There beauteous EMMA flourish'd fair Beneath her mother's eye, Whose only wish on earth was now To see her blest, and die.
The softest blush that nature spreads, Gave colour to her cheek;
Such orient colour smiles through Heav'n When May's sweet mornings break,
Nor let the pride of great ones scorn This charmer of the plains;
That sun which bids their diamond blaze, To deck our lily deigns.
Long had she fir'd each youth with love,
Each maiden with despair;
And though by all a wonder own'd, Yet knew not she was fair:
Till EDWIN came, the pride of swains, A soul that knew no art,
And from whose eyes serenely mild, Shone forth the feeling heart.
A mutual flame was quickly caught, Was quickly too reveal'd; For neither bosom lodg'd a wish, Which virtue keeps conceal'd.
What happy hours of heart-felt bliss Did love on both bestow!
But bliss too mighty long to last, Where fortune proves a foe.
His sister, who like envy form'd,
Like her in mischief joy'd,
To work them harm, with wicked skill Each darker art employ'd.
The father too, a sordid man, Who love nor pity knew, Was all unfeeling as the rock From whence his riches grew.
Long had he seen their mutual flame, And seen it long unmov'd; Then with a father's frown at last He sternly disapprov❜d.
In EDWIN'S gentle heart a war Of diff'ring passions strove; His heart, which durst not disobey, Yet could not cease to love..
Deny'd her sight, he oft behind The spreading hawthorn crept, To snatch a glance, to mark the spot Where EMMA walk'd and wept.
Oft too in Stanemore's wintry waste,, Beneath the moonlight shade, In sighs to pour his soften'd soul, The midnight mourner stray'd,
His cheeks, where love with beauty glow'd,
A deadly pale o'ercast;
So fades the fresh rose in its prime,
Before the northern blast.
The parents now, with late remorse, Hung o'er his dying bed,
And weary'd Heaven with fruitless pray'rs And fruitless sorrows shed.
"Fis past, he cry'd, but if your souls Sweet mercy yet can move,
Let these dim eyes once more behold What they must ever love.
She came; his cold hand softly touch'd,
And bath'd with many a tear;
Fast falling o'er the primrose pale
So morning dews appear.
But oh! his sister's jealous care (A cruel sister she!)
Forbade what EMMA came to say,
My EDWIN, live for me.
Now homeward as she hopeless went, The church-yard path along,
The blast blew cold, the dark owl scream'd Her lover's fun'ral song.
Amid the falling gloom of night,
Her startling fancy found In ev'ry bush his hov'ring shade, His groan in every sound.
Alone, appall'd thus had she pass'd
The visionary vale,
When lo! the death-bell smote her ear,
Sad sounding in the gale.
Just then she reach'd with trembling steps:
Her aged mother's door:
He's gone, she cried, and I must see
That angel face no more!
I feel, I feel this breaking heart
Beat high against my side:
From her white arm down sunk her head,
She shiver'd, sigh'd, and died.
'Tis listening fear, and dumb amazement all; When to the startled eye the sudden glauce Appears far south, eruptive through the cloud;
And following slower, in explosion vast, The thunder raises his tremendous voice. At first, heard solemn o'er the verge of heaven, The tempest growls; but as it nearer comes, And rolls its awful burden on the wind, The lightnings flash a larger curve, and more The noise astounds: till over head a sheet Of livid flame discloses wide; then shuts,. And opens wider; shuts and opens still Expansive, wrapping ether in a blaze: Follows the loosen'd aggravated roar, Enlarging, deep'ning, mingling; peal on peal Crush'd horrible, convulsing heaven and earth.
Guilt hears appall'd, with deeply troubled thought:: And yet not always on the guilty head Descends the fated flash. Young CELADON And his AMELIA were a matchless pair; With equal virtue form'd, and equal grace; The same, distinguish'd by their sex alone: Her's the mild lustre of the blooming morn, And his the radiance of the risen day.
They lov'd; but such their guileless passion was,, As in the dawn of time inform'd the heart Of innocence, and undissembling truth.
"Twas friendship, heighten'd by the mutual wish; Th' enchanting hope, and sympathetic glow, Beam'd from the mutual eye. Devoting all To love, each was to each a dearer self; Supremely happy in th' awaken'd power: Of giving joy. Alone, amid the shades, Still in harmonious intercourse they liv'd The rural day, and talk'd the flowing heart;- Or sigh'd, and look'd unutterable things.
So pass'd their life, a clear united stream,. By care unruffled; till, in evil hour,
The tempest caught them on the tender walk, Heedless how far, and where its mazes stray'd, · While, with each other blest, creative love Still bade eternal Eden smile around. Presaging instant fate her bosom heav'd Unwonted sighs, and stealing oft a look
Tow'rds the big gloom, on CELADON her eye Fell tearful, wetting her disordered cheek. In vain assuring love, and confidence
In HEAVEN, repress'd her fear; it grew, and shook Her frame near dissolution. He perceiv'd Th' unequal conflict, and as angels look On dying saints, his eyes compassion shed, With love illumin'd high. "Fear not," he said, "Sweet innocence! thou stranger to offence, "And inward storm! He, whe yon skies involves. "In frowns of darkness, ever smiles on thee "With kind regard. O'er thee the secret shaft "That wastes at midnight, or th' undreaded hour "Of noon, flies harmless; and that very voice, "Which thunders terror through the guilty heart, "With tongues of seraphs whispers peace to thine. "'Tis safety to be near thee sure, and thus
"To clasp perfection!" From his void embrace, (Mysterious heaven!) that moment to the ground, A blacken'd corse, was struck the beauteous maid. But who can paint the lover as he stood, Pierc'd by severe amazement, hating life, Speechless, and fix'd in all the death of wo? So, faint resemblance! on the marble tomb, The well-dissembled mourner stooping stands, For ever silent, and for ever sad.
Soon as young reason dawn'd in Junio's breast, His father sent him from these genial isles,
To where old Thames with conscious pride surveys Green Eton, soft abode of every Muse.
Each classic beauty he soon made his own; And soon fam'd Isis saw him woo the nine, On her inspiring banks. Love tun'd his song; For fair Theana was his only theme,
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