"And I, ingrateful! all that sweetness see Attest, thou Moon, fair regent of the night! "Whose lustre sickens at this mournful sight: By all the pangs divided lovers feel, "Which sweet possession only knows to heal: "By all the horrors brooding o'er the Deep, "Where Fate, and Ruin, sad dominion keep; "Though tyrant Duty o'er me threatening stands, "And claims obedience to her stern commands, "Should Fortune, cruel or auspicious prove, "Her smile, or frown, shall never change my love; "My heart, that now must every joy resign, "Incapable of change, is only thine. "Oh, cease to weep, this storm will yet decay, "And the sad clouds of sorrow melt away: "While through the rugged path of life we go, "All Mortals taste the bitter draught of woe. "The famed and great, decreed to equal pain, "Full oft in splendid wretchedness complain : "For this, Prosperity, with brighter ray "In smiling contrast gilds our vital day. "Thou too, sweet Maid! ere twice ten months are o'er, "Shall hail PALEMON to his native shore, "Where never Interest shall divide us more.— "Her struggling soul, o'erwhelmed with tender grief, "Now found an interval of short relief: "So melts the surface of the frozen stream "Beneath the wintry Sun's departing beam. "As on my neck th' afflicted Maiden hung, "Who hear the sad complaint of bleeding Love; 3 Ye, who the secret laws of Fate explore, "Alone can tell if he returns no more; "Or if the hour of future joy remain, And from all ill the much-loved Youth defend. “With grief o'erwhelmed we parted twice in vain, 66 And, urged by strong attraction, met again. "At last, by cruel Fortune torn apart "While tender passion beat in either heart, "She to her silent couch retired to weep, His Tale thus closed, from sympathy of grief PALEMON'S bosom felt a sweet relief: To mutual friendship thus sincerely true, No secret wish, or fear, their bosoms knew; In mutual hazards oft severely tried, Nor Hope, nor Danger, could their love dividę, C Ye tender Maids! in whose pathetic souls Compassion's sacred stream impetuous rolls, Whose warm affections exquisitely feel The secret wound you tremble to reveal; Ah! may no Wanderer of the stormy main Pour through your breasts the soft delicious bane; May never fatal tenderness approve The fond effusions of their ardent love: Oh! warned, avoid the Path that leads to Woe, Where thorns, and baneful weeds, alternate grow: Let them severer stoic Nymphs possess, Whose stubborn passions feel no soft distress. Now as the Youths returning o'er the plain Approached the lonely margin of the Main, First, with attention rouzed, ARION eyed The graceful Lover, formed in Nature's pride: His frame the happiest symmetry displayed, And locks of waving gold his neck arrayed; In every look the Paphian graces shine, Soft breathing o'er his cheek their bloom divine: With lightened heart he smiled serenely gay, Like young Adonis, or the son of May. Not CYTHEREA from a fairer swain Received her apple on the Trojan plain. IV. The Sun's bright orb, declining all serene, The warbling birds exalt their evening lay: Glows in the west, a sea of living gold! |