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 hour,
Or sigh'd, and look'd unutterable things.

So pass'd their life, a clear united stream, By care unruffied; till, in evil hour, The tempest caught them on the tender walk, Heedless how far, and where its mazes stray'd, While, with each other blest, creative love Still bade eternal Eden smile around. Heavy with instant fate her bosom heav'd Unwonted sighs; and stealing oft a look Tow'rds the big gloom, on CELADON her eye Feil tearful, wetting her disorder'd cheek. In vain assuring love, and confidence In HEAVEN, 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. a 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, Bies 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 Heaven!) 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.

THOMSON

SOON

CHAP. XVII.

Junio and Theana.

oon as young reason dawn'd in Junio's breast, His father sent him from these genial isles, To where old Thames with conscious pride survey'd Green Eton, soft abode of every Muse. Each classic beauty he soon made his own, And soon fam'd Isis saw him woo the Nine On her inspiring banks. Love tun'd his song For fair THEANA was his only theme, Acasto's daughter, whom in early youth He oft distinguish'd; and for whom he oft Had climb'd the bending cocoa's airy height To rob it of its nectar; which the maid, When he presented, more nectareous deem'd. The sweetest sapadillas oft he brought: From him more sweet ripe sapadillas seem'd. Nor had long absence yet effac'd her form; Her charm still triumph'd o'er Britannia's fair. One morn he met her in Sheen's royal walks; Nor knew, till then, sweet Sheen contain'd his.

all.

His taste mature approv'd his infant choice.
In colour, form, expression, and in grace
She shone all perfect; while each pleasing art,
And eacle soft virtue, that the sex adorns,
Adorn'd the woman. My imperfect strain
Can ill describe the transports JUNIO felt
At this discovery: he declar'd his love;
She own'd his merit, nor refus'd his hand.

And shall not Hymen light his brightest torcla

For this delighted pair? Ah! JUNIO knew
His sire detested his THEANA's house!-
Thus duty, reverence, gratitude, conspir'd
To check their happy union. He resolv'd
(And many a sigh that resolution cost)
To pass the time, till death his sire remov'd
In visiting old Europe's letter'd climes:

Cz

While she (and many a tear that parting drew) Embark'd, reluctant, for her native isle.

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 every 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 The all-perfect Medicean Venus seem'd A perfect semblance of his Indian fair: But when she spoke of love, her voice surpass'd The harmonious warblings of Italian song.

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!
Swift sail'd the Po, and happy breezes blew.
In Biscay's stormy seas an armed ship
Of force superior, from loud Charente's wave
Clapt them on board. The frighted flying crew
Their colours strike; when dauntless JUNIO fir'd
With noble indignation, kill'd the chief,
Who on the bloody deck dealt slaughter round.
The Gauls retreat; the Britons loud huzza;
And touch'd with shame, with emulation stung,
So plied their cannon, plied their missile fires,
That soon in air the hapless Thunderer blew.
Blow, prosperous breezes! swiftly sail, thou Po!
May no more dang'rous 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 it set to catch the favouring gale,
While on the yard-arm the harpooner sits,
Strikes the boneta, or the shark ensnares:

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 anxious, every evening walk'd On the cool margin of the purple main, Intent ber JUNIO's vessel to descry.

One eve (faint calms for many a day had rag'd) The winged dæmons of the tempest roseThunder, 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 leap'd ashore, Regardless of the dæmons of the storm. Ah youth! what woes too great for man to bear, Are ready to hurst on thee! Urge not so Thy flying courser. Soon THEANA'S porch Receiv'd him; at his sight the ancient slaves Affrighted shriek, and to the chamber point; Confounded, yet unknowing what they meant, He enter'd hasty

Ah! what a sight for one who lov'd so well! All pale and cold, in every feature death, THEANA lay; and yet a glimpse of joy Play'd on her face, while with faint faltering

voice,

She thus address'd the youth, whom yet she knew: << Welcome, my JUNIO, to thy native shore! >> Thy sight repays this summons of my fate; >> Live, and live happy; sometimes think of me; >> By night, by day, you still engag'd my care; >> And next to God, you now my thoughts employ: >> Accept of this-My little all I give; >> Would it were larger >>-Nature could no more; She look'd, embrac'd him, with a groan expired.

But say, what strains, what language can ex

press

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 claspt her in his arms;
He sigh'd, he swoon'd, look'd up, and died away.
One grave contains this hapless faithful pair!
And still the Cane-isles tell their matchless love!
GRAINGER.

M

CHAP. XVIII.

Douglas to lord Randolph.

Y name is NORVAL: on the Grampian hills

My father feeds his lock; a frugal swain,
Whose constant cares were to increase his store,
And keep his only son, myself, at home.
For I had heard of battles, and I long'd
To follow to the field some warlike Lord:
And Heaven soon granted what my sire denied.
This moon which rose last night, round as my

shield,

Ilad not yet filled her horns, when, by her light,
A band of fierce barbarians, from the hills,
Rush'd like a torrent down upon the vale,
Sweeping our flocks and herds. The shepherds fled
For safety and for succour. I alone
With bended bow and quiver full of arrows,
Hover'd about the enemy, and mark'l
The road he took, then hasted to my friends,
Whom, with a troop of fifty chosen men,
I met advancing. The pursuit I led,
Till we overtook the spoil-encumber'd foe.
We fought and conquer'd. Ere a sword was drawn,
An arrow from my bow had pierc'd the chief,
Who wore that day the arins which now I wear.
Returning home in triumph, I disdain'd
The shepherds' slothful life; and having heard