FAR AR in the windings of a vale, The fafe retreat of Health and Peace, There beauteous Emma flourish'd fair, The fofteft blush that nature spreads Such orient colour fmiles thro' heaven Nor let the pride of great ones fcorn Long had the fill'd each yonth with love, And tho' by all a wonder own'd, Till Edwin came, the pride of fwains, A mutual flame was quickly caught; What happy hours of home-felt bliss His fifter, who, like Envy form'd, The father too, a fordid man, Long had he feen their fecret flame, In Edwin's gentle heart, a war Deny'd her fight, he oft behind Oft too on Stanemore's wintry wale, His cheek, where health with beauty glow'd, A deadly pale o'ercast : So fades the fresh rofe in its prime, Before the northern blast. The parents now, with late remorfe, And weary'd heaven with fruitless vows, "Tis paft! he cry'd-but if your fouls She came; his cold hand foftly touch'd, But oh! his fister's jealous care A cruel fifter fhe! Forbade what Emma came to say ; "My Edwin live for me." Now homeward as fhe hopeless wept The blaft blew cold, the dark owl fcream'd Amid the falling gloom of night, Her ftartling fancy found In every bufh his hovering fhade, Alone, appal'd, thus had the paft When lo! the death-bell fmote her ear, Juft then fhe reach'd, with trembling step, I feel, I feel this breaking heart From her white arm down funk her head; THE HER MIT. A B A L L A D. BY DR. GOLDSMITH. "TURN URN, gentle hermit of the dale, "To where yon taper cheers the vale, "For here forlorn and loft I tread, "With fainting steps and flow; "Where wilds immeafurably fpread, "Seem lengthening as I go." "Forbear my fon," the hermit cries, "To tempt the dang'rous gloom; "For yonder faithlefs phantom flies "To lure thee to thy doom. P |