And Love is ftill an emptier found, The modern fair one's jeft; 'On earth unfeen, or only found · To warm the turtle's nest. For fhame, fond youth! thy forrows hufh, And spurn the fex!' he said: But, while he spoke, a rising blush Surpris'd he fees new beauties rife, Swift mantling to the view, The bafhful look, the rifing breast, And ah! forgive a stranger rude, "A wretch forlorn," the cry'd, "Whofe feet unhallow'd thus intrude "Where Heaven and you refide! "But let a maid thy pity fhare, "Whom love as 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; "In humble, fimpleft habit clad, "The bloffom op'ning to the day, "The dews of heaven refin'd, "Could nought of purity difplay "To emulate his mind. "The dew, the bloffoms of the tree, "With charms inconftant shine: "Their charms were his; but, woe to me! "Their conftancy was mine. "For ftill I try'd each fickle art, "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'; "And fought a folitude forlorn, "In fecret, where he dy'd, "But mine the forrow, mine the fault! "And there forlorn, despairing hid, "I'll lay me down and die ; " 'Twas fo for me that Edwin did, Forbid it, Heav'n!' the Hermit cry'd, The wond'ring fair-one turn'd to chide--- Turn, Angelina, ever dear; My charmer, turn to fee Thy own, thy long-loft Edwin here, Reftor'd to love and thee. Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And fhall we never, never part, No, never from this hour to part; The figh that rends thy conftant heart JAGO. THE BLACKBIRDS, AN ELEGY. THE fun had chas'd the mountain fnow, And kindly loos'd the frozen foil; N 'Twas then, amid the vocal throng, " O fairest of the feather'd train! “The raven plumes his jetty wing, “ And tell their paffion as they soar. "But trust me, love, the raven's wing "Is not to be compar'd with mine; "Nor can the lark so sweetly sing “As I, who ftrength with sweetness join. “O, let me all thy steps attend ! "I'll point new treasures to thy fight; "Whether the grove thy with befriend, "Or hedge-rows green, or meadows bright. "I'll shew my love the cleareft rill, "Whose ftreams among the pebbles stray; "These will we fip, and fip our fill, "Or on the flow'ry margin play. "I'll lead her to the thickest brake, "Impervious to the school-boy's eye; "For her the plaster'd neft I'll make, "And on her downy pinions lie. "When prompted by a mother's care, "Her warmth shall form th' imprison'd young, "The pleafing task I'll gladly share, "Or cheer her labours with my song. "To bring her food I'll range the fields, "And when my lovely mate would stray, "And tend with care our little charge. "Then prove with me the sweets of love, "No bufh fhall boast in all the grove He ceas'd his fong. The melting dame, He led her to the nuptial bow'r, Next morn he wak'd her with a fong; "Behold," he faid, "the new-born day! "The lark his matin peal has rung, "Arife, my love, and come away." |