Quick on the ground her eyes were cast, Good ARDOLPH's eye his BIRTHA meets And thus with courteous fpeech he greets "O gallant Youth, whoe'er thou art, "Thou art welcome to this place; "There's fomething rifes at my heart, "Which fays I've seen that face." "Thou generous Knight" the youth rejoin'd, "Tho' little known to fame, "I truft I bear a grateful mind"Sir ELDRED is my name. "Sir ELDRED?"-ARDOLPH loud exclaim'd, "Renown'd for worth and power? "For valour and for virtue fam'd, "Sir ELDRED OF THE BOWER? "Now make me grateful, righteous Heaven, "As thou art good to me, "Since to my aged eyes 'tis given "Sir ELDRED's fon to fee! Then ARDOLPH caught him by the hand, And gaz'd upon his face, And to his aged bofom ftrain'd, With many a kind embrace. . Again he view'd him o'er and o'er, pray, "Come now beneath my roof I He enter'd at the gate ftraitway And with them many a chearful day THE END OF THE FIRST PART. SIR ELDRED OF THE BOWER, A LEGENDARY TALE. PART II. ONCE 'twas upon a Summer's walk, The gaudy day was fied; They cheated Time with chearful talk, "Thy father was the firmeft friend "Together did we learn to bear "To make our union ftill more dear, "We both were doom'd to prove "What is moft fweet and most severe "In heart diffolving love. M "The daughter of a neighbouring Knight "Did my fond heart engage; "And ne'er did Heaven the virtues write "Upon a fairer page. "His bofom felt an equal wound, "Thou waft Sir ELDRED's only child, "But man has woes, has clouds of care, "Forgive thou gentle Knight, forgive, (6 And mourn its lot of woe. "But grant, kind Heaven! thou ne'er may'st know "The pangs I now impart; "Nor ever feel the deadly blow "That rives a husband's heart. "Befide the blooming banks of Tay, "My angel's ahes fleep; "And wherefore fhould her ARDOLPH stay, 66 Except to watch and weep? |