The wicket, opening with a latch, And now, when busy crowds retire And spread his vegetable store, Around, in sympathetic mirth, But nothing could a charm impart His rising cares the Hermit spied, With answering care opprest: 'And whence, unhappy youth,' he cried, 'The sorrows of thy breast? 'From better habitations spurn'd, Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd, 6 'Alas! the joys that fortune brings Are trifling, and decay; And those who prize the paltry things, ' And what is friendship but a name, A shade that follows wealth or fame, And love is still an emptier sound, "For shame, fond youth! thy sorrows hush, Surpris'd, he sees new beauties rise, The bashful look, the rising breast, The lovely stranger stands confest And, ah! forgive a stranger rude, A wretch forlorn,' she cried; "Whose feet unhallow'd thus intrude Where heaven and you reside. But let a maid thy pity share, '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, 'Each hour a mercenary crowd In humble, simplest habit clad, And when beside me in the dale He caroll'd lays of love, His breath lent fragrance to the gale, And music to the grove. 'The blossom opening to the day, 6 'The dew, the blossom on the tree, Their charms were his, but, woe to me 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 stretch me where he lay. 3 And when beside me] This stanza communicated by Richard Archdall, Esq to whom it was given by Goldsmith. And there forlorn, despairing, hid, 'Twas so for me that Edwin did, 'Forbid it, Heaven!' the Hermit cried, 'Turn, Angelina, ever dear, My charmer, turn to see 'Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign: And shall we never, never part, My life my all that's mine? 'No, never from this hour to part, The sigh that rends thy constant heart 4 RAIMOND ET ANGELINE. 'ENTENS ma voix gémissante, Habitant de ces vallons! Qui se perd dans les buissons. 4 From 'Les deux Habitants de Lozanne.' See Monthly Review, Sept. 1797, and European Magazine, 1802. |