EDWIN and ANGELINA. 
 
 JL urn, 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, 
 c Seem lengthening as I <r . 
 
3 
 
 „ ' tlip Hermit cries* 
 I Forbear my S0», the .wen 
 
 < To tempt the dangerous gloom , 
 . For yon** phantom only flies 
 . To lure thee to thy doom. 
 
 . Here to the houseless child of want, 
 
 < Mv door is open still; 
 
 « And tho' my portion is but seant, 
 
 * I give it with good will. 
 
 • Then turn to-night, and freely share 
 
 * Whate'er my cell bestows ; 
 
 « My rushy couch and frugal fare, 
 1 * My blessing and repose. 
 
 « No flocks that range the valley free 
 < To slaughter I condemn , 
 
 < Taught by that pow'r that pities me 
 1 ' I learn to pity them. 
 
 2 
 
4 
 
 * But from the mountain's grassy side 
 
 ' A guiltless feast I brinsr: 
 ' A script with herbs and fruit supply'd, 
 
 * And water from the spring. 
 
 4 Then, pilgrim, turn ! thy cares forego 
 6 All earth-born cares are wron^; 
 
 4 Man wants but little here below, 
 
 ' Nor wants that little long.' 1 
 
 Soft as the dew from heav'n 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 neighb'ring poor, 
 
 And strangers led astrav. 
 
Ts T o stores beneath its humble thatch 
 
 Requir'd a master's care; 
 The wicket op'ning with a latch, 
 Received the harmless pair. 
 
 And now, when busy crouds retire 
 To take their evening rest, 
 
 The Hermit trimm'cl his little fire, 
 And cheer' d his pensive guest ; 
 
 And spread his vegetable store, 
 And gaily press' d and smil'd, 
 
 And skill'd in legendary lore, 
 The ling'ring hours beguil'd. 
 
 Around, in sympathetic mirth, 
 Its tricks the kitten tries, 
 
 The cricket chirrups in the earth, 
 The crackling faggot flies. 
 
6 
 
 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 spy'd, 
 AVith answ'ring care oppress'd; 
 
 * And whence unhappy youth V he cry 1 
 
 * The sorrows of thy breast ? 
 
 * From better habitations spurn'd, 
 
 c Reluctant dost thou rove ? 
 
 * Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd, 
 
 ' Or disregarded love ? 
 
 6 Alas ! the joys that fortune brings 
 
 ' Are trifling, and decay ; 
 ' And those who prize the paltry things 
 
 6 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, 
 4 And leaves the wretch to weep ! 
 
 * And love is still an emptier sound, 
 
 4 The modern fair-one's jest : 
 
 * On earth unseen, or only found 
 
 4 To warm the turtle's nest. 
 
 * For shame, fond youth ! thy sorrows hush 
 
 4 And spurn the sex !' he said • 
 But while he spoke, a rising blush 
 His love-lorn guest betray'd. 
 
 Surprjs'd he sees new beauties rise, 
 
 Swift mantling to the view, 
 : Like colours o'er the morning skies 
 As bright, as transient too* 
 
.8 
 
 The bashful look, the rising* breast, 
 
 Alternate spread alarms ! 
 The lovely stranger stands confessed 
 
 A maid in all her charms. 
 
 g And ah ! forgive a stranger rude, 
 
 6 A wretch forlorn,' she cry'd, 
 € Whose feet unhallow 1 d thus intrude 
 
 * Where Heaven and you reside ! 
 
 * But let a maid thy pity share, 
 
 f Whom love has taught to stray, 
 c Who seeks for rest, but finds despair 
 ' Companion of her way. 
 
 * My father liv'd beside the Tyne, 
 
 ' A wealthy lord was he ; 
 6 And all his wealth was mark'd as mint 
 
 * He had but only me. 
 
9 
 
 To win me from his tender arms 
 4 Unnumber'd suitors came ; 
 Who prais'd me for imputed charms, 
 
 < And felt or feign'd a flame. 
 
 Each hour a mercenary crowd 
 
 < With richest proffers strove : 
 
 ' Among the rest young Edwin bow'd, 
 1 But never, talk'd of love. 
 
 ' In humble, simplest habit clad, 
 ? No wealth or pow'r had he ; 
 6 Wisdom and worth were all he had ; 
 
 * But these were all to me. 
 
 9 The blossom op'ning to the day, 
 
 * The dews of heaven refin'd, 
 
 4 Could nought of purity display, 
 ^ ' To emulate his mind. 
 
10 
 
 The dew, the blossoms of the tree, 
 ' With charms inconstant shine : 
 Their charms were his ; but woe to n 
 
 * Their constancy was mine. 
 
 For still I try'd each fickle art, 
 ' Importunate and vain ; 
 And while his passion touch'd my hes 
 
 * I triumph' d in his pain. 
 
 Till quite dejected with my scorn, 
 
 * He left me to my pride, 
 And sought a solitude forlorn, 
 
 1 In secret, where he died. 
 
 But mine the sorrow, mine the fault ! 
 
 1 And well my life shall pay ; 
 I'll seek the solitude he sought, 
 
 1 And stretch me where he lay ! 
 
And there, forlorn, despairing, hid^ 
 ' I'll lay me down and die : 
 
 'Twas so for me that Edwin did, 
 * And so for him will L* 
 
 Forbid it, Heaven V the Hermit cry'd, 
 And clasp'd her to his breast ; 
 
 Hie wond'ring fair-one turn'd to chide— 
 'Twas Edwin's self that press'd. 
 
 ; Turn, Angelina, ever dear, 
 
 ' My charmer, turn to see 
 5 Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here, 
 
 c Restored to love and thee ! 
 
 * Thus let me hold thee to my heart, 
 
 * And every care resign ; 
 
 £ And shall we never, never part, 
 
 * Mv life — mv all that's mine ? 
 
No, never from this hour to part, 
 ' We'll live and love so true, 
 
 The sigh that rends thy constant hea 
 ' Shall break thy Edwin's too/