cr43je THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD ENDOWMENT FUND ^l LOUISA: A TALE. Bv CHARLES JENNER, M. A. TO WHICH IS ADDED AN ELEGY T O The Memory of Lord Lyttelton. L O N D O N J Printed for T. Cad ell, in the Strand. MDCCLXXIV. [Price Two Shillings..]' P5t LOUISA: A TALE. But why, already prone To fade, fhould beauty cherifh its own bane ? By midnight cares the bloom of Albion dies. Armstrong. A 2 865306 T O "The Young Ladies of Great-Britain. Ladies, ^ H E following Jimple Jiory, fotmded on an unfor- tunate faB^ is humbly offer d to your patronage^ by one who wipes not to appear to you i7i the light of a fever e ce7for^ or ai^ aufiere 7noralifl : Far he it fro7n 7ne to forbid you to tafle of pleafure ; long jnay you e7i- joy every tlmig that ought to bear that na77te. The 07ily leffon I wifj to inculcate is t7ioderatio7i in it's purfuit, I will not fuppofe it 7iecejfa7y to guard you agai7ifl vicious enjoy}7tentSy but will pleafe 77iyfelf in the idea that 7?iy fair Patronefjes pojfefs^ in as high a degree as the poor young Lady whofe fate I laineiit^ evety grace fupported atid ador7i'd by every virtue. Suffer me then only to re7nind you^ by her exafnple^ that there nre da7tgers irt the pU7fuit of pleafure^ which occur long before it ceafes to be i7inoce7it : that prude7ice has a clai7n upon your conduSl and attention-^ as well as virtue ; and that the delicacy of your frajne fnay f72k under evils that ca727iot affeSi your mind, ne [ vi ] 'The fatal ejfeEis of the prevailing tafle for difipated life upon the confiittitions of my fair count7ywomen, are I fear but too apparent in every public ajfembly : it is ngt for age alone that nervous medicines miifl fupply fSlitious fpiritSj and art repair decaying charms. If therefore the fate of the poor Louifa, at^ the fame tifne that it affords you a half hour s amt/fementj can fuggefl to you one moment s refeSlion^ and give a gentle leffon of moderatioji in your purfuits of even innocent enjoy- 7nents^ ivhat happinefs pall I receive from the prefent ackno'voledgjnents of your Parents, Friends and Lovers, and from the hopes of thofe imhich hereafter you may pofftbly not grudge to afford me yourfelves. I have the honour to be, with the utmofl efleem. Your devoted Servant, The Author, LOUISA. PART L QTILL fliall delufive Pleafure fpread Her too fuccefsful fnare, Whilft no kind mufe inftrucfts to dread The dangers lurking there ? Securely flill fliall flie deceive. And drefs the fplendid bait ; Shall inexperience ftill believe, And caution come too late ? To [ 8 ] To you, ye Nymphs^ in fportive gulfe, Who follow in her train, , Who view her courts with eager eyes, And fcorn the hun^ble plain, I fing, cut off at earlieft years, Louifa^ haplefs Fair ! A Friend's remorfe, a Parent's tears, A Lover's fix'd defpair. Forbid not one foft figh to fife For youth and beauty flown j And let one tear for her clos'd eyes Shine graceful in your own. So may ye learn that Beauty's pride Not time alone deftroys j That youth and fplendour may provide But not enfure your joys : So [ 9 ] So may ye, warn'd by her fad fate, Far from the mad'ning throng, Seek calmer bleflings not too late, And keep thofe bleffings long. On Thames fair banks fhe pafs'd her daya In no obfcure retreat, For Fame had fpread abroad her praife. And dignified her feat. Her form, was beauty, foftnefs, grace. Simplicity refin'd ; The open radiance of her face Difplay'd her inmoft mind : A mind that own'd in earlieft youth What age can fcarce fupply, Difcretion, mildnefs, candour, truth, And gay ferenity. B Of [ '° ] Of univerflil love (lie knew The fecret to explore ; Content herfelf with' fcarce her due, To others paying more. And well fhe knew the golden mean. From pride and