50

And spread his vegetable store,

And gayly prest, and smild; And, skill'd in legendary lore,

The ling’ring hours beguild.
Around in sympathetic mirth

Its tricks the kitten tries;
The cricket chirrups in the hearth;

The crackling fagot flies.

55

But nothing could a charm impart

To footh the stranger's woe;
For grief was heavy at his heart,

And tears began to flow.
His rising cares the Hermit spy'd,

With answering care opprest :
“And whence, unhappy youth," he cry'd,

“ The sorrows of thy breaft?

63

70

“From better habitations spurn'd,

“Reluctant dost thou rove : “Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd,

“ Or unregarded love? * Alas! the joys that fortune brings,

" Are trifling and decay; " And those who prize the paltry things,

" More trifling still than they. " And what is friendship but a name,

“ A charm that lulls to sleep ; "A shade that follows wealth or fame, ** And leaves the wretch to weep?

C

75

“And love is still an emptier sound,

“ The modern fair one's jest : “ On earth unseen, or only found

“ To warm the turtle's nest.

“For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush,

“ And spurn the sex,” he said : But while he spoke, a rising blush

His lovelorn guest betray'd. Surpriz'd he sees new beauties rise,

Swift mantling to the view ; Like colours o'er the morning skies,

As bright, as transient too.

The bashful look, the rising breast,

Alternate spread alarms :
The lovely stranger stands confeft

A maid in all her charms.

" And, ah, forgive a stranger rude,

“ A wretch forlorn,” she cry'd; “ Whose feet unhallow'd thus intrude

“ Where heav'n and you reside.

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“My father liv'd beside the Tyne,

“ A wealthy lord was he; “ And all his wealth was mark'd as mine,

“ He had but only me.

H 105

* To win me from his tender arms,

Unnumber'd suitors came; " Who prais'd me for imputed charms,

"And felt, or feign'd a flame. “ Eack hour a mercenary croud,

“With richest proffers strove : " Among the rest young Edwin bow'd,

“ But never talk'd of love.

TIO

" In humbleft, fimpleft habit clad,

“No wealth or pow'r had he ; " Wisdom and worth were all he had,

“ But these were all to me.

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“The blossom opening to the day,

“ The dews of heav'n refin'd, "Could nought of purity display,

“ To emulate his mind.

1 20

“ The dew, the blossoms of the tree,

“ With charms inconftant shine ; “ Their charms were his, but wo to me,

“ Their constancy was mine.

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“For still I try'd 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 dy'd.

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135

“But mine the sorrow, mine the fault,

“ And well my life shall pay ; I'll seek the solitude he sought,

“ And stretch me where he lay. “ And there, forlorn despairing hid,

“I'll lay me down and die ! “'Twas so for me that Edwin did,

“ And so for him will I."

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“Forbid it, Heav'n!” the Hermit cry'd,

And clasp'd her to his breaft:
The wond'ring fair one turn'd to chide.

'Twas Edwin's self that prest. “ 'Turn, Angelina, ever dear,

My charnier, turn to see ** Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here,

“ Restor'd to love and thee.

* Thus let me hold thee to my heart,

“ And ev'ry care resign: « And shall we never, never part,

“My life my all that's mine. “No, néver, from this hour to part,

« We'll live and love so true, " The sigh that rends thy constant heart,

* Shall break thy Edwin's too."

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And in that town à dog was found,

As many dogs there be,
Both mungrel, puppy, whelp and hound,

And curs of low degree.

This dog and man at first were friends ;

But when a pique began,
The dog, to gain his private ends,

Went mad and bit the man.