Far fhelter'd in a glade obfcure No ftores beneath its humble thatch And now, when worldly crouds retire 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; But But nothing could a charm impart His rifing cares the hermit spy'd, • From better habitations fpurn'd, Alas! the joys that fortune brings, 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, But, while he spoke, a rifing blush He fees unnumber'd beauties rife, Her looks, her lips, her panting breast, The lovely stranger ftands confeft And, ah! forgive a stranger rude, • A wretch forlorn,' fhe cry'd; • Whofe feet unhallow'd thus intrude, you'refide.> 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, And all his wealth was mark'd as mine, 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 dew, the bloffom on the tree, • 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, And fought a folitude forlorn, But mine the forrow, mine the fault, And ftretch me where he lay. · And |