XXII. The fields of nature to deform Not always drives the furious blast, No, though unnumber'd ills assail, Yet, if the germ of virtue live, Let constant faith her sufferings brave; Goodness is powerful to forgive, And Heaven omnipotent to save.. Though gathering clouds life's closing hours Cupid, with downcast, humbled mien, Now flies he to his lost one's aid, He gently raised her drooping head, With his bright arrow touch'd the maid, And roused her from her cheerless bed. He animates anew her charms, Warm o'er her breathes the light of love, Then bears her in his circling arms, And stands before the throne of Jove. But on the Sovereign of the Skies What fleshly optics dare to gaze? And Psyche with averted eyes Shrinks trembling from the' excessive blaze. Till, Hebe raising to her lips The ambrosial goblet foaming high, Purpled with roses dance the Hours, Glad Hymen leads the festive train, And Pleasure was the infant's name. GURNEY. THE HAMPSHIRE COTTAGERS. A Tale. How lovely o'er thy valleys gay, Sweet Hampshire, spreads the verdure mild! How brightly shines the morning ray That quivers on thy woodlands wild! Eden of England! thou art fair! Thine is each soft and awful grace! A Claude might catch his beauty there, Or wild Salvator grandeur trace. And there beneath Ytene's oaks,' Where darkly spreads the forest gloom That echoes to the woodman's strokes, The blushing rose delights to bloom. Fair are thy villas, fairer still The cots that skirt the green wood side; Where some lone, shallow, babbling rill Pours through the vale its silver tide. And fairest of the cottage train That decks fair Hampshire's valleys gay, Of clustering vine and jasmine vain, Rose the sweet home of Gerard Grey. All smiled without the lovely cot, And all within of comfort spoke; The happy peasants bless'd their lot, And doubly bless'd the nuptial yoke. Those walls had witness'd Gerard's birth; And witness'd thirty years of bliss, Since she whom best he loved on earth Blush'd whilst he gave the bridal kiss. One only daughter bless'd the pair;On the lone shrub one rose bud beam'd,Needs it to say how sweet, how fair, How pure this living blossom seem'd? But not the parent's eye alone Dwelt on that flower without a stain; For through the village world was known The beauty and the worth of Jane. To win her heart, with rustic wile She gave to all a grateful smile, But William gain'd the blush of love. A friendless orphan was the youth; But industry, and strength, and health, Unblemish'd virtue, spotless truth, And faithful love were William's wealth. They both were young; but ye shall wed,' Joyous, the happy father cried, 6 Together will we seek our bread, And work for Jane our mutual pride! 'How bless'd will be the day, to see 'Yes, ye shall wed! soon June will come, Mid watery suns and balmy showers! Each meadow beams with dewy flowers; And Jane more fair, more sweet than they Trips lightly through the verdant bowers. To meet her William flies the maid, William, for three long days unseen! A truant from his native shade, To Milbrook fair the youth had been. He comes, but, oh! how changed his air! VOL. II. Y Y Too sad, too common is the tale! He hears the spirit-stirring drum. The serjeant's artful tale he hears; I may not tell the mournful scene When William left her clasping arms,- I may not tell what anguish rent Her heart, when with the martial train To injured Lusitania sent, He sail'd upon the distant main. Oh! drooping was that lovely flower She wept for William far away. And oft yon towering hill she seeks, That faintly the horizon streaks, And marks where land and ocean join. There would she sit and muse and weep, Dwell on the light bark's shadowy form, And, as the evening breezes sweep, Would shudder at the approaching storm. |