XXVIII. “Each hour a mercenary crowd Amongst the rest young Edwin bow'd, (3) [This stanza, which was written some years after the rest of the poem, was presented in manuscript by Goldsmith to Richard Archdal, Esq., of Ireland] (4) ["Whene'er he spoke amidst the train, How would my heart attend! And till delighted even to pain, How sigh for such a friend ! "And THE HERMIT. XXXII. "The dew, the blossom on the tree, XXXIII. "For still I tried each fickle art, Importunate and vain ; And while his passion touch'd my heart, I triumph'd in his pain. XXXIV. “Till quite dejected with my scorn, "And when a little rest I sought, "Yet still (and woe betide the hour!) I spurn'd him from my side, And still with ill-dissembled power, Repaid his love with pride."-First edit.] (1) ["Till quite dejected with my scorn, And sought a solitude forlorn, "Then since he perish'd by my fault, (2) [Imit." And grew so coy and nice to please, He might not kisse, nor hand forsooth, "Thus being wearyed with delayes, To see I pittyed not his greeffe, He gott him to a secret place, And there he dyed without releeffe."-Gentle Herdsman.] XXXV. "But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, XXXVI. "And there forlorn, despairing, hid, And so for him will I." (2) XXXVII. "Forbid it Heaven!" the Hermit cry'd, And clasp'd her to his breast : The wond'ring fair one turn'd to chide,'Twas Edwin's self that prest. (1) [Imit." And for his sake these weeds I weare, And sacrifice my tender age; And every day Ile beg my bread, "Thus every day I fast and pray, And ever will doe till I dye; And gett me to some secret place, For so did he, and soe will I."-Gentle Herdsman.] (2) ["And there in shelt'ring thickets hid, I'll linger till I die : 'Twas thus for me my lover did, And so for him will I. "Thou shalt not thus, the Hermit cried, And clasp'd her to his breast: The astonish'd fair one turned to chide,- "For now no longer could he hide, What first to hide he strove; His looks resume their youthful pride, And flush with honest love."-First edit.] XXXVIII. "Turn, Angelina, ever dear, Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here, XXXIX. "Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And ev'ry care resign : And shall we never, never part, My life, my all that's mine? XL. "No, never, from this hour to part, (1) ["No, never, from this hour to part, And the last sigh that rends the heart, Shall break thy Edwin's too."-First edit. (2) [Here followed in the original draught: "Here amidst sylvan bowers we'll rove, From lawn to woodland stray; Blest as the songsters of the grove, And innocent as they. "To all that want, and all that wail, Our pity shall be given, And when this life of love shall fail, We'll love again in heaven."] |