CELADON and AMELIA. (THOMSON.) 'Tis list'ning fear, and dumb amazement all : Guilt hears appall'd, with deeply-troubled thought, They lov'd but such their guileless passion was, As in the dawn of time inform'd the heart Of innocence, and undissembling truth. Twas friendship heightened by the mutual wish, Th' enchanting hope, and sympathetic glow, Beam'd from the mutual eye. Devoting all To love, each was to each a dearer self; Supremely happy in th' awaken'd power Of giving joy. Alone, amid the shades, Still in harmonious intercourse they liv'd The rural day, and talk'd the flowing heart, Or sigh'd, and look'd unutterable things. So pass'd their life, a clear united stream, P Still hade eternal Eden smile around. Presaging instant fate, her bosom heav'd Unwonted sighs, and stealing oft a look Tow'rds the big gloom, on CELADON her eye Fell tearful, wetting her disorder'd cheek. In vain assuring love, and confidence In heav'n, repress'd her fear; it grew, and shook Her frame near dissolution. He perceiv'd Th' unequal conflict, and, as angels look On dying saints, his eyes compassion shed, With love illumin'd high. "Fear not," he said, "Sweet innocence! thou stranger to offence, "And inward storm! He, who yon skies involves "In frowns of darkness, ever smiles on thee "With kind regard. O'er thee the secret shaft "That wastes at midnight, or th' undreaded hour "Of noon, flies harmless: and that very voice, "Which thunders terror thro' the guilty heart, "With tongues of seraphs whispers peace to thine. "'Tis safety to be near thee sure, and thus "To clasp perfection!", From his void embrace (Mysterious heav'n!) that moment to the ground, A blacken'd corse, was struck the beauteous maid. But who can paint the lover, as he stood, Pierc'd by severe amazement, hating life, Speechless, and fix'd in all the death of woe! So, faint resemblance! on the marble tomb, The well-dissembled mourner stooping stands, For ever silent, and for ever sad. JUNIO and THEANA. (GRAINGER.) SOON as young reason dawn'd in Junio's breast, To where old Thames with conscious pride surveys To rob it of its nectar; which the maid, And shall not Hymen light his brightest torch pass the time, till death his sire remov'd, Tho' learned, curious, and tho' nobly bent, With each rare talent to adorn his mind, His native land to serve; no joys he found.— Yet sprightly Gaul; yet Belgium, Saturn's reign; Yet Greece, of old the seat of ev'ry muse, Of freedom, courage; yet Ausonia's clime, His steps explor'd; where painting, music's strains, Where arts, where laws (philosophy's best child), With rival beauties, his attention claim'd. To his just-judging, his instructed eye, Twice one long year elaps'd, when letters came, Which briefly told him of his father's death. Afflicted, filial, yet to Heav'n resign'd, Soon he reach'd Albion, and as soon embark'd, Eager to clasp the object of his love. Blow, prosperous breezes; swiftly sail, thou Po: 1 Blow, prosperous breezes; swiftly sail, thou Po: May no more dangerous fights retard thy way Soon Porto Santo's rocky heights they 'spy, Like clouds dim rising in the distant sky. Glad Eurus whistles; laugh the sportive crew; Each sail is set to catch the favouring gale, While on the yard-arm the harpooner sits, Strikes the boneta, or the shark insnares. The little nautilus with purple pride Expands his sails, and dances o'er the waves: Small winged fishes on the shrouds alight; And beauteous dolphins gently play'd around. Tho' faster than the Tropic-bird they flew, Oft Junio cried, ah! when shall we see land? Soon land they made: and now in thought he clasp'd His Indian bride, and deem'd his toils o'erpaid. She, no less auxious, every evening walk'd On the cool margin of the purple main, Intent her Junio's vessel to descry. One eve (faint calms for many a day had rag'd) The winged dæmons of the tempest rose ; Thunder, and rain, and lightning's awful power, She fled could innocence, could beauty claim Exemption from the grave; th' ethereal bolt, That stretch'd her speechless, o'er her lovely head Had innocently roll'd. Meanwhile, impatient Junio leapt ashore, Ah, youth what woes, too great for man to bear, Keceiv'd him : at his sight, the ancient slaves “ Welcome, my Junio, to thy native shore ! “ Thy sight repays the summons of my fate : Live, and live happy ; sometimes think of me: “ By night, by day, you still engag'diny care ; “ And, next to God, you now my thoughts employ : Accept of this-My little all I give ; Nature could no more ; She look'd, embrac'd him, with a groan expir d. But say, what strains, what language can express The thousand pangs which tore the lover's breast : Upon her breathless corse himself he threw, And to her clay-cold lips, with trembling haste, Ten thousand kisses gave. He strove to speak; Nor words he found: he clasp'd her in his arms; He sigh’d, he swoonid, look'd up, and died away. One grave contains this hapless, faithful pair ; And still the cane-isles tell their matchless love! The SPLENDID SHILLING. (7. PHILIPS.) |