"Thus for your sake I shun each human eye, I bid the sweets of blooming youth adieu; To die I languish, but I dread to die, Lest my sad fate should nourish pangs for you. "Raise me from earth; the pains of want remove, "Be but my friend; I ask no dearer name; Be such the meed of some more artful fair; Nor could it heal my peace or chase my shame, That Pity gave what Love refus'd to share. "Force not my tongue to ask its scanty bread, "Haply, when age has silver'd o'er my hair, She spoke-nor was I born of savage race; 'I saw her foot the lofty bark ascend, I saw her breast with every passion heave: I left her-torn from every earthly friend; Oh! my hard bosom! which could bear to leave! 'Brief let me be; the fatal storm arose ; THE NUN: AN ELEGY. WITH each perfection dawning on her mind, Say, gentle maid, what prompts thee to forsake The paths, thy birth and fortune strew with flowers? Through nature's kind endearing ties to break, Let sober thought restrain thine erring zeal, Does some angelic lonely-whisp❜ring voice, There kneeling at your altar's marble base [steal, (While streams of rapture from thine eye-lid And smiling heaven illumes thy soul with grace) Pronounce the vow thou never can'st repeal. Yet if misled by false-entitled friends, Who say, 'That Peace, with all her comely train, From starry regions to this clime descends, Smoothes every frown, and softens every pain: • That vestals tread Contentment's flowery lawn, Approv'd of Innocence, by Health caress'd: That rob'd in colours bright, by fancy drawn, Celestial Hope sits smiling at their breast:' Suspect their siren song and artful style, [conceal; Their pleasing sounds some treach'rous thought Full oft does Pride with sainted voice beguile, And sordid Int'rest wear the mask of Zeal. A tyrant-abbess here perchance may reign, Who, fond of power, affects th' imperial nod, Looks down disdainful on her female train, And rules the cloister with an iron rod. Reflection sickens at the life-long tie, Back-glancing Memory acts her busy part, Its charms the world unfolds to fancy's eye, And sheds allurement on the wishful heart. Lo! Discord enters at the sacred porch, Rage in her frown, and terror on her crest: E'en at the hallow'd lamp she lights her torch, And holds it flaming to each virgin breast. But since the legends of monastic 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 lustres scarce with hasty wing were fled, And (blush ye parents!) by a father's hand. Yet then, what solemn scenes deceiv'd my choice! The pealing organ's animating sound, The coral virgin's captivating voice, The blazing altar, and the priests around : The train of youths array'd in purest white, The golden censers toss'd with graceful hand, With blooming chaplets wove around their head. My willing soul was caught in rapture's flame, This temporary transport soon expir'd, I tread this dome to misery allied. No wakening joy informs my sullen breast, Through opening skies no radiant seraph smiles, No saint descends to sooth my soul to rest, No dream of bliss the dreary night beguiles. Here haggard discontent still haunts my view; I meet her ever in the cheerless cell, The hollow gale, and hoarse resounding flood. This caus'd a mother's tender tears to flow, (The sad remembrance time shall ne'er erase) When having seal'd th' irrevocable vow, I hasten'd to receive her last embrace. Full well she then presag'd my wretched fate, Th' unhappy moments of each future day: When lock'd within this terror-shedding grate, My joy-deserted soul would pine away. Yet ne'er did her maternal voice unfold This cloister'd scene in all its horror dress'd; Nor did she then my trembling steps withhold When here I enter'd a reluctant guest. Ah! could she view her only child betray'd, And let submission o'er her love prevail? Th' unfeeling priest why did she not upbraid? Forbid the vow, and rend the hov❜ring veil? |