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THE

HERMIT of WARK WORTH.

A

Northumberland BALLA D.

DARK

FIT THE FIRST.

ARK was the night, and wild the ftorm.
And loud the torrent's roar

And loud the fea was heard to dafh
Against the distant shore.

Mufing on man's weak hapless state,
The lonely Hermit lay;
When, lo he heard a female voice,
Lament in fore difmay.

With hofpitable hafte he rofe,
And wak'd his fleeping fire;
And fnatching up a lighted brand,
Forth hied the reverend fire.

All fad beneath a neighbouring tree
A beauteous maid he found,

Who beat her breast, and with her tears
Bedewed the moffy ground.

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And while fome sheltering bower he fought
Within this lonely wood,
Ah! fore I fear his wandering feet
Have flipt in yonder flood.

O! truft in heaven the Hermit said,
And to my cell repair;

Doubt not but I fhall find thy friend,
And cafe thee of thy care.

Then climbing up his rocky flairs,
He fcales the cliff fo high;
And calls aloud, and waves his light,
To guide the ftranger's eye.

Among the the thickets long he winds
With careful steps and flow:
At length a voice return'd his call,
Quick answering from below.

O tell me father, tell me true,
have chanc'd to fee

If

f you

A gentle maid, I lately left

Beneath fome neighbouring tree.

But either I have loft the place,
Or fhe hath gone aftray:

And much I fear this fatal ftream
Hath fnatch'd her hence away.

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Praise heaven, my fon, the Hermit faid; The lady's fafe and well:

And foon he join'd the wandering youth, And brought him to his cell.

Then well was feen, thefe gentle friends
They lov'd each other dear:

The youth he prefs'd her to his heart;
The maid let fall a tear.

Ah! feldom had their hoft, I ween,
Beheld fo fweet a pair:

The youth was tall with manly bloom,
She flender, foft, and fair.

The youth was clad in foreft green,
With bugie-horn fo bright:
She in a filken robe and scarf,
Snatch'd up in hafty flight.

Sit down, my children, fays the Sage;
Sweet reft your limbs require :
Then heaps fresh fewel on the hearth,
And mends his little fire..

Partake, he faid, my fimple ftore,
Dried fruits, and milk, and curds;
And spreading all upon the board,
Invites with kindly words.

Thanks, father, for thy bounteous fare;
The youthful couple say :

Then freely ate, and made good chear,

And talk'd their cares away.

Now fay, my children, (for perchance
My counfel may avail)

What ftrange adventure brought you here
Within this lonely dale?

First tell me, father, faid the youth, (Nor blame mine eager tongue)

What town is here? What lands are these? And to what lord belong?

Alas! my fon, the Hermit faid,

Why do I live to say,

The rightful lord of thefe domains
Is banish'd far away?

Ten winters now have fhed their fnows
On this my lowly hall,

Since valiant HOTSPUR (fo the North
Our youthful lord did call)

Against Fourth HENRY BOLINGBROKE

Led his northern powers,

up

And ftoutly fighting loft his life

Near proud Salopia's towers.

One fon he left, a lovely boy,
His country's hope and heir;
And oh! to fave him from his foes
It was his grandfire's care.

In Scotland safe he plac'd the child
Beyond the reach of ftrife,
Nor long before the brave old Earl
At Bramham loft his life.

And now the PERCY name, fo long
Our northern pride and boast,
Lies hid, alas! beneath a cloud;
Their honors reft and loft.

No chieftain of that noble houfe
Now leads our youth to arms:
The bordering Scots difpoil our fields,
And ravage all our farms.

Their halls and caftles, once fo fair,
Now moulder in decay;

Proud ftrangers now ufurp their lands,
And bear their wealth away.

Nor far from hence where yon full ftream
Runs winding down the lea,

Fair WARKWORTH lifts her lofty towers, And overlooks the sea.

Thofe towers, alas! now ftand forlorn,
With noifome weeds o'erfpread,
Where feafted lords and courtly dames,
And where the poor were fed.

Meantime far off mid Scottish hills,
The PERCY lives unknown:
On ftranger's bounty he depends,
And may not claim his own.

O might I with thefe aged eyes,
But live to fee him here,

Then fhould my foul depart in bliss!—
He faid, and dropt a tear.

And is the PERCY ftill fo lov'd,
Of all his friends and thee?
Then, blefs me, father, faid the youth,
For I thy gueft am Hɛ.

Silent he gaz'd, then turn'd aside

To wipe the tears he shed;

Then lifting up his hands and eyes,
Pour'd bleffings on his head:

Welcome, our dear and much lov'd lord,
Thy country's hope and care:
But who may this young lady be,
That is fo wonderous fair.

H

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