The bloffom opening to the day,

The dews of heav'n refin'd, • Could nought of purity display,

L

To emulate his mind. ·

The dew, the bloffom on the tree,
• With charms inconftant fhine;
Their charms were his, but woe to me,
Their conftancy was mine.

For ftill I try'd each fickle art,

Importunate and vain :

And while his paffion touch'd my heart, I triumph'd in his pain.

fcorn,

Till quite dejected with my
He left me to my pride;
And fought a folitude forlorn,
In fecret where he died.

But mine the forrow, mine the fault,

And well my life fhall pay,

I'll feek the folitude he fought,
And stretch me where he lay.-

• And

And there forlorn despairing hid,
I'll lay me down and die:
'Twas fo for me that Edwin did,
And fo for him will I.'

Forbid it, heaven!' the hermit cry'd,
And clafp'd her to his breast:
The wondering fair one turn'd to chide,
'Twas Edwin's self that preft.

Turn, Angelina, ever dear,

My charmer turn to see,

Thy own, thy long loft Edwin here,

• Reftor'd to love, and thee.

Thus let me hold thee to my heart,
And ev'ry care refign:

And fhall we never, never part,

No, never, from this hour to part,
• We'll live and love fo true;

The figh that rends thy constant heart,
Shall break thy Edwin's too.'

While this ballad was reading, Sophia feemed to mix an air of tenderness with her approbation. But our tranquillity was foon disturbed by the report of a gun just by us, and immediately after a man was feen bursting through the hedge, to take up the game he had killed. This fportfman was the 'Squire's chaplain, who had fhot one of the blackbirds that so agreeably entertained us. So loud a report, and fo near, startled my daughters; and I could perceive that Sophia in the fright had thrown herself into Mr. Burchell's arms for protection. The gentleman came up, and asked pardon for having disturbed us, affirming that he was ignorant of our being fo near. He therefore fate down by my youngest daughter, and sportsman like, offered her what he had killed that morning. She was going to refufe, but a private look from her mother foon induced her to correct the mistake, and accept his present, though with fome reluctance. My wife, as ufual, difcovered her pride

in

in a whisper, obferving, that Sophy had made a conqueft of the chaplain, as well as her fifter had of the 'Squire. I fufpected, however, with more probability, that her affections were placed upon a different object. The chaplain's errand was to inform us, that Mr. Thornhill had provided mufic and refreshments, and intended that night giving the young ladies a ball by moon-light, on the grass-plat before our door. • Nor can I deny,' continued he, but I have an intereft in being first to deliver this meffage, as I expect ' for my reward to be honoured with Mifs < Sophy's hand as a partner.' To this my girl replied, that fhe fhould have no objection, if she could do it with honour: But here,' continued fhe, is a gentleman,' looking at Mr. Burchell, who has been my companion in the task for the day, and it is fit he fhould share in its amusements.' Mr. Burchell returned her a compliment for her intentions; but refigned her up to the chap

lain,

lain, adding that he was to go that night five miles, being invited to an harvest. fupper. His refusal appeared to me a little extraordinary, nor could I conceive how fo fenfible a girl as my youngest, could thus prefer a man of broken fortunes to one whofe expectations were much greater. But as men are moft capable of diftinguishing merit in women, fo the ladies often form the trueft judgments of us. The two fexes feem placed as fpies upon each other, and are furnished with different abilities, adapted for mutual inspection.

CHAP.