meannefs free, Steerino: her even courfe between Ncgle(ft and flattery. Oft when fome little mind was bent To triumph o'er a friend. With fweet addrefs would fhe invent Some trifle to commend : And often might difcernment trace, When modefl: worth has flione, The marks of her refledled grace Appearing like its own. c 1 IS [ " ] 'Tis thus the fun with filver gleams Illumes the orb of night, And hides awhile his own bright beams To fhew her modeft light. And ever thus fuperiour fenfe A double praife receives, That fofters baihful excellence, And gains by what it gives. Acajlo with paternal care Her rifing virtues ey'd. Saw her fo good, fo lov'd, fo fair. With all a father's pride. In her, with fond connubial truth, He ftill retrac'd the charms Of the loft part'ner of his youth Who left her to his arms. B 2 For For her he wifli'd his little more^ For her his cares encreafe ; Her's was the harveft's golden flore, And her's the treafur'd fleece. For her he rofe at early dawn To deck the rural fcene ; For her he ftrew'd the upland lawn With many a varied green. For her he taught with eafy way The dudtile ftream to move j For her with waving foliage gay He rear'd the tufted grove. With joy, when Winter's florms were o'er, He favv their charms renew, And hop'd with her one feafon more To trace their varied hue : 3 And t 13 ] And ftill with flatt'ring view foretold When Autumn faw them fade,. *' Louifa, when thefe hands are cold, Shall reverence your fhade.. " Here fliall fbe lift, with filent tread, "To Philomelas voice ; " Nor lift alone, but with her lead " The part'ner of her choice.. « Her fmiling race, thefe (Hades among, " Shall fpeak my fimple fame, « Whilft fhe inft-ruds the infant tongue "To lifo the planter's name. " For well I know, to that mild breaft " Which truth and nature fhare, «' Love comes as an invited gueft,. « To fix his dwelling there. "His / [ »+ ] " His pow'r the chafteft maid may feel " Her yielding heart enflave ; << Nor need the chafteft maid conceal " What Heav'n in goodnefs gave. " For deep within the gen'rous breaft *' The feeds of love are fown, << In that rich foil to flourifti beft <' Which fcnfe and virtue own. « Nature's unblam'd, tho' warrn defires, " His Q-enuine fweets beftow ; *' And virtue checks thofe lawlefs fires ^' That conftitute his woe. " Can ere, alas! my Julias grace " Within this bofom die, " The blufli that crimfon'd o'er her face, " The tear that fiU'd her eye, «' When [ 15 ] " When firft with fault'ring tongue £he ftrove " The fecret to impart, " That virtue fandified her love, " And gave me all her heart. " Chafte pattern of connubial truth, " My Julia ever dear ! " The pride, the darling of my youth, *' Accept my age's tear : ; (C (( (C Haply, had I been fnatch'd away. Thy heart had joy'd to own, Acafio^ from our nuptial day, " Ne'er met me with a frown. " O may my lov'd Loui/a\ mind, " Where kindred virtues dwell, *' A train of kindred bleflings find, " And know their worth as well. " May [ i6 ] *' May flic the trifling female's joy " With better hopes defpifc, ^' A rage for conquefl:, to dcftroy " The comforts they fliould prize: " For them (thro' life's diftradled fcene " All heedlefs as they run) " Has beauty hut created been * ' 7" imdo or he midojte [a) : " For her, (her fliare of beauty's pride " To happier views employ 'd) " With truth and virtue for her guide " T' enjoy and be enjoy 'd. " Of wealthy age, of titled vice, " Full oft have I been told, " Kind heav'n, forbid for fuch vile price " Louifa\ blifs be fold. (a) Dmmr% Uhffes and the Syr&n, " From [ 17 ] " From fordid views of wealth or pride " My age's weaknefs blefs ; " For all be ev'ry pray'r denied " But home-born happinefs. *< May her fair form, her manners fweet, *' One kindred heart enflave, ' And all that fond attachment meet " That I to Julia gave."