The glift'ning eye, the half-feen breast of fnow, The paths of pleasure lead but to the tomb. Perhaps, in this drear manfion are confin'd, But pleasure flies them, a forbidden guest, Full many a riv❜let wand'ring to the main, Some veil'd ELIZA (like the clouded fun) To bless a nation, and adorn a throne. From From Flatt'ry's lip to drink the fweets of praise, And view their beauty in th' admirer's eye, Their lot forbids: nor does alone remove, The thirst of praise, but ev'n their crimes restrain : And yield to vanity the flowing rein: To rear 'mid HYMEN's joys domestic strife, What tho' they're fprinkled with etherial dew! Still grateful mem'ry paints the distant friend, To ftay the bolt defcending from the skies. For For who entrane'd in visions from above, Their joy encircled hearth as they forfook, For thee who mindful of th' encloister'd train, Some kindred spirit fhall enquire thy fate: Haply fome matron-veftal may reply, • Oft have we heard him, when light's ling'ring ray, 'Scarce mark'd its paffage thro' the dark'ning sky, At yonder altar join the vesper-lay. Where hapless Adaleida fought repose, "Oft at yon grave wou'd he her fate condole < And in his breast as scenes of grief arose, He faw afcending-flow her spotlefs foul. • Peace Peace to my EDWARD's heart the vifion faid, Ab not unfeen thou shed'ft that grateful tear, I wait at night to catch thy wonted tread, 'One eve I mifs'd him at the hour divine, Along that ayle and in the facrifty: Another came, nor yet beside the shrine, • Nor at the font, nor in the porch was he. The next we heard the bell of death intone, And in the filent grave we saw him laid, Approach and read on this fepulchral stone, 'The lines engrav'd to foothe his hov'ring shade: EPITAPH. |