No holy relick rich-enchas'd This humble low-roof'd temple grac❜d. But flow'rets from the neighb'ring wood, For incenfe they exhal'd perfume, For ornament they gave their bloom. The hermit fpoke- Hail virtuous pair, May forrow now your bosom spare: Tho' youth be yours, yet well I know • You've tafted deep of human woe! Control, and Art, and Bafenefs join'd, To cancel what your hearts defign'd: < But now Misfortune's reign is o'er, And Pleasure opens all her ftore.' See now the youthful pair unite, Warm from the heart, the hallow'd vow: Unfpotted bands! which mutual Love, And Confidence and Virtue wove. THE SEE to the fane HISPANIA's troops repair, Yet then by CORTEZ led, ftill undismay'd, The SPANIARD hoft the lofty fane invade. Beheld indignant, finit with patriot grief, And * The fublime inftance of heroic friendîhip that forms the fubject of this poem, is recorded by ANTONIO DE SOLIS in his History of the Conqueft of Mexico. This is an Episode of a more extenfive poem, and being the part that was the most favourably receiv'd, I am not unwilling to facrifice a few pages for the fake of rendering my poetical offerings more acceptable to the public. . And now JANELLAN thus accofts his friend: • See from our gallant men yon hallow'd tow'r The fame defeat, the fame dishonour share? . But ere my veil'd defignment I unfold, Declare, however rafh, however bold, Thou'lt not o'erfhade with Caution's chill controul, VENZULA to his breaft his hand applied, And thus beyond the pow'r of words replied. The youth refum'd-' From this aerial height, • Bid thy bold vifion take its deepest flight, Down to yon rock, far ftretching o'er the shore, 'If If Fortune bless what my proud counfels urge! 'Yon waves fhall murmur foon the victor's dirge! My fecret project I will now unveil : Should CORTEZ o'er this valiant band prevail, 'Should thro' controulment, and thro' ftubborn force, Pour like a torrent his destructive course, • When on this fummit first he shall appear, 'I will advance, with well-diffembled fear, And, fuppliant as I kneel to win his grace, "I'll dauntless lock him in a ftern embrace, Bear him reluctant to yon giddy fteep, • Where yawns a dreadful opening to the deep, • And thence-felf-ruin'd for my country's good, Plunge with her foe into the whelming flood!' VENZULA answered- Yes, I much admire 'What now thy matchlefs virtue dares inspire: 'But wilt thou, with an avarice of fame, The meed of Glory all exclufive claim? Wilt thou to perils close to Death adjoin'd Advance, and leave thy faithful Friend behind 2 And in one circle play'd our harmless joys: And when we quitted Childhood's lowly vale, "Where fpringing flow'rets fcent the playful gale, Still hand in hand we climb'd youth's arduous height," "Whence greater fcenes expanded on the fight, ** Still our purfuits confenting to one plan," 'Like wedded ftreams our lives united ran: lll N And wilt thou now oppose the sacred tide, • And bid the friendly waves difparting glide 2. 5 JANELLAN fpoke Endearing youth forgive: The conq'ror of fome future CORTEZ live! Nor mark my fall with Grief?s dejected brow, 'View from my death the bright effects that flow: 'Behold the tomb that Gratitude fhall raife, Illuftrious figual of my Country's praise.' To this the brave VENZULA made reply, And as he spoke tears started from his eye : What tho' Felicity thy gift fhall ftream: 'Sunlike o'er MEXICO with brightest beam, • Not all the fplendour that her rays impart, Will e'er illumine my benighted heart, • When deftitute of thee, its only ray, Without the hope of kind returning day. • Yet |