^ ( He fpoke, and in his pious vow Louifa bore a part, For He7iry on the mountain's brow Had fix'd her conftant heart. Yet not on love alone it's care The Fair one's heart employ'd ; A Friend too claim'd an ample {hare, From earlieft years enjoy'd, C ^ Mdiffa [ "S ] Meliffa blefs'd with equal charms, In equal bloom of youth, Ambition led to aged arms To vow unequal truth. Four tedious years flie wore thofe chains Whofe weight flie never told. Then reap'd, the price of all her pains, His lands and treafur'd gold. Confpicuous on a mountain's fide Her funiptuous manfion flood,. With many a valley /kirting wide. And many a fpreading wood : Proportion'd fweet, with hill and dale, With checquer'd light and fhade, And Thames along the winding vale His filver arms difplay'd. The [ »9 1 The landfcape oft the trav'ller view'd. And faw thro' ev'ry part, Nature in her moft graceful mood Led on by Tafte and Art. Beneath the mountain's fliaggy fide Befpread with antique wood, In modeft flate and decent pride Louifas dwelling flood. Never did traveller that way With purpos'd ftep advance, But if he happen'd there to ftray, He blefs'd his lucky chance : For Nature wander'd through the meads To her own native bow'rs. Clad in her fimple ruflet weeds. And deck'd with fpring-time flow'rs: C 2 And E =° ] And Comfort fliew'd a tiiify feat His footfteps to detain, Whilft fomething fimple, proper, neat. Still lur'd him back again. 'Midft gay MeliJ[a\ fplendid tovv'rs He wond'ring pafs'd the day; -And lefs he prais'd Louifa\ bow'rs, But could not hafte away. By fome it may have fancied been^, Who love fuch truths to find. That in each manfi.on might be feea; An emblem of each mind. Melijja^ born to be admir'd, Might give a nation laws ; Her fenfe, her beauty, all confpir'd To draw a world's applaufe: Whilik [ " ] Whilft mild Loutfa\ gentle mind To no vain pomp afpir'd, For calm domeftic joys delign'd, More lov'd, tho' lefs admir'd. Melijfas wit, MeUjJa\ face, No tongue could praife too high ; No heart but felt Louifas grace, And prais'd her with a figh. Calypfo thus her charms difplay'd To gain an empty blifsj The hero all due homage paid,. But figh'd for Eticharis. PART [ " ] PART II. 5np W A S now three years, an age in love, Since hopes of future eafe Had tempted Henry from the grove To brave tempeftuous feas ; And yet three tedious months remain'd To linger in their flight. Ere he his native fhore regain'd To blefs Louifa\ fight. The only comfort that fhe knew The moments to beguile, From gay Melijfas love fhe drew, Who cheer'd her with a fmile : 5 Would [ n ] Would hear her tell their mutual flame, How form'd and how encreas'd ; Would let her dwell upon his name. The abfent lover's feaft 1 Would patient hear her anxious fears; Retold from day to day, See her fair eyes all bath'd in tears,. And kifs thofe tears away :. Her wit employ'd it's gen'rous art When thus £he faw her melt, And rallied her too tender heart For pains fhe ne'er had felt : . Or when the mourner ill could bear The gentle friendly jefl:, She mix'd the fympathizing tear. And clafp'd her to her breaft. But { 24 ] But Winter's {lorms now gath'ring round, Had clad the diftant plains In robes of filver hue, and bound Tlie ftreams in icy chains. Louifa mourn'd the faded year, She mourn'd the fhorten'd day, But more flie mourn'd the feafon drear That call'd her friend away. MeHJfa feeks the fplendid town, Where, borne on Pleafure's wing, ^ Time flies, nor heeds the Winter's frown, Nor mourns the abfent Spring. She faw in poor Louifas eyes The pearly drops that fhone : « And muft we part, fweet maid," flie cries, " Muft you be left alone, 3 To [ =5 ] *' To wander o'er the