"For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush, And spurn the sex," he said: But, while he spoke, a rising blush His love-lorn guest betray'd. EDWIN AND ANGELINA. Surprised he sees new beauties rise, The bashful look, the rising breast, The lovely stranger stands confess'd, "And, ah! forgive a stranger rude, Where Heav'n and you reside. "But let a maid thy pity share, Whom love has taught to stray; Who seeks for rest, but finds despair "My father lived beside 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 suitors came, Who praised me for imputed charms, "Each hour a mercenary crowd With richest proffers strove; "In humblest, simplest habit clad, EDWIN AND ANGELINA. "And when, beside me in the dale, His breath lent fragrance to the gale, "The blossom opening to the day, To emulate his mind. "The dew, the blossoms on the tree, With charms inconstant shine; Their charms were his; but, woe to 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, And so for him will I." Forbid it, Heav'n!" the Hermit cried, And clasp'd her to his breast: The wondering fair-one turn'd to chide.— 'Twas Edwin's self that prest! EDWIN AND ANGELINA. · Turn, Angelina, ever dear, My charmer, turn to see Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here, Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And shall we never, never part, My life my all that's mine? No, never from this hour to part, The sigh that rends thy constant heart |