Where beasts with man divided empire claim,
And the brown Indian marks with murderous aim;
There, while above the giddy tempest flies,

And all around distressful yells arise,

The pensive exile, bending with his woe,
To stop too fearful, and too faint to go,

Casts a last look where England's glories shine,
And bids his bosom sympathise with mine.

Vain, very vain, my weary search to find
That bliss which only centres in the mind:
Why have I stray'd from pleasure and repose,
To seek a good each government bestows?
In every government, though terrors reign,
Though tyrant kings, or tyrant laws restrain,
How small, of all that human hearts endure,
That part which laws or kings can cause or cure.
Still to ourselves in every place consigned,
Our own felicity we make or find:

With secret course, which no loud storms annoy,
Glides the smooth current of domestic joy.
The lifted axe, the agonizing wheel,

Luke's iron crown, and Damiens' bed of steel,
To men remote from power but rarely known,
Leave reason, faith, and conscience, all our own.

THE HERMIT.

A BALLAD.

"TURN, gentle Hermit of the dale,
And guide my lonely way,

To where yon taper cheers the vale
With hospitable ray.

"For here forlorn and lost I tread, With fainting steps and slow; Where wilds, immeasurably spread, Seem lengthening as I go."

"Forbear, my son," the Hermit cries, “To tempt the dangerous gloom ; For yonder faithless phantom flies To lure thee to thy doom.

"Here to the houseless child of want My door is open still;

And though my portion is but scant, I give it with good will.

"Then turn to-night, and freely share Whate'er my cell bestows;

My rushy couch and frugal fare,
My blessing and repose.

E

"No flocks that range the valley free, To slaughter I condemn;

Taught by that Power that pities me, I learn to pity them :

"But from the mountain's grassy side A guiltless feast I bring;

A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied, And water from the spring.

"Then, pilgrim, turn; thy cares forego; All earth-born cares are wrong; 'Man wants but little here below, Nor wants that little long.""

Soft as the dew from heaven descends, His gentle accents fell;

The modest stranger lowly bends,

And follows to the cell.

Far in a wilderness obscure
The lonely mansion lay,

A refuge to the neighbouring poor,
And strangers led astray.

No stores beneath its humble thatch
Required a master's care;
The wicket, opening with a latch,
Received the harmless pair.

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

The Hermit.

And spread his vegetable store,
And gayly press'd, and smiled ;
And, skill'd in legendary lore,

The lingering hours beguiled.

Around in sympathetic mirth
Its tricks the kitten tries,
The cricket chirrups in the hearth,
The crackling faggot flies.

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

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,
Reluctant dost thou rove?

Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd,
Or unregarded love?

"Alas! the joys that fortune brings

Are trifling, and decay

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

"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?

E 2

57

"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.

"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.

66

Surprised he sees new beauties rise,
Swift mantling to the view;
Like colours o'er the morning skies,
As bright, as transient too.

The bashful look, the rising breast,
Alternate spread alarms :

The lovely stranger stands confest,
A maid in all her charms.

And, ah! forgive a stranger rude,
A wretch forlorn," she cried ;
"Whose feet unhallow'd thus intrude
Where Heaven and you reside.

“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.