F AR in the windings of a vale, The fafe retreat of health and peace, There beauteous EMMA flourish'd fair Beneath a mother's eye, Whose only wish on earth was now The fofteft blush that nature spreads Such orient colour fmiles thro' heav'n Nor let the pride of great ones fcorn That fun which bids their diamond blaze, To deck our lily deigns. Long had the fir'd each youth with love, Each maiden with despair; And tho' by all a wonder own'd, Yet knew not she was fair. Till EDWIN came, the pride of swains, And from whofe eyes ferenely mild, A mutual flame was quickly caught, What happy hours of heartfelt bliss, But blifs too mighty long to laft, His fifter, who like envy form'd, To work them harm, with wicked skill Each darker art employ'd. The The father too, a fordid man, Was all unfeeling as the rock From whence his riches grew. Long had he seen their mutual flame, In EDWIN's gentle heart a war Deny'd her fight, he oft behind, Oft too in Stanemore's wintry waste, In fighs to pour his foften❜d foul His cheeks, where love with beauty glow'd, A deadly pale o’ercast ; So fades the freth rofe in its prime, Before the northern blaft. The parents now, with late remorfe, And weary'd heav'n with fruitless pray'rs, 'Tis paft, he cry'd, but, if your fouls Sweet mercy yet can move, She came; his cold hand foftly touch'd, But oh! his fifter's jealous care (A cruel fifter she !) Forbad what EMMA came to fay My EDWIN, live for me. Now Now homeward as fhe hopelefs went, The blaft blew cold, the dark owl scream'd, Amid the falling gloom of night, In every bush his hovering fhade, Alone, appall'd, thus had she pass'd The vifionary vale, When lo! the death-bell fmote her ear, Sad founding in the gale. Just then she reach'd, with trembling steps, Her aged mother's door; He's gone, fhe cry'd, and I fhall fee That angel face no more. I feel, I feel this breaking heart Beat high against my side: From her white arm down funk her head, She shiver'd, figh'd, and died. |