Forgot the dismal years, which swept between, Since vestal duties closed each earthly scene; A lovelier image stole her virgin prayer ; Resistless hope, to mental feelings true, O'er the deep gloom its rich perspective threw. Blest be that power, which chased the fiends of care, And called his trembling spirit from despair, When crazed with love, by treacherous wiles betrayed, Desponding PETRARCH Sought VAUCLUSA's shade. (13) There loved the bard mid rocks grotesque and bold His liberal converse with the dead to hold; Above, dark woods, o'er dizzy torrents hung, Thro winding vales their giant shadows flung; Below, from springs, where scarce a bubble whirled, Thro verdant glens the silver SORGIA purled; The landscape round in pure luxuriance smiled; Here, soft, and calm; there, grand, abrupt, and wild ; CLAUDE's finest genius seemed to touch the place Haunts, meet for joy to muse the Lesbian strain, In every shade the visioned maid descends, And, fancy's captive, low the minstrel bends! Seen is her form, as when in proud ST. CLAIRE (14) The lovely damsel blushed divinely fair; Transparent green with violet purflew swims Round her fair breast, and clasps her prisoned limbs ; Light o'er her snowy neck in volumes rolled, The mantling ringlets sport their flowing gold ; The sparkling eye thro auburn lashes plays, She speaks, and music pours its sweetest trill; Truth weaves the text, and love the comment spells : Too dangerous charms! in vain the lover flies, Voluptuous visions meet his startled eyes; The woods, the streams, the echoing rocks confess, A present angel haunts the charmed recess ! -E'en now the pilgrim, as with musing pace His anxious steps the classic ruin trace, Still marks the spot, by circling shades enclosed, Breathe the sad harmonies of thoughtful love; Still hears, " my Laura" rustle thro the trees, Float on the tide, and echo on the breeze, More sweet, than ARIEL's strains enchanted stole (15) To sooth to peace the shipwrecked stranger's soul; More soft, than MEMNON's harp its music plays, (16) Trilled by the sportive touch of orient rays. So, where gay HAGLEY, drest in sylvan pride, (17) Reflects its image on the tranquil tide, The widowed minstrel loved his reed to play, And dream of LUCY thro the livelong day. So plaintive SHAW in grief's spontaneous strain (18) Sung his lost EMMA to the sylvan train, And round his Leasowes to the listening grove SO SHENSTONE warbled notes of hopeless love. For injured feeling when fond hope has flown, What can suffice, and what in price atone? * What blest SILOAM shall to health restore The cheerless wretch, who bleeds at every pore? Faint on despair, the stinted kindness shines, Faint, as the wintry sun on SIBER'S mines, The distant gleam with sullen contrast falls, Flits o'er the past, and every grief recals. The piteous youth beside yon straggling thorn, His hair dishevelled, and his look forlorn, Whose hollow eyes, by midnight watchings pale, With mute reproach upbraid the piercing gale, Once shone, like thee, howe'er matured in grace, The manly glory of an ancient race; Once, skilled in lore, informed with brilliant sense, And poured Hyblæan strains of eloquence; Once gaily pleased, for love his heart beguiled, And mutual passion ripened, while she smiled; Oft as the village sports at evening close, And westering twilight sinks to short repose, Pale, as some withered corpse, with muttered cries The pensive mourner thro the churchyard hies, Bends o'er MARIA's grave in speechless grief, With looks, that ask, yet seem to mock relief, |