IX.

Soft as the dew from heaven descends,

His gentle accents fell:

The modest stranger lowly bends,

And follows to the cell.

X.

Far in a wilderness obscure

The lonely mansion lay,*

A refuge to the neighb'ring poor

And strangers led astray.

XI.

No stores beneath its humble thatch

Requir'd a master's care;

The wicket, opening with a latch,t
Receiv'd the harmless pair.

XII.

And now, when busy crowds retire
To take their evening rest,
The Hermit trimm'd his little fire,
And cheer'd his pensive guest;

XIII.

And spread his vegetable store,

And gayly press'd, and smil'd;

"Man wants but little, nor that little long: "

but in the original copy the passage was given in the usual manner of quotations; and this has now been restored accordingly.]

And those who prize the trifling things, More trifling still than they.

XIX.

"And what is friendship but a name;
A charm that lulls to sleep;

A shade that follows wealth or fame,
But leaves the wretch to weep?

XX.

"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.

XXI.

"For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush,
And spurn the sex," he said;
But while he spoke, a rising blush
His love-lorn guest betray'd.*

The lovely stranger stands confest,

A maid in all her charms.

XXIV.

"And, ah! forgive a stranger rude,
A wretch forlorn," she cried;
"Whose feet unhallow'd thus intrude

Where Heaven and you reside.

XXV.

"But let a maid thy pity share,

Whom love has taught to stray: Who seeks for rest, but finds despair Companion of her way.*

XXVI.

"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.

XXVII.

"To win me from his tender arms,

Unnumber'd suitors came;

*["Forgive, and let thy pious care
A heart's distress allay:

That seeks repose, but finds despair
Companion of the way.

"My father liv'd, of high degree,
Remote beside the Tyne;
And as he had but only me,
Whate'er he had was mine.

"To win me from his tender arms,
Unnumber'd suitors came;

Their chief pretence my flatter'd charms,

My wealth perhaps their aim."-First edit.]

[This stanza, which was written some years after the rest of the poem, was presented in manuscript by Goldsmith to Richard Archdal, Esq., of Ireland.]

["Whene'er he spoke amidst the train

How would my heart attend!