EDWIN AND ANGELINA.

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A BALLA D.

TURN, gentle hermit of the dale,
"And guide my lonely way

"To where yon taper cheers the vale
"With hofpitable ray.

"For here forlorn and loft I tread,
"With fainting fteps and flow;
"Where wilds, immeafurably fpread,
"Seem lengthening as I go."

Forbear, my fon," the hermit cries,
"To tempt the dangerous gloom;
"For yonder phantom only flies,
"To lure thee to thy doom.

"Here to the houseless child of want, My door is open still;

"And though my portion is but fcant, "I give it with good-will.

"Then turn to-night, and freely share "Whate'er my cell bestows;

My rufhy couch, and frugal fare, "My bleffing and repofe.

No

Forbear my Son the Hermit cries,
To tempt the dangerous gloom.
For yonder phantom only flies,
Tolure thee to thy doom!!

Barlow fculp

"No flocks that range the valley free "To flaughter I condemn;

"Taught by that power that pities me, "I learn to pity them:

"But from the mountain's graffy fide "A guiltless feaft I bringi

"A fcrip with herbs and fruits fupply'd, "And water from the spring.

Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego, "For earth-born cares are wrong. "Man wants but little here below, "Nor wants that little long.”

Soft as the dew from heav'n defcends,
His gentle accents fell:
The grateful ftranger lowly bends,
And follows to the cell.

Far fhelter'd in a glade obfcure:
The modeft manfion lay;
A refuge to the neighbouring poor,
And ftrangers led aftray.

No flores beneath its humble thatch
Requir'd a master's care;
The door juft opening with a latch,
Receiv'd the harmless pair.

And now when worldly crowds retire
To revels or to reft,

The hermit trimm'd his little fire,
And cheer'd his penfive gueft

And spread his vegetable ftore,
And gayly prefl and smil'd ;

And,

And, fkill'd in legendary lore,
The lingering hours beguil❜d.

Around in fympathetick mirth
Its tricks the kitten tries;
The cricket chirrups in the hearth
The crackling faggot flies.

But nothing could a charm impart
To foothe the ftranger's woe;
For grief was heavy at his heart,
And tears began to flow.

4

His rifing cares the hermit spy'd,
With anfwering care oppreft:
"And whence, unhappy youth," he cry'd,
"The forrows of thy breaft?

"From better habitations spurn'd, "Reluctant doft 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 ftill than they.

"And what is friendship but a name,
"A charm that lulls to fleep;
A fhade that follows wealth or fame,
"But leaves the wretch to weep?

"And love is ftill an emptier found,
"The haughty fair one's jeft,
"On earth unfeen, or only found
"To warm the turtle's neft.

❝ For