Her neat but homely garments pressed The pure, the feeling heart;

Oft sought in vain behind the vest

Of decorated art.

• If sharing all thy cares (she said), Has paled my beauty's rose,

Ah! know, for thee the heart that bled, With all its passion glows:

Blest moment, to my wish that gives The long, long, absent youth! He lives-th' endeared Cabeysa lives,

And love confirms the truth.

. When thy brave comrades fell around,
What power's benignant care
Secured thee from the fatal wound,
And Laura from despair?

Oft in the troubling dream of night,

I saw the rushing spear;

Nor did the morn's awakening light

Dispel the lingering fear.'

6

Thy tender fears (the youth replied),

Ah give them to the air!

To happiness we're now allied,

And pleasure be our care.

Let us pursue the joy begun,

Nor lose by dull delay:

Say, Laura, shall to-morrow's sun

Illume our nuptial day ?'

With look declined she blushed consent

Reserve that takes alarm,

And love and joy their influence lent
To raise meek beauty's charm.

The guests, to hail the wedded pair,
Beneath their roof repaired;
With them the little feast to share,
Their scanty purse prepared.

Tho' no delicious wines were poured,
Mirth took his destined place,

The handmaid Neatness spread the board,

And sage Content said grace.

Scarce thro' one hasty week had love
His grateful blessing shed,

When bliss (as flies the frighted dove)

6

Their humble mansión fled :

Twas at Bellona's voice it flew, That called to War's alarms; Bade the youth rise, to valour true, And break from Laura's arms.

But still she strained him to her heart,
To lengthen the adieu!

Ah what, (she said), should'st thou depart,
Shall I and sorrow do?

Say, valiant youth, when thou'rt away,

Who'll raise my drooping head?

How shall I chase the fears that say,

Thy loved Cabeysa's dead?'

With thine my fate I now involve,

Intent thy course to steer;

No words shall shake my firm resolve,

Not even that trickling tear.

• Framed for each scene of soft delight,'

And love, though falls the beating rain, Will keep this bosom warm.'

E'en as the wall-flower rears its head,
'Mid ruins, wrecks, and tombs,
So 'mid the woes around that spread,
True love unconquered blooms.

Her zeal (the supplement of strength), Upheld her many a day,

But nature's powers subdued at length, On sickness' couch she lay.

Three painful days unseen she lay

Of him she held so dear;

Ah! does he thus my

love repay??

She said, and dropt a tear.

< Cabeysa, at a league's remove,

Dwells on the tent-spread hill; Ah! wherefore did he vow true love,

And not that vow fulfil ?'

Yet not deficiency of truth

Forbade to yield relief;

Stern power withheld the tender youth,

And duty to his chief:

Who, wisely counselled, drew a line
To check the hand of stealth,
That ravaged wide th' encircling vine,
The humble peasant's wealth.