dreary plain " Without a glimpfe of joy, " Whilft I in Pleafure's fprightly train " My happier hours employ ? " Alone fliall I for beauty's prize, " When flatt'ring crowds appear, " Exert the brightnefs of my eyes, * " And leave far brighter here? " 'Gainft ranks of ftubborn hearts, fhall I " My fingle charms difplay ; " Nor you, my lovely fecond, by, " To fhare the well-fought day ? " No, we'll together take the field, '^ And arm in arm engase ; " We'll make the mofl obdurate yield, *' And fpare nor youth nor age : D '« No [ ^6 ] ** No dangers by ourfelves endur'd, " What mifchief may we do ! " By gay indiff'rence I fecur'd, " You by your love fo true. " Come then, TLouifa^ feek with me, *' For once, the cheerful town ; *' Share our gay joys, and wond'ring fee *' How fad: the hours are flown. " New fcenes of pleafure we'll prepare " To cheat the dreary night, " And Hcnry\ felf fhall thank the care " That made his abfence light.** A wifh half rifing in her breaft, V/ith felf-denying voice Acajlo join'd in the rcquefl, And fix'd her wav 'ring choice : He C 27 ] He parted with an ardent vow From all his foul held dear ; She forc'd a fmile upon her brow, To hide a ftarting tear. But ftill upon her penlive mind There hung a drooping cloud ; Full ill fhe felt herfelf inclin'd To join the buly crowd : For filial love, or fomething more, Was flruggling in her breaft, Or haply fome prophetic pow'r Her boding foul polTefs'd. Melijfa^ thoughtlefs, happy, gay, Difpell'd her gloomy fears, Review'd the projedls for the day, And mock'd her fwelling tears. D 2 Wherever [ =8 ] Wherever circling pkafurcs wait Her lovely friend flie drew, And favv at length her heart dilate At fcencs (o bright, To new» And now (lie bears no irkfome part Wherever joys invite ; The innocence that fill'd her heart. Made ev'ry fcene more bright. The charm of novelty fhe finds Where'er her footfteps bend ; And flatt'ry, bane of nobleft minds, A tranfient joy might lend : The ftrongeft minds each moment fees It's fweet allurements own,^ By art difguis'd, too fure to pleafe, Nor quite difpleafe when known. Where'er [ =9 ]' Where'er the fair companions ftray'd, Th' admiring crowd purfued ; Where'er their beauties were difplay'd Their homage was renew'd* When profpeds, guiltlefs as they're gay, The raptur'd heart employ, And virtue not obftruds- the way That leads to prefent joy r When, in the garb of Innocence, With all her witching train, Sweet Pleafure wooes the adlive fenfe, Docs fhe oft wooe in vain ! Who then fhall prompt the wife efcape,. Who then fuggeft a fear. That ev'n this queftionable fbape May hide fome danger near? Ah! I 30 ] Ah I not to guilt alone's confiii'd Her various mifery, Too oft, tho' innocent in kind, Yet fatal in degree. Tho' virtue ev'ry guard fupplies, [houifa prov'd how true) The prudent duties niuft arife From moderation too. No fear her confcious bofom fills, Till doom'd too late to find Her tender frame expos'd to ills That could not reach her mind. The nightly dew, the tainted air. Her peaceful flumbers break ; Nor vigils, long protraded, fpare The rofes in her cheek. Lik ie [ 31 ] Like April funs her beauties fade, By gath'ring ftorms o'ercafl: ; The chilling damps her breaft invade, And death is in the blaft. Ah! where are now the ruddy look, Deriv'd from native plains. The lleep that only morning broke, The tide that filFd her veins ? The afpe<5t rural peafants fhare, Health mingled with delight; The fpirits light, and free as air, The unpall'd appetite ? Alas no more — too faft they flew, And now they all are fled ; Her lip now drops it's ruby hue, Now languid droops her head. Ah! [ 3^ ] Ah ! who fliall fpeak Melijfa\ grief. Who tell Acajld^ woe ? He comes too Jate to give relief, Or ward the