For still the world prevail'd, and its dread laugh,
Which scarce the firm philosopher can scorn,
Should his heart own a gleaner in the field : 235
And thus in secret to his soul he sighed

“ What pity! that so delicate a form
“By beauty kindled, where enlivening sense
“ And more than vulgar goodness seem to dwell,
" Should be devoted to the rude embrace

240 “ Of some indecent clown! She looks, methinks, • Of old Acasto's line; and to my

mind “ Recals that patron of my happy life, “ From whom my liberal fortune took its rise ; “ Now to the dust gone down; his houses, lands, 245 “ And once fair-spreading family dissolv'd.. « 'Tis said that in some lone obscure retreat,

Urg'd by remembrance sad, and decent pride, “ Far from those scenes which knew their better days, “ His aged widow, and his daughter live,

250 6. Whom yet my fruitless search could never find. “ Romantic wish! would this the daughter were !"

When, strict enquiring, from herself he found She was the same, the daughter of his friend, Of bountiful Acasto; who can speak

255 The mingled passions that surpris’d his heart, And thro’ his nerves in shivering transport ran? Then blaz'd his smother'd flame, avowd and bold ; And as he view'd her, ardent o'er and o’er, Love, gratitude, and pity, wept at once.

260 Confus’d, and frighten'd at his sudden tears, Her rising beauties flush'd a higher bloom, As thus Palemon, passionate and just, Pour'd out the pious rapture of his soul.

“ And art thou then Acasto's dear remains ? 265 - She, whom my restless gratitude has sought, “ So long in vain ?

O heavens! the very same, “6 The softened image of my noble friend, 66 Alive his every look, his

every feature, 5. More elegantly touch’d. Sweeter than Spring ! 270 “ Thou sole surviving blossom from the root i 56 That nourish'd up my fortune ! Say, ah where, “ In what sequester'd desert, hast thou drawn “ The kindest aspect of delighted Heaven, “ Into such beauty spread, and blown so fair ; 275 “ Tho' poverty's cold wind, and crushing rain, ** Beat keen and heavy, on thy tender years ? “let me now, into a richer soil,

Transplant thee safe! where vernal suns, and showers, “ Diffuse their warmest, largest influence ! 280 56 And of iny garden, be the pride and joy! so ill it befits thee, oh it ill befits - Acasto's daughter, his, whose open stores, “ Tho'vast, were little to his ample heart, " The father of a country, thus to pick

285 " The very refuse of those harvest fields, “ Which from his bounteous friendship I enjoy. “ Then throw that shameful pittance from thy hand, *** But ill apply'd to such a rugged task ; " The fields, the master, all, my fair, are thine; 290 “ If to the various blessings which thy house 56 Has on me lavish’d, thou wilt add that bliss, 156 That dearest bliss, the power of blessing thee!"

Here coas'd the youth, yet still his speaking eye Express’d the sacred triumph of his soul, With conscious virtue, gratitude, and love,

295

Above the vulgar joy divinely rais’d.
Nor waited he reply. Won by the charm
Of goodness irresistible, and all
In sweet disorder lost, she blush'd consent. 300
The news immediate to her mother brought,
While, pierc'd with anxious thought, she pin’d away
The lonely moments for Lavinia's fate ;
Amaz’d, and scarce believing what she heard,
Joy seiz’d her wither'd veins, and one bright gleam 305
Of setting life shone on her evening hours:
Not less enraptur'd than the happy pair ;
Who flourished long in tender bliss, and rear'd
A numerous offspring, lovely, like themselves;
And good, the grace of all the country round. 310

Defeating oft the labours of the year,
The sultry south collects a potent blast.
At first the groves are scarcely seen to stir
Their trembling tops ; and a still murmur runs
Along the soft-inclining fields of corn.

315
But as the aerial tempest fuller swells,
And in one mighty stream, invisible,
Immense, the whole excited atmosphere
Impetuous rushes o'er the sounding world :
Strain'd to the root, the stooping forest pours 320
A rustling shower of yet untimely leaves.
High-beat, the circling mountains eddy in,
From the bare wild, the dissipated storm,
And send it in a torrent down the vale.
Expos'd, and naked, to its utmost rage,

325 Thro' all the sea of harvest rolling round, The billowy plain floats wide; nor can evade, Tho' pliant to the blast, its seizing force ;

L