“Of fome indecent clown! She looks, methinks, "Of old ACASTO's line; and to my mind "Recalls that patron of my happy life, "From whom my liberal fortune took its rise; "Now to the dust gone down; his houses, lands, "And once fair-fpreading family diffolv'd. "'Tis faid that in fome lone obfcure retreat, 246 Urg'd by remembrance fad, and decent pride, "Far from those scenes which knew their better days, "His aged widow and his daughter live, "Whom yet my fruitlefs fearch could never find. "Romantic wish! would this the daughter were!" 250 255 WHEN, ftri&t enquiring, from herfelf he found She was the fame, the daughter of his friend, Of bountiful ACASTO; who can fpeak The mingled paffions that furpriz'd his heart, And thro' his nerves in shivering transport ran ? Then blaz'd his fmother'd flame, avow'd, and bold; And as he view'd her, ardent, o'er and o'er, Love, gratitude, and pity wept at once. Confus'd, and frighten'd at his fudden tears, Her rifing beauties flush'd a higher bloom, As thus PALEMON, paffionate, and juft, Pour'd out the pious rapture of his foul. 260 264 "AND art thou then ACASTO's dear remains? "She, whom my reftlefs gratitude has fought, "So long in vain ? O yes! the very fame, "The "The foftened image of my noble friend, "Alive, his every feature, every look, 269 "More elegantly touch'd. Sweeter than Spring! "Thou fole furviving blossom from the root "That nourish'd up my fortune! Say, ah where, "In what fequefter'd desart, haft thou drawn "The kindest aspect of delighted heaven ? "Into fuch beauty spread, and blown fo fair; 275 "Tho' poverty's cold wind, and crushing rain, "Beat keen, and heavy, on thy tender years? "O let me now, into a richer foil, Transplant thee fafe! where vernal funs, and 66 showers, "Diffuse their warmeft, largest influence; 280 285 "Which from his bounteous friendship I enjoy. "Then throw that shameful pittance from thy hand, "But ill apply'd to such a rugged task ; 291 "The fields, the master, all, my fair, are thine ;"If to the various bleffings which thy house "Has on me lavish'd, thou wilt add that blifs, "That dearest blifs, the power of bleffing thee!" 295 HERE ceas'd the youth: yet still his speaking eye Exprefs'd the facred triumph of his foul, With confcious virtue, gratitude, and love, Above the vulgar joy divinely rais'd. Nor waited he reply. Won by the charm Of goodness irresistible, and all In fweet diforder loft, she blush'd confent. The news immediate to her mother brought, 300 While, pierc'd with anxious thought, fhe pin'd away The lonely moments for LAVINIA's fate; 304 Amaz'd, and scarce believing what she heard, DEFEATING oft the labours of the year, 315 320 A A ruftling fhower of yet untimely leaves. Shook waste. And fometimes too a burft of rain, Defcending, with his labours fcatter'd round, 325 330 335 339 345 Of clamant children dear. Ye mafters, then, 350 Be mindful of the rough laborious hand, That finks you foft in elegance and ease; 355 Be mindful of thofe limbs in ruffet clad, HERE the rude clamour of the sportsman's joy, 359 365 370 375 Dead |