Suspect their syren song and artful style,

Their pleasing sounds some treatch'rous thought conceal! Full oft does pride with fainted voice beguile, And fordid int'rest wear the mask of zeal.

A tyrant abbess here perchance may reign,
Who, fond of pow'r, affects the imperial nod,
Looks down disdainful on her female train,
And rules the cloyster with an iron rod.

Reflection fickens at the life-long tie,
Back-glancing mem'ry acts her bufy part,
Its charms the world unfolds to fancy's eye,
And sheds allurement on the wishful heart.

Lo! Discord enters at the sacred porch,

Rage in her frown, and terror on her crest: Ev'n at the hallow'd lamps she lights her torch, And holds it flaming to each virgin breast.

But fince the legends of monaftic bliss

By fraud are fabled, and by youth believ'd, Unbought experience learn from my distress, O! mark my lot, and be no more deceiv'd.

Three luftres scarce with hasty wing were fled,
When I was torn from ev'ry weeping friend,
A thoughtless victim to the temple led,
And (blush, ye parents!) by a father's hand.

Yet

Yet then what folemn scenes deceiv'd my choice!
The pealing organ's animating found,

The choral virgins' captivating voice,

The blazing altar, and the priests around:

The train of youths array'd in purest white,
Who scatter'd myrtles as I pass'd along :
The thousand lamps that pour'd a flood of light,
The kiss of peace from all the vestal throng:

The golden censers toss'd with graceful hand,
Whose fragrant breath Arabian odor shed :
Of meek-ey'd novices the circling band,
With blooming chaplets wove around their head.

-My willing foul was caught in rapture's flame,
While facred ardor glow'd in ev'ry vein :
Methought applauding angels sung my name,
And heaven's unfullied glories gilt the fane.

This temporary transport soon expir'd,

My drooping heart confess'd a dreadful void:
E'er since, alas! abandon'd, uninspir'd,
I tread this dome to misery allied.

No wakening joy informs my fullen breast,
Thro' opening skies no radiant feraph smiles,
No faint descends to foothe my foul to rest,
No dream of bliss the dreary night beguiles.

Here

Here haggard discontent still haunts my view;
The fombre genius reigns in ev'ry place,

Arrays each virtue in the darkest hue,

Chills ev'ry prayer, and cancels ev'ry grace.

I met her ever in the chearless cell,

The gloomy grotto and unsocial wood;

I hear her ever in the midnight bell,

The hollow gale, and hoarfe refounding flood.

This caus'd a mother's tender tears to flow,

(The fad remembrance time shall ne'er erase) When having feal'd th' irrevocable vow, I haften'd to receive her last embrace.

Full-well she then presag'd my wretched fate,
Th' unhappy moments of each future day:
When lock'd within this terror-shedding grate,
My joy-deserted foul would pine away.

Yet ne'er did her maternal voice unfold

This cloyster'd scene in all its horror dreft; Nor did the then my trembling steps with-hold When here I enter'd reluctant guest.

Ah! could she view her only child betray'd,
And let fubmiffion o'er her love prevail ?
Th' unfeeling priest why did she not upbraid?
Forbid the vow, and rend the hov'ring veil?

Alas!

Alas! the might not her relentless lord
Had feal'd her lips, and chid her streaming tear;
So anguish in her breast conceal'd its hoard,
And all the mother funk in dumb despair.

But thou, who own'st a father's facred name,
What act impell'd thee to this ruthless deed?
What crime had forfeited my filial claim ?

And giv'n (O blasting thought!) thy heart to bleed?

If then thine injur'd child deserve thy care,

O haste and bear her from this lonesome gloom
In vain-no words can foothe his rigid ear;
And Gallia's laws have rivetted my doom.

Ye cloister'd fair- ye censure-breathing saints,
Suppress your taunts, and learn at length to spare,
Tho' mid these holy walls I vent my plaints,
And give to forrow what is due to pray'r.

1

I fled not to this manfion's deep recess
To veil the blushes of a guilty shame,
The tenor of an ill-spent life redress,
And snatch from infamy a sinking name.

Tot let me to my fate submissive bow;

From fatal symptoms, if I right conceive,
This stream, Ophelia, has not long to flow,
This voice to murmur, and this breast to heave.

:

Ah!

Ah! when extended on th' untimely bier
To yonder vault this form shall be convey'd,
Thou'lt not refuse to shed one grateful tear,
And breathe the requiem to my fleeting shade.

With pious footstep join the sable train,

As thro' the lengthening ifle they take their way;
A glimmering taper let thy hand sustain,
Thy soothing voice attune the funeral lay :

Behold the minister who lately gave

The facred veil, in garb of mournful hue, (More friendly office) bending o'er my grave, And fprinkling my remains with hallow'd dew

As o'er the corse he strews the rattling dust,
The sternest heart will raise compaffion's figh:
Ev'n then, no longer to his child unjust,
The tears may trickle from a father's eye.

THE

L

ROOKERY.

:

THOU who dwell'st upon the bough,
Whose tree does wave its verdant brow

And spreading shades the distant brook,
Accept these lines, dear fifter rook;

And