas'd and thankful from the porch they go; And, but the landlord, none had cause of woe: · His cup was vanish'd, for in secret guise The younger guest purloin'd the glitt'ring prize. As one who spies a serpent in his way, Glist'ning and basking in the summer-ray, Disorder'd stops to shun the danger near, Then walks with faintness on, and looks with fear; He stopp'd with silence, walk'd with trembling heart, And much he wish'd, but durst not ask to part: Murm'ring he lifts his eyes, and thinks it hard, That gen'rous actions meet a base reward. While thus they pass, the sun his glory shrouds, The changing skies hang out their sable clouds; A sound in air presag'd approaching rain, And beasts to covert scud across the plain. Warn'd by the signs, the wand'ring pair retreat, To seck for shelter at a neighb'ring seat. 'Twas built with turrets, on a rising ground, And strong, and large, and unimprov'd around; Its owner's temper, tim'rous and severe, Unkind and griping, caus'd a desert there. As near the miser's heavy doors they drew, Fierce rising gusts with sudden fury blew ; The nimble light'ning, mix'd with show'rs, began, And o'er their heads loud rolling thunder ran. Here long they knock, but knock or call in vain, Driv'n by the wind, and batter'd by the rain. At length some pity warm'd the master's breast, ('Twas then his threshold first receiv'd a guest) |