Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego; Soft as the dew from heav'n descends, And follows to the cell. Far in a wilderness obscure The lonely mansion lay; A refuge to the neighbouring poor, No stores beneath its humble thatch And now when busy crowds retire The hermit trimm'd his little fire, And spread his vegetable store, The lingering hours beguil❜d. Around in sympathetic mirth Its tricks the kitten tries ; The cricket chirrups on the hearth; But nothing could a charm impart His rising cares the hermit 'spied, From better habitations spurn'd, Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd, Alas! the joys that fortune brings, And those that prize the paltry things, And what is friendship but a name, And love is still an emptier sound, The modern fair one's jest : On earth unseen, or only found To warm the turtle's nest. For shame, fond youth; thy sorrows hush, Surpris'd! he sees new beauties rise, The bashful look, the rising breast, And, ah, forgive a stranger rude, But let a maid thy pity share, Whom love has taught to stray; Who seeks for rest, but finds despair Companion of her way. My father liv'd beside the Tyne, A wealthy lord was he; And all his wealth was mark'd for mine, He had but only me. To win me from his tender arms Each hour the mercenary crowd, In humble simplest habit clad, No wealth nor power had he; Wisdom and worth were all he had, But these were all to me. The blossom opening to the day, The dew, the blossom on the tree, With charms inconstant shine; Their charms were his, but woe is me, Their constancy was mine. For still I tried 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 sought a solitude forlorn, In secret where he died. But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, And there forlorn, despairing, hid, Forbid it, Heaven! the hermit cried, And clasp'd her to his breast: The wondering fair one turn'd to chide, 'Twas Edwin's self that prest. Turn, Angelina, ever dear, My charmer, turn to see |