She seem'd, as senseless as a stone, to fall; And in the mother-tongue of falcons spoke. "That tender hearts are best prepared to "know, "From their own pain, the extent of others woe, "Both by the opinions which the wise maintain, "And wide Example's daily proof, is plain. "All gentleness from gentle hearts proceeds; "And yours, I see, for my affliction bleeds, "Enchanting Canace; and ills which vex "Feels with the promptness of your softer sex. "Tis not my hope your proffer'd aid to earn, "But wish that you, what you inquire, may learn ; "And in my sad experience be supplied, "A useful lesson, and a certain guide." While one thus speaks her grief, the other hears Oppress'd with thought, and deluged with her tears. At length the falcon bade the princess pause; "Here was I bred, (the recollection shocks); "And our nest poised on yonder ridgy rocks. "Each tender treatment which the unfledged re "I had, and knew not what it was to grieve, "Till first abroad I dared direct my flight: "There a young hawk attracted soon my sight. "All mildness, as I fancied, he appear'd-; "Nor thoughtless Love his treacherous falseness "fear'd. "So did he wear Humility's disguise, "Such shew of truth, such fondness met my eyes, "So freely Youth's gay pleasure he enjoy'd, "So lively was his grief, when ills annoy'd, "None dream'd Deceit had in his actions part; "But what seem'd greater worth, was deeper art. "Even as a snake his form in flowers conceals, "Till he who passes, late his risk reveals; "Even so this bird, in tenderness a dove, "Feign'd soft obedience, and attentive love, "And lavish of professions soon believed, "This artless breast, in luckless hour deceived. "As on some tomb rich sculpture we survey, "But putrid lurks below the unsightly clay; "Such was the hawk; and thus his purpose screen'd, "That none could search it, save the inspiring " fiend. "And he so press'd a suit, the task of years, "With kind upbraidings, and with treacherous tears, "That my poor heart, which well he knew to move, "Lest love so violent his death should prove, "Granted whate'er, protesting truth, he craved; "And only from the wretch my honour saved; "This point agreed, our union's single bond, "His should I be, as he was truly fond, "His should each thought, within my bosom hid, "Each claim of lawless gallantry forbid. "Heaven knows this promise I required as just "But leagues with treacherous Falsehood who can "trust? "Soon as the tiger-hearted suitor found "Love had his wishes, unresisting, crown'd, "Our vows exchanged, a master in deceit, "Nor, since two wives to Lamech link'd, began "First to display the roving bent of man, "Nor even since him, the father of mankind, "Such depth of guile could Observation find. "Rank'd by by their art, beneath him those of old "Deserved not menial offices to hold. "None could with thanks so winningly requite. "To mark his manner was a heavenly sight; "And none more shew'd, of all the race of birds, "How graceful gesture dignifies our words. "If full of truth he seem'd, his merit such, "The thought unjustly would be deem'd too much "I to his interest spared, with wakeful zeal, "Used, like my own, his slightest woes to feel. "In all, his honour'd will to mine gave law, "Save where obstructed I my duty saw. "The worth that makes obedience sweet had he: "Not power itself possess'd such charms for me. "Two years and more this heavenly dream en"dured, "And of his fondness I was well assured; "But Fortune had resolved that he, at last, "Should leave the scene of our enjoyment pass'd. "To tell my sorrow were superfluous pain, "And all my power in such a labour vain; "But this I can affirm (nor waste my breath), "Now do I know what are the pangs of death. "He took his leave one inauspicious morn, Seeming constrain'd, in accent so forlorn, "That when I hear'd him speak, in plaintive tone, "I thought his grief as poignant as my own. "Yet, such had seem'd his truth, I fear'd no "more, "Nor dreamt of harm, his urgent business o'er. "Till 'twas dispatch'd enduring what must be, "I made a virtue of necessity. "My grief dissembling, though by him unshared, "Near him I stood; and solemnly declared, |