threaten'd blow. *' And is it thus we meet again, " For ever but to part ! *' Ah why -but let me fpare thy pain, *' Nor grieve thy breaking heart." The lovely fuff'rer rais'd her head : " And art thou come," fhe cries, " To dew with Pity's tear the bed, " Where Folly's vidlim lies? " Forgive" — " No more, my child, he cried: " Oh fpare thyfelf, and me ; " Juft Heav'n has thus chaftis'd my pride, *' Too proud, alas ! of Thee. 5 '' Thy " Thy Henry*'' -^ — At th' ^ttliv'hiiig name ' A faint blufh dydhei'dhe^k^f^^'i- 'g^^'^'if^ ^^T She ftrove to raife her finking framei^^''^ '^''^^ And flruggled thus to fpeak : " If ere, as fure it will at length, ** Heav'n brings him to thy view, " Tell him my lafl remains of ftrengtli " I gave to him and you. ** " And tell him, 'midft the iplendid round '' Of pleafures dearly bought, *' My bofom ne'er one moment own'd *' A wav'ring v^^illi or thougnt : " Bid him a kind remembrance bear, " Of her vt^ho lov'd fo true, *' But dry the unavailing tear, " And live to comfort you." E Too f 34 ] t Too plain, alas 1 her Henry hears The dying fond command ; For now with agonizing tears. He bathes her clay-cold hand. " Are thus," he cries, " My dreams of peace, " All blafted with defpair ? " O give me back to raging feas, " Fond hope at leaft was there, ^^ " Too thee, alas ! the happier part " Has partial Heav'n affign'd, " But think not Henry s conftant heart " Will linger long behind." She ftarted at the well known found And felt her fond heart break — She caft a longing look around, And ftrove, but could not fpeak ; A mO' [ 35 ] A moment thus (he hung diftreft, Some dying murmurs fell; She funk upon her Henrys breaft, And look'd a laft farewell. Refled one moment o'er her bief, Ye Haves to Pleafure's name, Who fhipwreck make in her career, Of Life, if not of Fame, E 2 ELEGY r.l- ..' J-- ,1-iU ■- ; :;it)i' ^i tSliJ iC ELEGY To THE MEMORY of The Ricrht Hon. Lord Lyttelton. For Lycidas Is dead ' ■ — — And has not left his peer. Who would not fing for Lycidas 1 He knew Himfelf to fing, and build the lofty rhyme. Milton* C 39 ] ELEGY. IF yet a bard in thefe degen'rate days, When ev'ry Mufe is fell Detra£lion's ilave, Can fpare one line of tributary praife, To worth extind, and honour in the grave : If ev'ry focial virtue can have povv'r. From kindred breafts the votive fong to claim, To aid the hero, at his parting hour, To reft his forrows on the lap of fame : Around [ 40 ] Around, O Lyttelton, thy honour'd Tomb, The faired trophies that the mufe can bring, Shall hang for ever in perpetual bloom, For thou haft taught us both to grieve and fing. For thee fhall plaintive Elegy beftow {a) The wreathe of Cjprefs, erft her Milton's prize ; Hiftoric truth iliall twine her laurel bough With Fancy % ilow'rets, of a thoufand dyes. But chiefly from her ftarry-fpangled throne, With fteady eye that mark'd thy fleeting breath. Religion pours her radiant glories down, To hail thee vidor both of S'ui and Death. Thy fmile was Honour, and thy friendfhip Fame j And fure, amidft thy weeping focial band, Some lab'ring brcaft will catch the gen'rous flame, Nor leave thy praifes to a ftranger hand ; [a) Alluding to his dlfFcicnt works. ' Some 3 [ 41 3 Some bolder miife fliall greet thy rev'rend fliade, And tell thy virtues to an age to come ; Enough for me, I have not ken thee laid Unwept, unnotic'^d, in thy filent tomb. Be their*s the ta{k whom rapid genius fires And virtue lifts above the vulgar throng ; To fuit the numbers to fuch theme, requires The goodnefs of t/jy heart;^ the fweetnefs of i"/^ fong. I N I a UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. „" FFR9 51984 FEB 51984 Form L9-50m-7, '54(6990)444 !lill|fl||l'i!i|i|f'rt:|:i[!|iirii 58 00919 5438 1 1 1 i , ■ D 000 000 877 1 n