" I bore my beauteous babes away • With many a gushing tear, «I left the blooming banks of T ay, “ And brought my darlings here. “ I watch'd my little houshold cares, • And form’d their growing youth ; “ And fondly train'd their infant years 6 To love and cherish truth." « Thy blooming BIRTHA here I see," Sir ELDRED Arait rejoin'd ; « But why the son is not with thee, " Resolve my doubting mind.” When Birtha did the question hear, She figh'd but could not speak; And many a soft and filent tean, Stray'd down her damafk check. A cast of deadly pale ; He thus renew'd his tale, 6 For him my heart too much has bled, « for him, my darling fon, " Has sorrow preft my hoary head ; “ But Heav'n's high will be done ; 6. Scarce eighteen winters had revolr'd, 6. To crown the circling year, 66 " Before my valiant boy resolva 6. The warrior's lance to bear. “ Too high I priz'd my native land, 6. Too dear his fame I held, - T' oppose a parent's ftern command, " And keep him from the field. 66 He left me left his fifter too, " Yet tears bedew'd his face " What could a feeble old man do! " He burit from my embrace. “ O thirst of glory, fatal flame? “ O laurels dearly bought ! « Yet sweet is death when earn'd with fame « So virtuous Edwe thought. « Full manfully the brave boy ftrove, “ Tho' presling ranks oppose; " But weak the Atrongest arm must prove Against an host of foes. " A deadly wound my fon receives, " A spear assails his fide : " Grief does not kill-for ARDOLPH lives " To tell that Edwy died. " His long lov’d mother died again. os In Edwy's parting groan ; " I wept for her, yet wept in vain" I wept for both in one. " I would have died I fought to die ; " But Heaven restrain'd the thought, “ And to my passion clouded eye “ My helpless Birtha brought. “ When lo ! array'd in robes of light, " A nymph celestial came ; 16 She cleard the mists that dimm'd my fight 16 RELIGION was her name. • She prov'd the chastisement divine, 45 And bade me kiss the rod; “ She taught this rebel heart of minc " Submission to its God. RELIGION taught me to sustain " What nature bad me feel ; " And piety reliev'd the pain " Which time can never heal. He ceas'd-with sorrow and delight The tale Sir ELDRED hears, Then weeping cries -" Thoy noble Knight " For thanks accept my tears. “ O ARDOLPH, might I dare aspire " To claim so bright a boon 6 Good old Sir ELDRED was my fire " And thou baft lost a son. a “. And tho' I want a worthier plea “ To urge fo 'dear a cause ; « Yet, let me to thy bosom be " What once thy Edwy was. 4 My trembling tongue ito aid denies; • For thou may't disapprove ; * Then read it in my eyes, 4 Thy beauteous BIRTHA !"Gracious Power, 6. How could I e'er repine," Cries ARDOLPH, “ since I see this hour? “ YesBIRTHA shall be thine."! A little transient gleam of red Shot faintly o'er her face, grace. 3 The tender father kindly smild With fulness of content, Who, bashful, blush'd confent. O then to paint the vast delight That fill'd Sir ELDRED's heart, To tell the transports of the Knight, Wou'd mock the Muse's art. But every kind and gracious foul, Where gentle paflions dwell, Will better far conceive the whole, Than any Muse can tell. The more the Knight his Birtha knew, The more he priz’d the maid ; Some worth each day produc'd to view, Some grace cach hour betray'd. The virgin too was fond to charm The dear accomplish'd Youth ; His fingle breast she ftrove to warm, And crown'd, with, love his truth, Unlike the dames of modern days, Who general homage claim, Who court the universal gaze, And pant for public fame. Then Beauty but on merit smil'd, Nor were her chatte smiles fold; No. renal father gave his child For grandeur or for gold. The ardour of young ELDRED's flame But ill cou'd brook delay, A speedy nuptial day. The fond impatience of his breaft 'Twas all in vain to hide, But she his eager suit represt With modeft, maiden pride. When oft Sir ELDRED press'd the day Which was to crown his truth, “ O happy state of youth! 66 It little recks the woes which wait " To soare its dreams of joy, 6. And tho' the flatterer, Hope, deceives, " And painted prospects shews ; " Yet man, still cheated, till believes “ Till death the bright scene close. So look'd my bride, so sweetly mild, « On me her beauty's slave ; ** But whilft she look'd, and whilft she smil'd, " She sunk into the grave. " Yet, О forgive an old man's care, Forgive a father's zeal : " Who fondly loves muft greatly fear, " Who fears muft greatly feel. |