Soft as the dew from heav'n descends,

His gentle accents fell,
The grateful ftranger lowly bends,

And follows to the cell.

Far shelter'd in a glade obscure

The modest manfion lay,
A refuge to the neighbouring poor,

And strangers led astray.

No stores beneath its humble thatch,

Requir'd a master's care,
The door just opening with a latch,

Receiv'd the harmless pair.

And now when worldly crowds retire

To revels or to rest,
The hermit trimm'd his little fire,

And chear'd his penfive guest :

And spread his vegetable store,

And gaily, prest and smild: And skill'd in legendary lore,

The lingering hours beguild.

Around in sympathetic mirth

Its tricks the kitten tries,
The cricket chirrups in the hearth;

The crackling faggot flies.

But But nothing could a charm impart

To soothe the franger's woe ; For grief was heavy at his heart,

And tears began to flow :

His rising cares the hermit spy'd,

With answering care opprest: " And whence, unhappy youth," he cry'd,

“ 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 paltry 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,

6. But leaves the wretch to weep?

“ And love is still an emptier sound,

• The haughty fair one's jest: “ On earth unseen, or only found

" To warm the turtle's neit.

• For

« For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush,

“ And spurn the sex,” he said: But while he spoke, a rising blush

The bashful guest betray’d.

He fees unnumber'd beauties rise,

Expanding to the view;
Like clouds that deck the morning kies,

As bright, as tranfient too.

Her looks, her lips, her panting breaft,

Alternate spread alarms ;
The lovely stranger stands confeft

A maid in all her charms.

And, “ Ah! forgive a stranger rude,

“ A wretch forlorn,” she cry'd ; “ Whose feet unhallow'd thus intrude " Where heav'n 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 liv'd beside the Tyne,

“ A wealthy lord was he; “ And all his wealth was mark'd as mine ;

“ He had but only me.

« То " To win me from his tender arms

• Unnumber'd suitors came, * Who prais’d me for imputed charms,

" And felt, or feign'd a flame.

a

* Each morn the gay fantastic crowd

“ With richest proffers ftrove ; Among the rest young Edwin bow'd, « But never talk'd of love.

“ In humble, simplest habit clad,

• No wealth nor power had he; “ A constant heart was all he had,

« But that was all to me,

« The blossom opening to the day,

« The news of heav'n refin'd, « Could nought of purity display,

" To emulate his mind.

" The dew, the blofom on the tree,

“ With charms inconstant shine; " Their charms were his, but woe to me,

“ Their constancy was mine.

" For still I try'd each fickle art,

“ Importunate and vain; “ And while his passion touch'd my heart,

“ I triumph'd in his pain.

« Till

“ ''
" "Till, quite dejected with my scorn,

“ He left me to my pride;
“ And sought a solitude forlorn,

« In secret, where he dy'd.

life shall pay ;

" But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, " And well

my “ I'll seek the folitude he fought,

" And stretch me where he lay.

“ And, there forlorn despairing hid,

“ I'll lay me down and die : - 'Twas fo for me that Edwin did,

" And so for him will I.

:

“ Thou shalt not thus,” the hermit cry'd,

And clasp'd her to his breast : The wond'ring fair-one turn'd to chide ;

'Twas Edwin's self that prest.

* Turn, Angelina, ever dear,

“ My charmer, turn to see, “ Thy own, thy long-loft Edwin here,

“ Reitor'd to love and thee,

“ Thus let me hold thee to my heart,

“ And ev'ry care resign: "6 And shall we never, never part,

“ Othou my all that's mine."