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

Of lasting faith, have fworn these humble charms
Were not excell'd; the fource of all their pains,
And love her just desert, 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 fhe loves retire.
Yet if the specious 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 penfive maid suggests
In full contraft, the safe 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 scorns.
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 happiest 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 fhould 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 adverfe; 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 spoil 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 breaft with extafies, convey

Death

Death to her hopes, and anguish to her foul?
No! may the deep my villain-corfe devour,
If all the wealth Iberian mines conceal,
If all the charms Iberian maids difclofe,

If thine, ELVIRA, thine, uniting all!
Thus far prevail-nor can thy virtuous breaft
Demand, what honour, faith, and love denies."
"Oh! happy fhe, rejoin'd the penfive 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 lucklefs 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 ftars.
And oh! by pity mov'd, reftrain 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
And well may fuch adorn
Her chearful front, who finds in thee alone
The fource of ev'ry tranfport; but difgrace

My penfive breast, which doom'd to lasting woe,

In thee the fource of ev'ry blifs refign.

And now farewel, thou darling youth! the gem Of English merit! peace, content, and joy, And tender hopes, and young defires, farewel! Attend, ye fmiling train, this gallant mind Back to his native fhores; there sweetly smooth His ev'ning pillow; dance around his groves; And, where he treads, with vi'lets paint his way. But leave ELVIRA! leave her, now no more Your frail companion! in the facred cells Of fome lone cloifter let me fhroud my There, to the matin bell, obfequious, pour My constant orifons. The wanton loves, And gay defires shall spy the glim'ring tow'rs, And wing their flight aloof: but reft confirm'd, That never shall ELVIRA's tongue conclude Her shortest pray'r, ere HENRY's dear fuccefs The warmeft accent of her zeal employ."

fhame :

Thus spoke the weeping fair, whofe artless mind Impartial fcorn'd to model her esteem By native customs; drefs, and face, and air, And manners, lefs; nor yet refolv'd in vain. He, bound by prior loves, the folemn vow Giv'n and receiv'd, to foft compassion gave A tender tear; then with that kind adieu Efteem could warrant, weary'd heav'n with pray'rs To fhield that tender breast he left forlorn.

He ceas'd, an to the cloister's pensive scene ELVIRA fhap'd her folitary way.

.

The

The SCHOOL-MISTRESS.

In Imitation of SPENSER.

Auditæ voces, vagitus & ingens,
Infantumque anime flentes in limine primo.

ADVERTISEMENT.

VIKG.

What particulars in Spenfer were imagined most proper for the author's imitation on this occafion, are his language, his fimplicity, his manner of description, and a peculiar tenderness of fentiment remarkable throughout his works.

A

H me! full forely is my heart forlorn,

To think how modeft worth neglected lies While partial fame doth with her blasts adorn Such deeds alone, as pride and pomp disguise; Deeds of ill fort, and mischievous emprize! Lend me thy clarion, goddefs! let me try To found the praise of merit, ere it dies; Such as I oft have chaunced to espy, Loft in the dreary fhades of dull obfcurity..