And spread his vegetable store, And gaily press'd, and smiled; The lingering hours beguiled. Around in sympathetic mirth But nothing could a charm impart His rising cares the hermit spied, With answering care opprest: "And whence, unhappy youth," he cried, "The sorrows of thy breast? "From better habitations spurn'd, Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd, "Alas! the joys that fortune brings And those who prize the paltry things "And what is friendship but a name, A shade that follows wealth or fame, "And love is still an emptier sound; "For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush, Surprised he sees new beauties rise, The bashful look, the rising breast, "And, ah! forgive a stranger rude, "But let a maid thy pity share, Whom love has taught to stray; Who seeks for rest, but finds despair Companion of her way. My father lived beside the Tyne, A wealthy lord was he; And all his wealth was mark'd as mine; He had but only me. "To win me from his tender arms Unnumber'd suitors came, Who praised me for imputed charms, "Each hour a mercenary crowd With richest proffers strove : "In humble, simplest habit clad, "The blossom opening to the day, "The dew, the blossoms of the tree, "For still I tried each fickle art, Importunate and vain ; And, while his passion touch'd my heart, "Till, quite dejected with my scorn, And sought a solitude forlorn "But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, "And there forlorn, despairing, hid, "Forbid it, Heaven!" the hermit cried, And clasp'd her to his breast : The wondering fair-one turn'd to chide; 'Twas Edwin's self that prest. "Turn, Angelina, ever dear, Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here, "Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And shall we never, never part, *No, never, from this hour to part, The sigh that rends thy constant heart STANZAS ON WOMAN. WHEN lovely Woman stoops to folly, The only art her guilt to cover, To hide her shame from every eye, SONG. O MEMORY! thou fond deceiver, And turning all the past to pain! Thou, like the world, the oppress'd oppressing, |