For here, forlorn and lost, I tread, Here to the houseless child of want And, though my portion is but scant, Then turn, to-night, and freely share No flocks that range the valley free Taught by that Power that pities me, But from the mountain's grassy side A guiltless feast I bring A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied, And water from the spring. Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego; All earth-born cares are wrong: Man wants but little here below, Nor wants that little long." Soft as the dew from heaven descends, His gentle accents fell: The modest stranger lowly bends, And follows to the cell. Far in a wilderness obscure A refuge to the neighb'ring poor, No stores beneath its humble thatch And now, when busy crowds retire And spread his vegetable store, And gaily press'd, and smiled; But nothing could a charm impart His rising cares the IIermit spied, From better habitations spurn'd, Reluctant dost thou rove? Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd, Alas! the joys that fortune brings, Are trifling, and decay; And those who prize the paltry things, And what is friendship but a name, And love is still an emptier sound— To warm the turtle's nest. For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush, The bashful look, the rising breast, The lovely stranger stands confess'd "And, ah! forgive a stranger rude, But let a maid thy pity share, 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 arins, Unnumber'd suitors came; Who praised me for imputed charms, And felt, or feign'd a flame. Each hour a mercenary crowd With richest proffers strove; Amongst the rest young Edwin bow'd, In humble, simplest habit clad, No wealth nor power had he: And when, beside me in the dale, His breath lent fragrance to the gale, The blossom opening to the day, The dew, the blossom on the tree, 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, And sought a solitude forlorn But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, I'll seek the solitude he sought, And there, forlorn, despairing, hid, And so for him will I." "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, Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And shall we never, never part, No; never from this hour to part, The sigh that rends thy constant heart, AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG.* Good people all, of every sort, Give ear unto my song; In Islington there was a man, Of whom the world might say, A kind and gentle heart he had, And in that town a dog was found, As many dogs there be, Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound, And curs of low degree. This and the following poem appeared in the "Vicar of Wakefield." |