"Alas! the joys that fortune brings Are trifling, and decay; And those who prize the trifling thing3 70 "And what is friendship but a name, A charm that lulls to sleep; A shade that follows wealth or fame, 75 80 "And love is still an emptier sound, On earth unseen, or only found "For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush, And spurn the sex," " he said: But while he spoke, a rising blush Surprised he sees new beauties rise, Swift mantling to the view; The bashful look, the rising breast, The lovely stranger stands confest "And, ah! forgive a stranger rude, Where Heaven and you reside. "But let a maid thy pity share, Whom love has taught to stray; Who seeks for rest, but finds despair 100 "The dew, the blossom on the tree, With charms inconstant shine; Their charms were his : but, woe to me, Their constancy was mine. "For still I tried each fickle art, 125 Importunate and vain; And while his passion touch'd my heart, I triumph'd in his pain: "Till, quite dejected with my scorn, He left me to my pride; 130 "But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, And well my life shall pay; I'll seek the solitude he sought, And stretch me where he lay. "And there forlorn, despairing, hid, I'll lay me down and die; 135 'T was so for me that Edwin did, And so for him will I." 140 "Forbid it, Heaven!" the Hermit cried, And clasp'd her to his breast: 'T was Edwin's self that prest. "Turn, Angelina, ever dear, My charmer, turn to see The wondering fair-one turn'd to chide,— 145 Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here, Restored to love and thee. "Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign: 150 And shall we never, never part, My life-my all that's mine? "No, never from this hour to part, The sigh that rends thy constant heart 155 GOLDSMITH. EDWIN AND EMMA. FAR in the windings of a vale, The safe retreat of Health and Peace, There beauteous Emma flourish'd fair, 5 Whose only wish on earth was now The softest blush that nature spreads Such orient colour smiles through heaven, Till Edwin came, the pride of swains, A soul devoid of art, And from whose eyes, serenely mild, A mutual flame was quickly caught; For neither bosom lodged a wish 25 What happy hours of heart-felt bliss Did love on both bestow! But bliss too mighty long to last, 80 Long had he seen their secret flame, To snatch a glance, to mark the spot Oft, too, on Stanmore's wintry waste, In sighs to pour his soften'd soul, The midnight mourner stray'd. His cheek, where health with beauty glow'd, 50 55 |