Perhaps by birth decreed, by fortune plac'd
Thy country's foe, ELVIRA's warmest plea
Seems but the fubtler accent fraud inspires;
My tendereft glances, but the fpecious flow'rs
That shade the viper while fhe plots her wound.
And can the trembling candidate of love
Awake thy fears? and can a female breast
By ties of grateful duty bound, enfnare?
Is there no brighter mien, no fofter smile
For love to wear, to dark deceit unknown?
Heav'n fearch my foul, and if thro' all its cells
Lurk the pernicious drop of pois'nous guile;
Full on my fenceless head its phial'd wrath
May fate exhauft; and for my happiest hour
Exalt the vengeance I prepare for thee!

Ah me! nor HENRY's, nor his country's foe,
On thee I gaz'd, and reafon foon difpell'd
Dim error's gloom, and to thy favour'd isle
Affign'd its total merit, unreftrain'd.
Oh! lovely region to the candid eye!
'Twas there my fancy faw the virtues dwell,
The loves, the graces play; and bleft the foil
That nurtur'd thee! for fure the virtues form'd
Thy gen'rous breast; the loves, the graces plan'd
Thy shapely limbs. Relation, birth effay'd
Their partial pow'r in vain: again I gaz'd,
And ALBION's ifle appear'd, amidst a tract
Of favage waftes, the darling of the fkies!

And thou by nature form'd, by fate affign'd

To paint the genius of thy native fhore,

'Tis true, with flow'rs, with many a dazling scene Of burnish'd plants, to lure a female eye,

IBERIA glows: but ah! the genial fun,

That gilds the lemon's fruit, or fcents the flow'r,
On Spanish minds, a nation's nobler boast!
Beams forth ungentle influences. There
Sits jealoufy enthron'd, and at each ray
Exultant lights his flow-confuming fires.
Not fuch thy charming region; long before
My fweet experience taught me to decide
Of English worth, the found had pleas'd mine ear,
Is there that favage coaft, that rude fejourn
Stranger to British worth? the worth which forms
The kindest friends; the most tremendous foes;
First, beft fupports of liberty and love!
No, let fubjected INDIA, while fhe throws
O'er Spanish deeds the veil, your praise resound,
Long as I heard, or ere in story read
Of English fame, my bias'd partial breast
Wish'd them fuccefs, and happiest she, I cry'd,
Of women happiest she, who shares the love,
The fame, the virtues of an English lord.
And now what fhall I fay blest be the hour
Your fair-built veffels touch'd th' Iberian fhores:

Bleft did I fay the time? if I may

blefs

That lov'd event, let HENRY's fmiles declare.
Our hearts and cities won, will HENRY's youth
Forego its nobler conqueft? will he flight

The

1

The foft endearments of the lovelier spoil?
And yet IBERIA's fons, with every vow

Of lafting faith, have fworn these humble charms
Were not excell'd; the fource of all their pains,
And love her juft defert, who fues for love;
But fues to thee, while natives figh in vain.
Perhaps in HENRY's eye (for vulgar minds
Diffent from his) it spreads an hateful stain
On honest fame, amid his train to bear

A female friend. Then learn, my gentle youth!
Not love himself, with all the pointed pains
That store his quiver, fhall feduce my foul
From honour's laws. ELVIRA once deny'd
A confort's name, more swift than lightning flies,
When elements difcordant vex the sky,

Shall blushing from the form she loves retire.

Yet if the fpecious wish the vulgar voice Has titled prudence, sways a foul like thine, In gems or gold what proud Iberian dame Eclipfes me? nor paint the dreary storms Or hair-breadth scapes that haunt the boundless deep, And force from tender eyes the filent tear; When mem'ry to the pensive maid suggests In full contraft, the fafe domestic scene For these refign'd. Beyond the frantic rage Of conq'ring heroes brave, the female mind, When steel'd by love, in love's most horrid way Beholds not danger, or beholding fcorns. Heav'n take my life, but let it crown my love."

She

She ceas'd, and ere his words her fate decreed, Impatient, watch'd the language of his eye: There pity dwelt, and from its tender sphere Sent looks of love, and faithlefs hopes infpir'd. "Forgive me, gen'rous maid, the youth return'd, If by thy accents charm'd, thus long I bore To let fuch sweetness plead, alas! in vain! Thy virtue merits more than crowns can yield Of folid blifs, or happieft love bestow. But ere from native fhores I plough'd the main, To one dear maid, by virtue and by charms. Alone endear'd, my plighted vows I gave; To guard my faith, whatever chance should wait My warring fword: if conqueft, fame, and spoil Grac'd my return, before her feet to pour The glitt'ring treasure, and the laurel wreath; Enjoying conqueft then, and fame and spoil. If fortune frown'd adverse; and death forbade The blissful union, with my latest breath To dwell on MEDWAY'S and MARIA's name. This ardent vow deep-rooted, from my foul No dangers tore; this vow my bofom fir'd To conquer danger, and the fpoil enjoy. Her fhall I leave, with fair events elate,

Who crown'd mine humbleft fortune with her love?

Her fhall I leave, who now perchance alone
Climbs the proud cliff, and chides my flow return?
And fhall that veffel, whofe approaching fails

Shall fwell her breast with extafies, convey

Death

Death to her hopes, and anguish to her foul?
No! may the deep my villain-corse devour,
If all the wealth Iberian mines conceal,
If all the charms Iberian maids disclose,
If thine, ELVIRA, thine, uniting all!
Thus far prevail-nor can thy virtuous breast
Demand, what honour, faith, and love denies."
"Oh! happy she, rejoin'd the pensive maid,
Who fhares thy fame, thy virtue, and thy love!
And be the happy! thy distinguish'd choice
Declares her worth, and vindicates her claim.
Farewel my luckless hopes, my flatt'ring dreams
Of rapt'rous days! my guilty fuit, farewel!
Yet, fond howe'er my plea, or deep the wound
That waits my fame, let not the random shaft
Of cenfure pierce with me th' Iberian dames :
They love with caution, and with happier stars.
And oh! by pity mov'd, restrain the taunts
Of levity, nor brand ELVIRA's flame;
By merit rais'd; by gratitude approv'd;
By hope confirm'd; with artless truth reveal'd;
Let, let me fay, but for one matchless maid
Of happier birth, with mutual ardor crown'd.
These radiant gems, which burnish happiness,
But mock misfortune, to thy fav'rite's hand
With care convey. And well may fuch adorn
Her chearful front, who finds in thee alone
The fource of ev'ry transport; but difgrace
My penfive breaft, which doom'd to lasting woe,

In