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

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

And now, when worldly crouds retire
To revels or to reft, 1.

The hermit trim'd his little fire,

And cheer'd his penfive guest:

And spread his vegetable store,

And gaily prefs'd and fmil'd;

And, fkill'd in legendary lore,

The ling'ring hours beguil'd.

Around in fympathetic mirth

Its tricks the kitten tries ;

The cricket chirrups in the hearth;
The crackling faggot flies.

But

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

His rifing cares the hermit spy'd,
With anfw'ring care opprest :
And whence, unhappy youth!' he cry'd,
• The forrows of thy breast?

• From better habitations fpurn'd,
• Reluctant doft thou rove;
Or grief for friendfhip 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

And love is ftill an emptier found,

The haughty fair-one's jeft:

• On earth unfeen, or only found, To warm the turtle's nest.

For fhame! fond youth, thy forrows hush,
And fpurn the fex,' he said:

But, while he spoke, a rifing blush
The bashful guest betray'd.

He fees unnumber'd beauties rife,
Expanded to the view;....
Like clouds that deck the morning skies,
As bright as transient too. St

Her looks, her lips, her panting breast,
Alternate spread alarms:

The lovely stranger ftands confeft
A maid in all her charms.

And, ah! forgive a stranger rude, • A wretch forlorn,' fhe cry'd;

• Whofe feet unhallow'd thus intrude,
• Where Heav'n and
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But

• But let a maid thy pity share,

• Whom love has taught to ftray; • Who feeks for reft, but finds despair

Companion of her

way.

My father liv'd befide 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 fuitors came;

• Who prais'd me for imputed charms,

Or felt, or feign'd a flame.

Each morn the gay fantastic crowd • With richest proffers strove :

Among the reft young Edwin bow'd,

• But never talk'd of love.

• In humbleft, fimpleft habit clad, No wealth nor pow'r had he;

• A constant heart was all he had, But that was all to me.

The

The bloffom op'ning to the day,
• The dews of heav'n refin'd,
Could naught of purity difplay,
To emulate his mind.

The dew, the bloffom on the tree,
• With charms inconftant shine;
Their charms were his, but, wo to me!
Their conftancy was mine.

• For still I try'd each fickle art, Importunate and vain ;

And while his paffion touch'd my heart, I triumph'd in his pain.

Till quite dejected with my scorn,
• He left me to my pride;

And fought a folitude forlorn,
In fecret, where he died.

But mine the forrow, mine the fault,
• And well my life shall pay ;
I'll feek the folitude he fought,

And ftretch me where he lay.
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