PART II. DEEP in the bosom of a wood, Where art had form'd the moated isle, An antique castle tow'ring stood, In Gothic grandeur rose the pile. Here Raymond, long in arms renown'd, She wore the vernal morning's ray Flown from her never-silent eye. That dignity that's lost in ease. How long," he cry'd, "must I conceal What yet my heart could wish were known? "How long the truest passion feel, "And yet that passion fear to own? "Ah, might I breathe my humble vow! 66 Might she too deign to lend an ear! "Elvira's self should then allow "That Armine was at least sincere. "Wild wish! to deem the matchless maid "Would listen to a youth like nie, "Or that my vows could e'er persuade, ་་ Sincere and constant tho' they be! "Ah! what avail my love or truth? ་་ Then go, fallacious Hope! adieu! "The flattering prospect I resign; "And bear from my deluded view "The bliss that never must be mine! "Yet will the youth, whoe'er he be, "In truth or tenderness excel? "Or will he on thy charms like me With fondness never-dying dwell? "Will he with thine his hopes unite? With ready zeal thy joys improve? "With fond attention and delight "Each wish prevent, each fear remove?. "Will he, still faithful to thy charms, "For constant love be long rever'd? "Nor quit that heaven within thy arms "By every tender tie endear'd? "What tho' his boastful heart be vain "Of all that birth or fortune gaye, In vain-I sigh-but sigh unheard; Swells in wild whispers soft and clear. Can human hand a tone so fine Sweep from the string with touch prophane? Can human lip with breath divine Pour on the gale so sweet a strain? "Tis she-the source of Armine's woe'Tis she whence all his joy must springFrom her lov'd lips the numbers flow, Her magic hand awakes the string. Now, Armine, now thy love proclaim, Thy instant suit the time demands; What magic chains thee to the ground? The trance dispel! awake! arise! « Stay, "Tis gone! -Elvira's form it wore — "Yet one more glimpse of short delight! 'Tis gone, to be beheld no more! "Fly, loitering feet! the charm pursue That plays upon my hopes and fears! "Hah!no illusion mocks my view! 'Tis she-Elvira's self appears! "And shall I on her steps intrude? "Aların her in these lonely shades? "O stay, fair nymph! no ruffian rude "With base intent your walk invades, "Far gentler thoughts"-his faltering tongue, By humble diffidence restrain'd, Paus'd in suspense but thus ere long, As love impell'd, its power regain'd: "Far gentler thoughts that form inspires; "With me far gentler passions dwell; "This heart hides only blameless fires, "Yet burns with what it fears to tell. "The faltering voice that fears control, "Blushes that inward fires declare, "Each tender tumult of the soul "In silence owns Elvira there." He said; and as the trembling dove Distrest; and some parent mild, "That mournful voice, that modest air, "There first that form my eyes survey'd, "With future hopes that fill'd my heart; "But ah! beneath that frown they fade— "Depart, vain, vanquish'd hope! depart!" He said; and on the ground his eyes Were fix'd abash'd; th' attentive maid, Lost in the tumult of surprise, The well-remember'd youth survey'd. A sweeter charm than slumber brought, On every thought Elvira dwelt, And all the angel in her mind, That means to speak superior state, Should humble Love aspire to sue, Shall fly where gentler virtues dwell, And scorns what folly priz'd before, The scanty pane the rising ray On the plain wall in diamonds threw, And to his favorite scene he flew. Nor Armine less endear'd the scene. Oft' as she pass'd, her rising heart Its stronger tenderness confess'd, And oft she linger'd to impart To some soft shade her secret breast. "Ah, youth belov'd! tho' low thy birth, The noble air, the manly grace, "That look that speaks superior worth, "Can fashion, folly, fear erase? "Yet sure fron no ignoble stem "Thy lineage springs, tho' now unknown: "The world censorious may condemn, "But, Armine, I am thine alone. "To splendor only do we live? "Must pomp alone our thoughts employ? "All, all that pomp and splendor give "Is dearly bought with love and joy "But oh!—the favor'd youth appears — "In pensive grief he seems to move: "My heart forebodes unnumber'd fears; "Support it Pity, Virtue, Love! "Hither his footsteps seem to bend "Come, Resolution, to my aid! "My breast what varying passions rend! "Averse to go-to stay afraid!" "Dear object of each fond, desire, "That throbs tumultuous in my breast! "Why with averted glance retire? "At Armine's presence why distrest? "What tho' he boast no titled name, "No wide extent of rich domain, "Yet must he feed a hopeless flame, "Must truth and nature plead in vain ?” "Think not," she said, " by forms betray'd, "To humbler worth my heart is blind; "For soon shall every splendor fade, "That beams not from thy gifted mind. "But first thy heart explore with care,: "With faith its fond emotions prove; "Lurks no unworthy passion there? Prompts not ambition bold to love?, "Yes, lovely maid," the youth replies, "A bold ambition prompts my breast, "The towering hope that love supplies, "The wish in blessing to be blest. "The meaner prospects I despise That wealth, or rank, or power bestow; "Be yours the grovelling bliss ye prize, "Ye sordid winds that stoop so low! "Be mine the more refin'd delights "Of love that banishes control, "When the fond heart with heart unites, Elvira blush'd the warm reply, And there a softer lustre shone. The yielding smile that 's half supprest, "Art thou," the raging Raymond said, Of this audacious boy the sire? "Curse on the dart that idly sped,, " Nor bade his peasant soul expire!" "His peasant soul !"