A tyrant Abbess here perchance may reign,
Who, fond of pow'r, affects th' imperial nod;
Looks down disdainful on her female train,
And rules the cloister with an iron rod.
Reflection fickens at the life-long tie,
Back-glancing Mem'ry acts her busy part;
Its charm the world unfolds to Fancy's eye,
And fheds allurement on the youthful heart.
Lo! Discord enters at the facred porch,
Rage in her frown, and terror on her crest.
Ev'n at the hallow'd lamps fhe lights her torch,
Aud holds it flaming to each virgin breast.
But fince the legends of monaftic bliss,
By fraud are fabled, and by youth believ'd;
Unbought experience learn from my distress,
Oh! mark my lot, and be no more deceiv'd.
Three luftres fcarce with hafty wing were fled,
When I was torn from ev'ry weeping friend;
A trembling victim to the temple led,
And (blush, ye parents) by a father's hand.
Yet then what folemn scenes deceiv'd
The pealing organ's animating found
The choral virgins' captivating voice,
The blazing altar, and the priests around :
The train of youth array'd in pureft white,
Who fcatter'd myrtles as I pafs'd along :
The thousand lamps that pour'd a flood of light,
The kifs of peace from all the vestal throng:
The golden cenfers tofs'd with graceful hand,
Whose fragrant breath ARABIAN odor shed;
Of meek-ey'd novices the circling band,
With blooming chaplets wove around their head.
-My willing foul was caught in rapture's flame,
While facred ardor glow'd in ev'ry vein ;
Methought applauding angels fung my name,
And heav'n's unfullied glories gilt the fane.
Methought in fun-beams rob'd the heav'nly spouse
Indulg'd the longings of my holy love :
Not undelighted heard my virgin vows-
While o'er the altar wav'd the mystic dove.
This temporary tranfport foon expir'd,
My drooping heart confefs'd a dreadful void :
E'er fince, alas! abandon'd, uninfpir'd,
I tread this dome, to mifery allied..
No wakening joy informs my fullen breast,
Thro' opening skies no radiant feraph fmiles;
No faint defcends to foothe my foul to rest!
No dream of blifs the dreary night beguiles.
Here haggard Discontent ftill haunts my view,
The fombre genius reigns in ev'ry place;
Arrays each virtue in the darkest hue,
Chills ev'ry pray'r, and cancels ev'ry grace.
I meet her ever in the chearless cell,
The gloomy grotto and unfocial wood:
I hear her eyer in the midnight bell,
The chiding gale, and hoarfe-refounding flood.
This caus'd a mother's tender tears to flow, (The fad remembrance time fhall ne'er erafe) When having feal'd the irrevocable vow,
I haften'd to receive her last embrace.
Full-well she then prefag'd my wretched fate,
Th' unhappy moments of each future day :
When lock'd within this unrelenting grate,
My joy-deferted foul would pine away.
Yet ne'er did her maternal voice unfold,
This cloifter'd fcene in all its horror drest;
Nor did fhe then my trembling fteps with-hold,
When here I enter'd a reluctant guest.
Ah! could fhe view her only child betray'd,
And let fubmiffion o'er her love prevail?
Th' unfeeling prieft why did the not upbraid,
Forbid the vow, and rend the hov❜ring veil ?
Alas! fhe might not her relentless lord
Had feal'd her lips, and chid her streaming tear,
So anguish in her breaft conceal'd its hoard,
And all the mother funk in dumb despair.
But thou who own'ft a father's facred name,
What act impell'd thee to this ruthless deed?
What crime had forfeited my filial claim?
And giv'n (Oh! blafting thought) thy heart to bleed?
If then thine injur'd child deferve thy care,
Oh! hafte and bear her from this lonesome gloom.
no words can foothe his rigid ear; And GALLIA's laws have riveted my doom.
Yet let me to my fate fubmiffive bow,
From fatal fymptoms if I right conceive;
This ftream, OPHELIA, has not long to flow,
This voice to murmur and this breaft to heave.
Ah! when extended on th' untimely bier,
To yonder vault this form fhall be convey'd ;
Thou'lt not refufe to fhed one grateful tear,
And breathe the requiem to my fleeting fhade.
With pious footsteps join the fable train,
As thro' the lengthening ifle they take their way:
A glimmering taper let thy hand fuftain,
Thy foothing voice attune the funeral lay.
Behold the minister who lately gave
The facred veil, in garb of mournful hue ·
(More friendly office) bending o'er my grave,
And fprinkling my remains with hallow'd dew:
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