And can we doubt that horrid ghosts afcend,
Which on the conscious murd❜rer's fteps attend?
Hear then, and let attefted truth prevail,
From faithful lips I learnt the dreadful tale.
Where Arden's forest spreads its limits wide,
Whose branching paths the doubtful road divide,
A trav❜ler took his folitary way;
When low beneath the hills was funk the day.
And now the skies with gath'ring darkness lour,
The branches ruftle with the threaten'd fhower;
With fudden blafts the foreft murmurs loud,
Indented lightnings cleave the fable cloud,
Thunder on thunder breaks, the tempeft roars,
And heav'n discharges all its watry stores.
The wand'ring trav'ler fhelter feeks in vain,
And shrinks and shivers with the beating rain:
On his steed's neck the flacken'd bridle lay,
Who chose with cautious step th' uncertain way;
And now he checks the rein, and haults to hear
If any noise foretold a village near.
At length from far a stream of light he fees
Extend its level ray between the trees;
Thither he speeds, and as he nearer came
Joyful he knew the lamp's domeftick flame
That trembled through the window; crofs the way
Darts forth the barking cur, and ftands at bay.
It was an ancient lonely houfe, that stood
Upon the borders of the fpacious wood;
Here towers and antique battlements arife,
And there in heaps the moulder'd ruin lies ;
Some Lord this manfion held in days of yore,
To chace the wolf, and pierce the foaming boar:
How chang'd, alas, from what it once had been!
'Tis now degraded to a publick inn.
Straight he difmounts, repeats his loud commands;
Swift at the gate the ready landlord stands ;
With frequent cringe he bows, and begs excufe,
His house was full, and every bed in use.
What not a garret, and no ftraw to spare ?
Why then the kitchen fire and elbow-chair
Shall ferve for once to nod away the night.
The kitchen ever is the fervants right,
Replies the hoft; there, all the fire around,
The Count's tir'd footmen fnore upon the ground.
The maid, who listen'd to this whole debate,
With pity learnt the weary ftranger's fate.
Be brave, the cries, you ftill may be our guest,
Our haunted room was ever held the best;
If then your valour can the fright fustain
Of rattling curtains and the clinking chain,
If your couragious tongue have power to talk,
When round your bed the horrid ghost shall walk;
If you dare ask it, why it leaves its tomb,
I'll fee your sheets well air'd, and show the room.
Soon as the frighted maid her tale had told,
The stranger enter'd, for his heart was bold.
The damfel led him through a spacious hall,
Where Ivy hung the half-demolish'd wall;
She frequent look'd behind, and chang'd her hue,
While fancy tipt the candle's flame with blue.
And now they gain'd the winding stairs afcent,
And to the lonefome room of terrors went.
When all was ready, fwift retir'd the maid,
The watch-lights burn, tuckt warm in bed was laid
The hardy ftranger, and attends the sprite
Till his accuftom'd walk at dead of night..
At first he hears the wind with hollow roar Shake the loofe lock, and fwing the creaking door;
Nearer and nearer draws the dreadful found
Of rattling chains, that dragg'd upon the ground;
When lo, the spectre came with horrid ftride,
Approach'd the bed, and drew the curtains wide!
In human form the ghaftful Phantom stood,
Expos'd his mangled bofom dy'd with blood.
Then filent pointing to his wounded breast,
Thrice wav'd his hand. Beneath the frighted guest
The bed-cords trembled, and with fhudd'ring fear,
Swet chill'd his limbs, high rose his bristled hair;
Then mutt'ring hafty pray'rs, he mann'd his heart,
And cry'd aloud; Say, whence and who thoú art?
The ftalking ghoft with hollow voice replies,
Three years are counted, fince with mortal eyes
I faw the fun, and vital air refpir'd.
Like thee benighted, and with travel tir'd,
Within these walls I flept. O thirst of gain!
See, still the planks the bloody mark retain ;
Stretch'd on this very bed, from sleep I start,
And see the steel impending o'er my heart;
The barb'rous hoftess held the lifted knife,
The floor ran purple with my gushing life.
My treasure now they seize, the golden spoil
They bury deep beneath the grafs grown foil,
Far in the common field. Be bold, arise,
My fteps fhall lead thee to the fecret prize;
There dig and find; let that thy care reward:
Call loud on juftice, bid her not retard
To punish murder; lay my ghost at rest,
So fhall with peace fecure thy nights be bleft;
And when beneath these boards my bones are found,
Decent inter them in fome facred ground.
Here ceas'd the ghost. The stranger fprings from bed, And boldly follows where the Phantom led;
The half-worn ftoney ftairs they now defcend,
Where paffages obfcure their arches bend.
Silent they walk; and now through groves they pass,
Now through wet meads their steps imprint the grass;
At length amidst a spacious field they came :
There ftops the spectre, and afcends in flame.
Amaz'd he ftood, no bufh, or briar was found,
To teach his morning fearch to find the ground;
What could he do? the night was hideous dark,
Fear fhook his joints, and nature dropt the mark:
With that he starting wak'd, and rais'd his head,
But found the golden mark was left in bed
What is the statesman's vaft ambitious scheme,
But a fhort vifion, and a golden dream?
Power, wealth, and title elevate his hope;
He wakes. But for a garter finds a rope.
PRUDE, at morn and ev'ning prayer,
Had worn her velvet cushion bare;
Upward she taught her eyes to roll,
As if she watch'd her foaring foul;
And when devotion warm'd the croud,
None fung, or smote their breaft fo loud:
Pale Penitence had mark'd her face
- With all the meagre figns of grace.
Her mass-book was compleatly lin'd
With painted Saints of various kind:
But when in ev'ry page fhe view'd
Fine Ladies who the flesh fubdu'd;
As quick her beads fhe counted o'er,
She cry'd-fuch wonders are no more!
She chose not to delay confeffion,
To bear at once a year's tranfgreffion,
But ev'ry week fet all things even,
And balanc'd her accounts with heav'n.
Behold her now in humble guise,
Upon her knees with downcast eyes
Before the Priest: fhe thus begins,
And fobbing, blubbers forth her fins ;
VOL. II.
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