Edwin and Emma (Mallet, 1760)/Edwin and Emma
EDWIN
AND
EMMA.
I.
Far in the windings of a vale,
Fast by a shelt'ring wood,
The safe retreat of health and peace,
An humble cottage stood.
Far in the windings of a vale,
Fast by a shelt'ring wood,
The safe retreat of health and peace,
An humble cottage stood.
II.
There beauteous Emma flourish'd fair,
Beneath a mother's eye;
Whose only wish on earth was now
To see her blest, and die.
There beauteous Emma flourish'd fair,
Beneath a mother's eye;
Whose only wish on earth was now
To see her blest, and die.
III.
The softest blush that Nature spreads
Gave colour to her cheek:
Such orient colour smiles thro' heaven,
When May's sweet mornings break.
The softest blush that Nature spreads
Gave colour to her cheek:
Such orient colour smiles thro' heaven,
When May's sweet mornings break.
IV.
Nor let the pride of great ones scorn
This charmer of the plains:
That sun, who bids their diamond blaze,
To paint our lilly deigns.
Nor let the pride of great ones scorn
This charmer of the plains:
That sun, who bids their diamond blaze,
To paint our lilly deigns.
V.
Long had she fill'd each youth with love,
Each maiden with despair;
And tho' by all a wonder own'd,
Yet knew not she was fair.
Long had she fill'd each youth with love,
Each maiden with despair;
And tho' by all a wonder own'd,
Yet knew not she was fair.
VI.
Till Edwin came, the pride of swains,
A soul that knew no art;
And from whose eye, serenely mild,
Shone forth the feeling heart.
Till Edwin came, the pride of swains,
A soul that knew no art;
And from whose eye, serenely mild,
Shone forth the feeling heart.
VII.
A mutual flame was quickly caught;
Was quickly too reveal'd:
For neither bosom lodg'd a wish,
That virtue keeps conceal'd.
A mutual flame was quickly caught;
Was quickly too reveal'd:
For neither bosom lodg'd a wish,
That virtue keeps conceal'd.
VIII.
What happy hours of home-felt bliss
Did love on both bestow!
But bliss too mighty long to last,
Where fortune proves a foe.
What happy hours of home-felt bliss
Did love on both bestow!
But bliss too mighty long to last,
Where fortune proves a foe.
IX.
His Sister, who, like Envy form'd,
Like her in mischief joy'd,
To work them harm, with wicked skill,
Each darker art employ'd.
His Sister, who, like Envy form'd,
Like her in mischief joy'd,
To work them harm, with wicked skill,
Each darker art employ'd.
X.
The Father too, a sordid man,
Who love nor pity knew,
Was all-unfeeling as the clod,
From whence his riches grew.
The Father too, a sordid man,
Who love nor pity knew,
Was all-unfeeling as the clod,
From whence his riches grew.
XI.
Long had he seen their secret flame,
And seen it long unmov'd:
Then with a father's frown at last
Had sternly disapprov'd.
Long had he seen their secret flame,
And seen it long unmov'd:
Then with a father's frown at last
Had sternly disapprov'd.
XII.
In Edwin's gentle heart, a war
Of diff'ring passions strove:
His heart, that durst not disobey,
Yet could not cease to love.
In Edwin's gentle heart, a war
Of diff'ring passions strove:
His heart, that durst not disobey,
Yet could not cease to love.
XIII.
Deny'd her sight, he oft behind
The Spreading hawthorn crept,
To snatch a glance, to mark the spot
Where Emma walk'd and wept.
Deny'd her sight, he oft behind
The Spreading hawthorn crept,
To snatch a glance, to mark the spot
Where Emma walk'd and wept.
XIV.
Oft too on Stanemore's wintry waste,
Beneath the moonlight-shade,
In sighs to pour his soften'd soul,
The midnight-mourner stray'd.
Oft too on Stanemore's wintry waste,
Beneath the moonlight-shade,
In sighs to pour his soften'd soul,
The midnight-mourner stray'd.
XV.
His cheek, where health with beauty glow'd,
A deadly pale o'ercast:
So fades the fresh rose in its prime,
Before the northern blast.
His cheek, where health with beauty glow'd,
A deadly pale o'ercast:
So fades the fresh rose in its prime,
Before the northern blast.
XVI.
The parents now, with late remorse,
Hung o'er his dying bed;
And weary'd heaven with fruitless vows,
And fruitless sorrow shed.
The parents now, with late remorse,
Hung o'er his dying bed;
And weary'd heaven with fruitless vows,
And fruitless sorrow shed.
XVII.
'Tis past! he cried—but if your souls
Sweet mercy yet can move,
Let these dim eyes once more behold
What they must ever love!
'Tis past! he cried—but if your souls
Sweet mercy yet can move,
Let these dim eyes once more behold
What they must ever love!
XVIII.
She came; his cold hand softly touch'd,
And bath'd with many a tear;
Fast-falling o'er the primrose pale,
So morning-dews appear.
She came; his cold hand softly touch'd,
And bath'd with many a tear;
Fast-falling o'er the primrose pale,
So morning-dews appear.
XIX.
But oh! his sister's jealous care,
A cruel Sister she!
Forbade what EMMA came to say;
"My EDWIN live for me."
But oh! his sister's jealous care,
A cruel Sister she!
Forbade what EMMA came to say;
"My EDWIN live for me."
XX.
Now homeward as she hopeless wept
The church-yard path along,
The blast blew cold, the dark owl scream'd
Her lover's funeral song.
Now homeward as she hopeless wept
The church-yard path along,
The blast blew cold, the dark owl scream'd
Her lover's funeral song.
XXI.
Amid the falling gloom of night,
Her startling fancy found,
In every bush, his hov'ring shade,
His groan in ev'ry sound.
Amid the falling gloom of night,
Her startling fancy found,
In every bush, his hov'ring shade,
His groan in ev'ry sound.
XXII.
Alone, appall'd, thus had she past
The visionary vale—
When lo! the death-bell smote her ear,
Sad-sounding in the gale!
Alone, appall'd, thus had she past
The visionary vale—
When lo! the death-bell smote her ear,
Sad-sounding in the gale!
XXIII.
Just then she reach'd, with trembling step,
Her aged mother's door—
He's gone! she cry'd; and I shall see
That angel-face no more!
Just then she reach'd, with trembling step,
Her aged mother's door—
He's gone! she cry'd; and I shall see
That angel-face no more!
XXIV.
I feel, I feel this breaking heart
Beat high against my side—
From her white arm down sunk her head;
She shiv'ring sigh'd, and died.
I feel, I feel this breaking heart
Beat high against my side—
From her white arm down sunk her head;
She shiv'ring sigh'd, and died.
THE END.