"His aged widow and his daughter live, "Whom yet my fruitless search could never find. "Romantic wish! would this his daughter were!" When, strict enquiring, from herself he found The mingled passions that surpriz'd his heart, "And art thou then Acasto's dear remains? "She, whom my restless gratitude has sought "So long in vain: O heavens! the very same, "The soften'd image of my noble friend, "Alive his ev'ry look, his ev'ry feature, "More elegantly touch'd. Sweeter than Spring, "Thou sole surviving blossom from the root "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; "Though poverty's cold wind, and crushing rain, “Beat keen and heavy on thy tender years? "O let me now, into a richer soil tr [show'rs Transplant thee safe, where vernal suns and "Diffuse their warmest, largest influence; "And of my garden be the pride and joy! "Ill it befits thee, O it ill befits. "Acasto's daughter, his, whose open stores, "Tho' vast, were little to his ampler heart, "The father of a country, thus to pick "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; "If to the various blessings which thy house "Has on me lavish'd, thou wilt add that bliss, "That dearest bliss, the pow'r of blessing thee!" Here ceas'd the youth: yet still his speaking eye Express'd the sacred triumph of his soul, With conscious virtue, gratitude, and love, 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. The news immediate to her mother brought, Amaz'd, and scarce believing what she heard, THE ROYAL PENITENT. DANIEL. GREAT GOD! with conscious blushes, lo, I come To cry for pardon, or receive my doom: But O, I die when I thy anger meet, How can I dare to sue for a reprieve? Thy justice will not let thy mercy flow, Strike then, O strike, and give the deadly blow. The inexhausted tokens of thy love? This unexampled goodness wounds me more Than ev'n the wrath I merited before. O, I am all a blot, the foulest shame Rais'd and exalted to the first degree, Thy heav'nly will had made the monarch free : Indulg'd in ease, I rul'd without controul, And to its utmost wish enjoy'd my soul: Vain boast of pow'r which vanish'd into air, Since I forgot the LORD who fix'd me there. Was it for this thou gav'st the glorious land, And thy own flock committed to my hand? Was I the shepherd to go first astray, Till innocence itself became my prey ? Ah! no- -the fault was mine, I stand alone, To plead surprisal is a poor abuse, What can I say to palliate, or excuse? I broke thro' all, though conscience did her part, Amazing terrors in my bosom roll, And damp the rising vigour of my soul; |