"No flocks, that range the valley free,
"To flaughter I condemn :
"Taught by that power that pities me,
"I learn to pity them:

"But from the mountain's graffy fide

"A guiltless feast I bring:

"A fcrip with herbs and fruits fupply'd,
"And water from the spring..

"Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego;
"All earth-born cares are wrong:
"Man wants but little here below,
66 Nor wants that little long."

Soft as the dew from heaven descends,
His gentle accents fell:

The modeft ftranger lowly bends,.

And follows to the cell.

Far in a wilderness obfcure

The lonely mansion lay;

A refuge to the neighb'ring poor,
And ftrangers led aftray.

No ftores beneath its humble thatch.

Requir'd a mafter's care;

The wicket, op'ning with a latch,
Receiv'd the harmlefs pair.

And

And now,

when bufy crowds retire

To take their evening reft,
The Hermit trimm'd his little fire,
And cheer'd his pensive guest:

And spread his vegetable store,

And gaily preft, and finil'd;

And, fkill'd in legendary lore,

The ling'ring hours beguil'd.

Around, in fympathetic mirth,
Its tricks the kitten tries;
The cricket chirrups in the hearth;
The crackling faggot flies.

But nothing could a charm impart
To footh the stranger's woe;
For grief was heavy at his heart,
And tears began to flow.

His rifing cares the Hermit fpy'd,
With anfw'ring care oppreft:

"And whence, unhappy youth!" he cry'd,
"The forrows of thy breaft?

"From better habitations spurn'd, "Reluctant dost thou rove;

"Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd,

"Or unregarded love?

Alas!

"Alas! the joys that fortune brings, "Are trifling, and decay;

"And those who prize the paltry things, "More trifling ftill than they.

"And what is friendship but a name,
"A charm that lulls to fleep;
"A fhade that follows wealth or fame,
"And leaves the wretch to weep?

"And love is still an emptier found,
"The modern fair one's jeft:
"On earth unfeen, or only found
"To warm the turtle's neft.

"For fhame, fond youth, thy forrows hufh,
"And spurn the fex," he said:
But while he spoke, a rifing blufh
His love-lorn guest betray'd.

Surpriz'd he fees new beauties rife,
Swift mantling to the view;
Like colours o'er the morning fkies,
As bright, as tranfient too.

The bafhful look, the rising breast,
Alternate spread alarms :

The lovely stranger stands confeft

A maid in all her charms.

"An

"And ah! forgive a stranger rude,
"A wretch forlorn, she cry'd:
"Whose feet unhallow'd thus intrude
"Where heaven and you refide.

"But let a maid thy pity fhare,
"Whom love has taught to ftray;
"Who feeks for reft, but finds despair
"Companion of her way:

My father liv'd befide the Tyne,

"A wealthy lord was he;

"And all his wealth was mark'd as mine,

"He had but only me.

"To win me from his tender arms,

"Unnumber'd fuitors came;

"Who prais'd me for imputed charms, "And felt, or feign'd a flame.

"Each hour a mercenary crowd
"With richest proffers ftrove:
"Among the reft young Edwin bow'd,
"But never talk'd of love.

"In humble, fimpleft habit clad,
"No wealth or power had he:
"Wisdom and worth were all he had,

"But thefe were all to me.

"The bloffom op'ning to the day, "The dews of heav'n refin'd "Could nought of purity display, "To emulate his mind.

"The dew, the bloffoms of the tree,
"With charms inconftant fhine;
"Their charms were his, but, woe to me,
"Their conftancy was mine.

"For ftill I tried each fickle art,

"Importunate and vain;

"And while his paffion touch'd

"I triumph'd in his pain.

my

heart,

"Till, quite dejected with my fcorn,

"He left me to my pride;

"And fought a folitude forlorn, "In fecret, where he died.

"But mine the forrow, mine the fault,
"And well my life fhall pay;
"I'll feek the folitude he fought,
"And ftretch me where he lay.

"And there forlorn, defpairing hid,
"I'll lay me down and die:
"'Twas fo for me that Edwin did,

"And fo for him will I.”

"Forbid