F

AR in the windings of a vale,
Faft by a sheltering wood,

The fafe retreat of health and peace,
An humble cottage stood.

There beauteous EMMA flourish'd fair

Beneath a mother's eye,

Whofe only wish on earth was now
To see her bleft, and die.

The fofteft blush that nature spreads

Gave colour to her cheek

;

Such orient colour fmiles thro' heav'n
When May's sweet mornings break.

Nor let the pride of great ones fcorn

This charmer of the plains ;

That fun which bids their diamond blaze,

To deck our lily deigns.

Long had the fir'd each youth with love,

Each maiden with despair; And tho' by all a wonder own'd,

Yet knew not she was fair.

Till EDWIN came, the pride of fwains,
A foul that knew no art,

And from whofe eyes ferenely mild,
Shone forth the feeling heart.

A mutual flame was quickly caught,
Was quickly too reveal'd;
For neither bofom lodg'd a wish,
Which virtue keeps conceal'd.

What happy hours of heartfelt bliss,
Did love on both bestow!

But blifs too mighty long to last,
Where fortune proves a foe.

His fifter, who like envy form❜d,
Like her in mischief joy'd,

To work them harm, with wicked skill

Each darker art employ'd.

The

The father too, a fordid man,

Who love nor pity knew,

Was all unfeeling as the rock

From whence his riches

grew.

Long had he seen their mutual flame,
And seen it long unmov'd;
Then with a father's frown at last,
He fternly disapprov❜d.

In EDWIN's gentle heart a war
Of differing paffions strove;
His heart which durft not disobey,
Yet could not cease to love.

Deny'd her fight, he oft behind
The spreading hawthorn crept,
To fnatch a glance, to mark the spot
Where EMMA walk'd and wept.

Oft too in Stanemore's wintry waste,
Beneath the moonlight shade,

In fighs to pour his foften'd foul
The midnight mourner stray'd.

His cheeks, where love with beauty glow'd,

A deadly pale o'ercaft;

So fades the fresh rofe in its prime,

Before the northern blast.

The parents now, with late remorse,
Hung o'er his dying bed,

And weary'd heav'n with fruitless pray'rs,

And fruitlefs forrows fhed.

"Tis past, he cry'd, but, if your fouls

Sweet mercy yet can move,
Let these dim eyes once more behold
What they must ever love.

She came; his cold hand foftly touch'd,
And bath'd with many a tear ;
Faft falling o'er the primrose pale
So morning dews appear.

But oh! his fifter's jealous care

(A cruel fifter fhe!)
Forbad what EMMA came to fay

My EDWIN, live for me.

Now

Now homeward as fhe hopeless went,
The church-yard path along,

The blast blew cold, the dark owl fcream'd,
Her lover's fun'ral fong.

Amid the falling gloom of night,
Her ftartling fancy found

In every bush his hovering fhade,
His groan in every found.

Alone, appall'd, thus had she pass'd

The vifionary vale,

When lo! the death-bell fmote her car,

Sad founding in the gale.

Juft then she reach'd, with trembling steps,

Her aged mother's door;

He's gone, fhe cry'd, and I shall fee
That angel face no more.

I feel, I feel this breaking heart
Beat high against my fide :

From her white arm down funk her head,

She fhiver'd, figh'd, and died.