A GIFT. I HAVE found out a gift for my fair; I have found where the wood-pigeons breed ; She will say 'twas a barbarous deed : SHENSTONE. 5 THE BITTER FRUITS OF JEALOUSY. "Go shut the door, my Edward dear, Shut close the door, I pray; Let no keen search my treadings trace, Nor listen what I say." So Allen spake, as guilt bestain'd Some wild he did explore, When instinct led his pathless foot To Edward's friendly door. 'Tween horrid dread and conscious shame, Full mighty was the strife, While from his now enfeebled hands Down dropp'd a reeking knife. 5 ΙΟ "What means that steel? what means that glow, Wherewith thy visage burns? Now ghastly pale, alack! succeeds, And now the red returns." "Say will you plight your promise dear, And will you plight your say, Your tongue shall ne'er betray?" 15 That what I now entrust to you 20 "Yea, I will plight my promise, dear, And I will plight my say, That what you shall entrust to me 25 "Yea, she was fairest of the fair, More dear than life to thee 30 And hast thou scath'd with deadly stroke Thy Lucy sweet to see?" "Woe worth the day !-that very wreath, Which with a loving vow This morn I gave her, I beheld, 35 Ere noon, on Edwin's brow. "When as she took it sweet she smiled, Yet could she from it part? So proud, methought he taunted me, Full deep it irk'd my heart. 40 "And irk'd be still this cruel heart !— "Allen, my friend, you grieve my soul, Your sorrow is but just, Since she is gone, that fairest fair, 55 And sunken into dust. "But who along yon cypress path Is led so heavily? Ah, me! my Allen dear, it is— How sad she eyeth thee ! 60 "And, ah! how sad yon virgins look Who lead her to my bower? 66 Set, set your troubled mind at ease, My heart you did not touch; You struck too short to reach my life, 75 Whereat I gladden much. "Could you, such vows as I have vow'd, Deem I could faithless be? The blossom to the breath of spring Was scarce so true as me. "That wreath which you this morn did see So trim on Edwin's brow, Edwin's own spiteful hands had wrought, "When love ye breathe, ye fickle men, Be smooth as summer-wave; But when with jealousy ye swell, As winter-storm ye rave. “Rash man! ah, how by jealousy Have you your fortune cross'd! As true a maid as ever loved You have for ever lost. "To hie to this your friend's abode, Here breathe my prayers for ye, 80 85 90 For life, for health, for ease of mind, 95 "Can you not pardon the high fault And still to love be true." "And shall the bridal knot be tied, And shall we happy be?" 100 66 The bridal-knot can ne'er be tied, Nor can I stay with thee; "For I to Christ a vow have made, 105 And kept that vow shall be, That man no more shall vex my heart, "That straight I will myself betake Unto a nunnery, In fast and prayer to end my days, "Nay, do not wend you quite away, List, list, my piercing call! Return! and for your broken vow, On me the pain be all !" "She's gone."-He heav'd a deep-drawn sigh, As burst his heart in twain, Then to the ground fast-falled he, And never rose again. ΙΙΟ 115 120 Old Ballad. ON THE RECEIPT OF MY MOTHER'S PICTURE. O THAT those lips had language! Life has pass'd With me but roughly since I heard thee last. 1 The author, Cowper, lost his mother when he was six years old. He, however, retained a clear recollection of her care and tenderness, for, nearly fifty years after her death, he says: "Not a day passes in which I do not think of her; such was the impression her tenderness made upon me." Those lips are thine-thy own sweet smile I see, The same that oft in childhood solaced me; Voice only fails, else how distinct they say, "Grieve not, my child, chase all thy fears away!" The meek intelligence of those dear eyes (Blest be the art that can immortalize, The art that baffles Time's tyrannic claim 5 To quench it !) here shines on me still the same. 10 O welcome guest, though unexpected here! I will obey, not willingly alone, But gladly, as the precept were her own; A momentary dream that thou art she. 15 20 My mother! when I learn'd that thou wast dead, Say, wast thou conscious of the tears I shed? Hover'd thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son, Perhaps thou gavest me, though unfelt, a kiss; 25 30 May I but meet thee on that peaceful shore, The parting word shall pass my lips no more! 35 Thy maidens, grieved themselves at my concern, Oft gave me promise of thy quick return. 40 |