— indignant fire Flash'd from the conscious father's eye: "A gallant earl is Armine's sire, "And know, proud chief, that earl am I. "Tho' here, within the hermit's cell, "I long have liv'd unknown to fame, "Yet crowded camps and courts can tell— "Thou too hast heard of Egbert's name." "Hah! Egbert! he, whom tyrant rage "Forc'd from his country's bleeding breast? "The patron of my orphan age, "My friend, my warrior stands confest! "But why?"-"The painful story spare: That prostrate youth," said Egbert, "see; "His anguish asks a parent's care, "A parent, once who pitied thee!" Raymond, Raymond, as one who, glancing round, § 140. An Italian Song. ROGERS. DEAR is my little native vale, The ring-dove builds and warbles there; The squirrel leaps from tree to tree, (Tho' low my voice, tho' artless be my hand) At thy desire, she shall again be rais'd; No longer man of woman shall complain, That he may love and not be lov'd again : That we in vain the fickle sex pursue, Who change the constant lover for the new. Whatever has been writ, whatever said, Of female passion feigu'd, or faith decay'd: Henceforth shall in my verse refuted stand, Be said to winds, or writ upon the sand. And, while my notes to future times proclaim Unconquer'd love and ever-during flaine; O fairest of the sex! be thou my Muse: Deign on my work thy influence to diffuse: Let me partake the blessings I rehearse, As beauty's potent queen, with ev'ry grace, Let men once more the bright example see; that one } WHERE beauteous Isis and her husband Tame From the loud camp retir'd and noisy court In honorable ease and rural sport, The remnant of his days he safely pass'd; One child he had, a daughter chaste and fair, AndEmma and the Nut-Brown Maid were one.. Great Great Venus only must direct the dart, Which else will never reach the fair one's heart, Spite of th' attempts of force, and soft effects of art. Great Venus must prefer the happy one : While these in public to the castle came, Henry on foot pursues the bounding beast. And blows her praises with no common sound.. With humble rev'rence he accosts the fair, groves. Or to admire or emulate his song: A frantic gipsy, now the house he haunts, child. That she shall prove as fortunate as fair, And Hymen's choicest gifts are all reserv'd for her. Now oft had Henry chang'd his sly disguise, Unmark'd by all but beauteous Emma's eyes; Oft had found means alone to see the damne, And at her feet to breathe his am'rous flame; And oft, the pangs of absence to remove By letters, soft interpreters of love: Till time and industry, the mighty two That bring our wishes nearer to our view) Made him perceive that the inclining fair Receiv'd his vows with no reluctant ear; That Venus had confirm'd her equal reign, And dealt to Emma's heart a share of Henry's pain. While Cupid smil'd, by kind occasion blest, And, with the secret kept, the love increas'd; The amorous youth frequents the silent groves And much he meditates, for much he loves. He loves 'tis true; and is belov'd again; Great are his joys; but will they long remain? Einma with smiles receives his present flame; But, smiling, will she ever be the same? Beautiful looks are rul'd by fickle minds; And summer seas are turn'd by sudden winds. Another love may gain her easy youth: Time changes thought; and flatt'ry conquers truth. O impotent estate of human life! Where hope and fear maintain eternal strife; Where fleeting joy does lasting doubt inspire; And most we question what we most desire. Amongst thy various gifts, great heaven, bestow Our cup of love unmix'd; forbear to throw Bitter ingredients in; nor pall the draught With nauseous grief: for our ill-judging thought Hardly enjoys the pleasurable taste; Or deems it not sincere; or fears it cannot last. With wishes rais'd, with jealousies opprest, (Alternate tyrants of the human breast) By one great trial he resolves to prove The faith of women, and the force of love, If, scanning Emma's virtues, he may find That beauteous frame inclose a steady mind, He'll fix his hope, of future joy secure; And live a slave to Hymen's happy pow'r. But if the fair one, as he fears, is frail; If, pois'd aright in reason's equal scale, Light fly her merits, and her faults prevail; His mind he vows to free from ani'rous care, The latent mischief from his heart to tear, Resume his azure arms,and shine again in war.. South of the castle, in a verdant glade, A spreading beech extends her friendly shade: Here oft the nymph his breathing vows had heard; Here aft her silence had her heart declar'd, As active spring awak'd her infant buds, And 'genial life inform'd the verdant woods; Henry, in knots involving Einma's name, Had half express'd and half conceal'd his flame Upon the tree; and, as the tender mark Grew |