6. "No flocks that range the valley free, 7. "But from the mountain's grassy side A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied, 66 8. Then, pilgrim, turn; thy cares forego; All earth-born cares are wrong: 'Man wants but little here below, Nor wants that little long.' 9. Soft as the dew from Heaven descends, His gentle accents fell: And follows to the cell. 10. Far in a wilderness obscure The lonely mansion lay, And strangers led astray. 11. No stores beneath its humble thatch The wicket, opening with a latch, 12. And now, when busy crowds retire 13. And spread his vegetable store, 14. Around in sympathetic mirth But nothing could a charm impart 16. His rising cares the Hermit spy'd, With answ'ring care opprest: "And whence, unhappy youth," he cry'd, "The sorrows of thy breast? 17. "From better habitations spurn'd, Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd, 18. "Alas! the joys that fortune brings Are trifling, and decay; And those who prize the trifling things, "And what is friendship but a name; 20. "And love is still an emptier sound, To warm the turtle's nest. 21. "For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush, 22. Surpriz'd he sees new beauties rise, The bashful look, the rising breast, 24. "And, ah! forgive a stranger rude, 25. "But let a maid thy pity share, Whom love has taught to stray : "My father liv'd beside the Tyne, A wealthy lord was he: And all his wealth was mark'd as mine; He had but only me. 27. "To win me from his tender arms, "Each hour a mercenary crowd 29. "In humble, simplest habit clad, 30. "And when beside me in the dale, His breath lent fragrance to the gale, 31. "The blossom opening to the day, 32. "The dew, the blossom on the tree, With charms inconstant shine; Their charms were his, but woe to me! Their constancy was mine. 33. "For still I tried each fickle art, Importunate and vain ; And while his passion touch'd my heart, I triumph'd in his pain. 34. "Till quite dejected with my scorn, In secret, where he dy❜d. 35. "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. 36. "And there forlorn, despairing, hid, I'll lay me down and die; 'T was so for me that Edwin did; And so for him will I." 37. "Forbid it Heaven!" the Hermit cry'd, "Turn, Angelina, ever dear, 39. "Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And ev'ry care resign: And shall we never, never part, My life, my all that's mine? 40. "No, never, from this hour to part, We'll live and love so true; The sigh that rends thy constant heart, Shall break thy Edwin's too." |