Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

"Where once I went to church, I'll now go twice-
"And am fo clear too of all other vice."

The Tempter saw his time; the work he ply'd;
Stocks and Subfcriptions pour on ev'ry fide,.
'Till all the Dæmon makes his full defcent
In one abundant show'r of Cent. per Cent.
Sinks deep within him, and possess the whole,
Then dubs Director, and fecures his foul.

Behold Sir Balaam now a man of spirit,
Afcribes his gettings to his parts and merit ;
What late he call'd a Bleffing, now was Wit,
And God's good Providence, a lucky Hit.
Things change their titles, as our manners turn:
His Compting-house employ'd the Sunday morn :
Seldom at Church ('twas fuch a bufy life):

But duly fent his family and wife.

There (fo the Devil ordain'd) one Christmas-tide
My good old Lady catch'd a cold and dy'd.

A Nymph of Quality admires our Knight;
He marries, bows at Court, and grows polite:
Leaves the dull Cits, and joins (to please the Fair)
The well-bred cuckolds in St. James's air:
In Britain's Senate he a seat obtains,,
And one more Penfioner St. Stephen gains.
My Lady falls to play; fo bad her chance,
He must repair it; takes a bribe from France;
The House impeach him; Coningsby harangues;
The Court forfake him, and Sir Balaam hangs.
Wife, fon, and daughter, Satan! are thy own,
His wealth, yet dearer, forfeit to the Crown:
The Devil and the King divide the prize,
And fad Sir Balaam curfes God and dies.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

The fofteft blush that nature spreads,.
Gave colour to her cheek;

Such orient colour fmiles thro' heav'n
When May's fweet mornings break.

Nor let the pride of great ones fcorn
This charmer of the plains;

That fun which bids their diamond blaze,,

To deck our lily deigns.

Long had fhe fir'd each youth with love,,

Each maiden with defpair;

And tho' by all a wonder own'd,

Yet knew not she was fair.

Till EDWIN came, the pride of fwains,,

A foul that knew no art,

And from whofe eyes ferenely mild,

Shone forth the feeling heart.

A mutual

A mutual flame was quickly caught,

Was quickly too reveal'd;

For neither bofom lodg'd a wish
Which virtue keeps conceal'd

What happy hours of heart-felt blifs
Did love on both bestow!

But blifs too mighty long to laft,
Where fortune proves a foe.

His fifter, who like envy form'd,
Like her in mifchief joy'd,

To work them harm, with wicked skill
Each darker art employ'd.

[blocks in formation]

To fnatch a glance, to mark the spot

Where EMMA walk'd and wept.

Oft too in Stanemore's wintry wafte,
Beneath the moonlight shade,
In fighs to pour his foften'd foul,
The midnight mourner stray'd.

His cheeks, where love with beauty glow'd,
A deadly pale o’ércast;

So fades the fresh rofe in its prime,
Before the northern 'blaft.

The parents now, with late remorse,

Hung o'er his dying bed,

And weary'd Heav'n with fruitless pray'rs,
And fruitlefs forrows fhed.

'Tis paft, he cry'd, but if your fouls

Sweet mercy yet can move,

Let thefe dim eyes once more behold
What they must ever love.

She came; his cold hand foftly touch'd,
And bath'd with many a tear;
Faft falling o'er the primrose pale
So morning dews appear.

But oh! his fifter's jealous care
(A cruel fifter fhe !)

Forbad what EMMA came to fay,
MY EDWIN, live for me.

Now

Now homeward as the hopeless went,

The church-yard path along,

The blast blew cold, the dark owl fcream'd

Her lover's fun'ral fong.

Amid the falling gloom of night,

Her ftartling fancy found

In ev'ry bush, his hovering fhade,
His groan in every found.

Alone, appal'd, thus had the pass'd.

The vifionary vale,

When lo! the death-bell fmote her ear,
Sad founding in the gale.

Juft then fhe reach'd, with trembling steps,,
Her aged mother's door!

He's gone, fhe cried, and I muft fee

That angel face no more!

I feel, I feel this breaking heart

Beat high against my fide:

From her white arm down funk her head,

She fhiver'd, figh'd, and died..

MALLET.

CHA P.

XVI.

CELADON

AND A MELI A.

"T"

IS listening fear, and dumb amazement all: When to the startled eye the fudden glance Appears far fouth, eruptive thro' the cloud;

And

« AnteriorContinuar »