XXX. "What" (cried the tyrant) shall reward thy deed "Of glory? Upstart! murderer! haste, begone! "The turret in yon gateway be thy meed, "And for the bridal sigh, the imprison'd moan! "Bear, bear him hence! nor let his plaints alone "O'er vanish'd hopes or broken visions brood! “Bear Marian, too! That tower she deems her own "Shall bid her languish all in amorous mood, Sigh o'er her pencil'd forms, and hug her solitude !" XXXI. And is it thus man tramples upon man? Shall tyranny break down, or fraud betray That spirit which far beyond life's little span Soars where high genius points the empyreal way? Shall treachery mar its course, or blot its ray? No! can aught human quench the heavenly flame? No! tho' immur'd where faints unheard the lay, Young Edwin in disdain suppress'd the claim Of lordly birth, and grasp'd the Minstrel's nobler name. XXXII. III. BUT that ethereal spirit could ought sustain And imag'd her through night's drear gloom awake, Full oft was Edwin tempted to disclose His birth, at her idea only weak: But yet the day declin'd, the morning rose, XXXIII. One morn, had Edwin from his prisoning grate XXXIV. Oft through the openings of the steepy wood And then each murmur, sinking all around, XXXV. Now shouts redoubled; all in wide array Steeds smok'd; hounds struggled through the brook below! The stag turn'd round infuriate; and at bay And, at his throat as hung the deep-mouth'd foe, XXXVI. 'Twas Oscar! if a thought of dire revenge Ere brush'd, ('tis thus the shadow fleets away) The Minstrel's mind; how glorious was the change! As in pale death his foeman gasping lay! It was a sight of pity and dismay! But, O! what feelings tortur'd Edwin's heart! He would have run with kindness to repay Each wrong; to bind each wound; to heal each smart! His irons smote his soul! each enter'd like a dart. XXXVII. Dread was the pause of silence; dread the din Hark, other bolts! hark! nearer hinges creak! Her utterance:-lo! she swoons in Edwin's arms! But, as new life awakes, how wild the alarms Throb in her flushing breast, and light up all her charms! XXXVIII. The various feelings of the trembling pair Who, who could picture? Speechless, long they cast Unutterable looks ;-when the shrill'd air Some messenger announc'd, approaching fast: Spoke, with imperious voice, his lordly high degree. Conscious her glance met his!-She thought and sigh'd, She saw unveil'd, and own'd its generous strain; Yet, (not of her ancestral honours vain) XL. And Edwin! where, where lurks the peasant lad? And, feeling well their worth, the million bless thy Muse? MADRIGAL. FROM THE FRENCH OF COCQUARD. I FEEL when I see you a joy past expressing; Ah, to see you for ever would mine were the blessing; R. A. D. STANZAS ON A FAVOURITE PLANTATION IN THE GROUNDS OF C. W. ESQ. ADDRESSED TO MISS W. BY DR. RUSSELL. I. FOLLY, or Fancy, what they will, Let fools your sweet plantation call; No matter if the sound be ill, Since what we see is beauteous all. II. The Cyprian shades, as bards have sung, But she, who makes these trees her care, Is chaster than the Delian Maid. IV. To friendship sacred be this place; |