The figh soft mem'ry prompts, the tender tear, 35 And thro' the darkness shot her fun-bright ray That ftrengthens while it chears, behold from far 4a Amyntor flow approaching! on his front O'er each funk feature forrow had diffus'd With focial foftnefs. Straight before the door • With patient ear, with calm attention, mark • Abfolve him or condemn. But, oh! may I • Unblam'd pronounce! that name to ev'ry fon By Heav'n made facred, and by Nature's hand, Too near beheld, it's madness how extreme, • How blind it's fury! by the prompting priest, • Train'd on to holy mischief: scene abhorr'd! That Pow'r whofe law is meeknefs, and for deeds 45 50 55 60 65 That That outrage Heav'n, belying Heav'n's command! His courfe unjust to violence and rage; • Found rev'rence or distinction: yet, fuftain'd • What Reason dictates, and what Heav'n approves, Of gracious cadence, of affuafive pow'r, My farther ftory cloath? O could I steal When virtue lights, and rev'rence guards it's flame, That foul of fweetnefs, that foft glow of youth, 105 · Unmov'd Unmov'd could fee! that dignity of ease, • That grace of air, by happy nature thine! For all in thee was native; from within • Spontaneous flowing, as fome equal stream From it's unfailing fource! and then, too, feen In milder lights; by Sorrow's fhading hand Touch'd into pow'r more exquifitely foft, By tears adorn'd, intender'd by diftrefs. ⚫ O fweetnefs without name! when Love looks on • With Pity's melting eye, that to the foul • Endears, ennobles, her whom Fate afflicts, • Or Fortune leaves unhappy! paffion then • Refines to virtue; then a parer train Of heav'n-infpir'd emotions, undebas'd • To emulate what Reafon beft conceives By this plain courtship of the honest heart To pity mov'd, at length my pleaded vows The gentle maid, with unreluctant ear, 110 115 120 125 • Would oft admit; would oft endearing crown 130 • With smiles of kind affent, with looks that spoke, In blushing foftnefs, her chafte bofom touch'd • Event unfear'd! had caught Rolando's eye; By furious paffions nurs'd, that facred name Profanes not) Love his ftubborn breast diffolv'd 135 To tranfient goodness. But my thought fhrinks back, 140 Reluctant to proceed; and filial awe, • With • With pious hand, would o'er a parent's crime • Aw'd from her eye, and from her lip fevere 145 • Dash'd with indignant scorn each harbour'd thought • Of foft emotion, or of focial fenfe, Love, pity, kindness, alien to a foul That bigot rage embofoms, fled at once, • And all the favage re-affum'd his breast. 150 ""Tis juft!" he cry'd; " who thus invites difdain, 'Had prey'd unfeen, now deep thro' all her pow'rs • It's poifon spread, and kill'd their vital growth. • Sick'ning, the funk beneath this double weight • Of shame and horror.-Dare I yet proceed? Aurelius! O most injur'd of mankind! Shall yet my tale, exafperating, add To woe new anguish! and to grief despair! O Providence fevere!' Aurelius fmote his breast, and groaning cry'd; 165 170 Nor figh, nor murmur, nor repining plaint, By all the war of Nature tho' affail'd, 175 Efcap'd his lips. What! fhall we from Heav'n's grace ⚫ With life receiving happiness, our share • Of Of ill refufe? and are afflictions aught By Love's own hand for falutary ends. 180 185 Of that unfounded deep the bury'd corfe To light and life restore? Blefs'd pair! farewel! Of human fondnefs fighing in the breaft, 190 And forrow is no more.-Now, gentle youth! And let me call thee fon, (for, O that name Of pains for me, too fadly have deferv'd!) Thy faith, thy friendship, thy true portion borne • On with thy tale: 'tis mine when Heav'n afflicts 195 6 To hearken and adore.' The patient man Thus fpoke. Amyntor thus his ftory clos'd: As dumb with anguifh round the bed of death Her clofing eyes, then fixing, in cold gaze, • Without a groan, a pang! In hallow'd earth I faw her fhrouded; bade eternal peace • Her fhade receive; and, with the trueft tears Affection ever wept, her duft bedew'd. · 205 • What then remain'd for honour or for love? What, but that scene of violence to fly, • With guilt profan'd, and terrible with death; • With drowzieft influence reign, the waining moon Afcending mournful in the midnight sphere, 211 . On |