Surpris'd he sees new beauties rise, Swift mantling to the view; Like colours o'er the morning skies, The bashful look, the rising breast, The lovely stranger stands confest A maid in all her charms. "And, ah! forgive a stranger rude, A wretch forlorn," she cried; "Whose feet unhallow'd thus intrude Where heav'n and you reside. "But let a maid thy pity share, Whom love has taught to stray; Who seeks for rest, but finds despair Companion of her way. "My father liv'd beside the Tyne, A wealthy lord was he; And all his wealth was mark'd as mine, He had but only me. "To win me from his tender arms Unnumber'd suitors came; Who prais'd me for imputed charms, "Each hour a mercenary crowd "In humble, simplest habit clad, "The blossom op'ning to the day, Could nought of purity display, "The dew, the blossoms of the tree, With charms inconstant shine; Their charms were his, but woe to me, Their constancy was mine. "For still I tried each fickle art, Importunate and vain; And while his passion touch'd my heart, I triumph'd in his pain. "Till quite dejected with my scorn, He left me to my pride; And sought a solitude forlorn In secret where he died. "But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, And well life shall pay; my I'll seek the solitude he sought, And stretch me where he lay. "And there forlorn, despairing, hid, I'll lay me down and die; |