Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

22

Silence ensu'd; and Edwin raised his eyes.
In tears, for grief lay heavy at his heart.
"And is it thus in courtly life (he cries)
"That man to man acts a betrayer's part?
“And dares he thus the gifts of Heaven pervert,
"Each social instinct, and sublime desire?

"Hail Poverty! if honour, wealth, and art,

"If what the great pursue, and learn'd admire, "Thus dissipate and quench the soul's ethereal fire!"

23

He said, and turn'd away; nor did the Sage
O'erhear, in silent orisons employ'd.

The Youth, his rising sorrow to assuage,
Home as he hied, the evening scene enjoy'd ::
For now no cloud obscures the starry void;
The yellow moonlight sleeps on all the hills ;*
Nor is the mind with startling sounds annoy'd;
A soothing murmur the lone region fills,

Of groves, and dying gales, and melancholy rills.

* How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank. Shakespeare.

[graphic]

6. T. Rurney. And kneeling licked the witherd hand, that tied A wreathe of woodbine round his antlers tall.

Minstrel Book 2. ver. XXV.

Published June 18e by J. Mawman: London.

24

But he from day to day more anxious grew, The voice still seem'd to vibrate on his ear. Nor durst he hope the Hermit's tale untrue; For man he seem'd to love, and heaven to fear; And none speaks false, where there is none to hear. "Yet, can man's gentle heart become so fell! "No more in vain conjecture let me wear "My hours away, but seek the Hermit's cell; ""Tis he my doubt can clear, perhaps my care dispel."

25

At early dawn the Youth his journey took,

And many a mountain pass'd and valley wide,
Then reach'd the wild; where, in a flowery nook,
And seated on a mossy stone, he spied
An ancient man: his harp lay him beside.
A stag sprang from the pasture at his call,
And, kneeling, lick'd the wither'd hand that tied
A wreath of woodbine round his antlers tall,

And hung his lofty neck with many a flow'ret small.

E

26

And now the hoary Sage arose, and saw
The wanderer approaching: innocence
Smil'd on his glowing cheek, but modest awe
Depress'd his eye, that fear'd to give offence.

"Who art thou, courteous stranger? and from whence?

66

Why roam thy steps to this sequester'd dale?"

"A shepherd-boy (the Youth replied) far hence "My habitation; hear my artless tale;

"Nor levity nor falsehood shall thine ear assail.

27

"Late as I roam'd, intent on Nature's charms, "I reach'd at eve this wilderness profound;

And, leaning where yon oak expands her arms, "Heard these rude cliffs thine awful voice rebound,

[ocr errors]

(For in thy speech I recognise the sound.)

"You mourn'd for ruin'd man, and virtue lost,
"And seem'd to feel of keen remorse the wound,
Pondering on former days by guilt engross'd,

"Or in the giddy storm of dissipation toss'd.

« ElőzőTovább »