For thefe refign'd. Beyond the frantic rage
Of conquering heroes brave, the female mind,
When steel'd by love, in love's most horrid way
Beholds not danger, or beholding fcorns.
Heaven take my life, but let it crown my love."
She ceas'd, and ere his words her fate decreed,
Impatient, watch'd the language of his
eye:
There pity dwelt, and from its tender sphere
Sent looks of love, and faithlefs hopes infpir'd.
"Forgive me, generous maid, the youth return'd, If, by thy accents charm'd, thus long I bore To let fuch fweetnefs plead, alas! in vain! Thy virtue merits more than crowns can yield Of folid blifs, or happiest love bestow. But ere from native fhores I plough'd the main, To one dear inaid, by virtue and by charms Alone endear'd, my plighted vows I gave; To guard my faith, whatever chance fhould wait My warring fword: if conqueft, fame, and spoil, Grac'd my return, before her feet to pour The glittering treafure, and the laurel wreath; Enjoying conqueft then, and fame, and spoil, If fortune frown'd adverfe, and death forbade The blissful union, with my latest breath To dwell on Medway's and Maria's name. This ardent vow deep-rooted, from my foul No dangers tore; this vow my bofom fir'd To conquer danger, and the fpoil enjoy. Her fhall I leave, with fair events elate,
Who crown'd mine humbleft fortune with her love?
Her fhall I leave, who now perchance alone
Climbs the proud cliff, and chides my flow return?
And fhall that veffel, whofe approaching fails
Shall fwell her breast with extafies, convey
Death to her hopes, and anguish to her foul?
No! may the deep my villain-corte devour,
If all the wealth Iberian mines conceal,
If all the charms Iberian maids disclose,
If thine, Elvira, thine, uniting all!
Thus far prevail-nor can thy virtuous breast
Demand, what honour, faith, and love denies."
"Oh! happy fhe, rejoin'd the penfive maid,
Who shares thy fame, thy virtue, and thy love!
And be the happy! thy distinguish'd choice
Declares her worth, and vindicates her claim.
Farewel my lucklefs hopes, my flattering dreams
Of rapturous days! my guilty fuit, farewel!
Yet, fond howe'er my plea, or deep the wound
That waits my fame, let not the random shaft
Of cenfure pierce with me th' Iberian dames:
They love with caution, and with happier stars.
And oh! by pity mov'd, restrain the taunts
Of levity, nor brand Elvira's flame;
By merit rais'd; by gratitude approv'd;
By hope confirm'd; with artless truth reveal'd;
Let, let me fay, but for one matchless maid
Of happier birth, with mutual ardor crown'd.
These radiant gems, which burnish happiness,
But mock misfortune, to thy favourite's hand
With care convey. And well may such adorn
Her chearful front, who finds in thee alone
The fource of every transport; but difgrace
My penfive breast, which doom'd to lafting woe,
In thee the fource of every blifs refigns.
And now farewel, thou darling youth! the gem
Of English merit! peace, content, and joy,
And tender hopes, and young desires, farewel
Attend, ye smiling train, this gallant mind
Back to his native fhores; there fweetly smooth
His evening pillow; dance around his groves;
And, where he treads, with violets paint his way.
But leave Elvira! leave her, now no more
Your frail companion! in the facred cells
Of some lone cloifter let me shroud my shame:
There, to the matin bell, obfequious, pour
My conftant orifons. The wanton Loves,
And gay Defires, fhall spy the glimmering towers,
And wing their flight aloof: but reft confirm'd
That never shall Elvira's tongue conclude
Her shortest prayer, ere Henry's dear success
The warmest accent of her zeal employ."
Thus fpoke the weeping fair, whofe artless mind
Impartial fcorn'd to model her esteem
By native customs; drefs, and face, and air,
And manners, lefs; nor yet refolv'd in vain.
He, bound by prior love, the folemn vow"
Given and receiv'd, to foft compaffion gave
A tender tear; then with that kind adieu
Efteem could warrant, weary'd heaven with prayers
To fhield that tender breaft he left forlorn.
He ceas'd, and to the cloister's pensive scene
Elvira fhap'd her folitary way.
"Auditæ voces, vagitus & ingens, Infantumque animæ flentes in limine primo." VIRG.
ADVERTISEMENT.
What particulars in Spenfer were imagined moft proper for the Author's imitation on this occafion, are his language, his fimplicity, his manner of defcription, and a peculiar tenderness of fentiment remarkable throughout his works.
H me! full forely is my heart forlorn,
To think how modeft worth neglected lies
While partial fame doth with her blasts adorn
Such deeds alone, as pride and pomp disguise;
Deeds of ill fort, and mifchievous emprize:
Lend me thy clarion, goddefs! let me try
To found the praise of merit, ere it dies ;
Such as I oft have chaunced to efpy,
Loft in the dreary fhades of dull obfcurity.
In every village mark'd with little fpire,
Em bower'd in trees, and hardly known to fame,
There dwells, in lowly fhed, and mean attire,
A matron old, whom we fchool-miftrefs name;
Who boafts unruly brats with birch to tame;
They grieven fore, in piteous durance pent,
Aw'd by the power of this relentless dame;
And oft-times, on vagaries idly bent,
For unkempt hair, or task unconn'd, are forely fhent.
And all in fight doth rife a birchen tree,
Which learning near her little dome did ftowe;
Whilom a twig of fmall regard to fee,
Though now fo wide its waving branches flow;
And work the fimple vaffals mickle woe;
For not a wind might curl the leaves that blew, But their limbs fhudder'd, and their pulfe beat low And as they look'd they found their horror grew, And shap'd it into rods, and tingled at the view.
So have I feen (who has not, may conceive,)
A lifeless phantom near a garden plac'd;
So doth it wanton birds of peace bereave,
Of fport, of fong, of pleafure, of repaft;
They start, they ftare, they wheel, they look aghaft;
Sad fervitude! fuch comfortless annoy
May no bold Briton's riper age e'er taste!
Ne fuperftition clog his dance of joy,
Ne vision empty, vain, his native blifs destroy.
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