 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
29
WILLIAM and FANNY.
Bright was the morn, the landscape gay,
Onward young William rode;
Joyful the village to behold,
His Fanny's lov'd abode.
Onward young William rode;
Joyful the village to behold,
His Fanny's lov'd abode.
Unlike his former self he came,
In sure disguise array'd;
With unlook'd joy hoping to bless
His dear, his constant maid.
In sure disguise array'd;
With unlook'd joy hoping to bless
His dear, his constant maid.
In warblings sweet from every spray,
The feather'd choir combine;
While Love and Hope in William's breast,
The happy concert join.
The feather'd choir combine;
While Love and Hope in William's breast,
The happy concert join.
No magpye, no harsh raven's note,
Sinister bodings sound,
But thro' the air, Music and Love—
Blest omens!—float around.
Sinister bodings sound,
But thro' the air, Music and Love—
Blest omens!—float around.
The village opening to his view,
His fluttering pulse beat high,
Whilst tears, from Joy's rich fountain drawn,
Beam'd sparkling in his eye.
His fluttering pulse beat high,
Whilst tears, from Joy's rich fountain drawn,
Beam'd sparkling in his eye.
“Soon shall these eyes again, thank Heaven,
“Her angel form behold;
“Soon shall these wishing arms again,
“My lovely maid infold.”
“Her angel form behold;
“Soon shall these wishing arms again,
“My lovely maid infold.”
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He said; when lo, in sable guise,
From forth the church-yard way,
A silent train with downcast eyes,
Death's banners wide display.
From forth the church-yard way,
A silent train with downcast eyes,
Death's banners wide display.
The slow-tongu'd bell, with solemn toll,
A sad adieu exprest;
On ev'ry face a genuine grief,
Full deeply was imprest.
A sad adieu exprest;
On ev'ry face a genuine grief,
Full deeply was imprest.
Fierce as the eagle William dar'd,
When Pride its crest uprear'd;
Yet melting William as the dove,
Whene'er Distress appear'd.
When Pride its crest uprear'd;
Yet melting William as the dove,
Whene'er Distress appear'd.
“To what kind soul are these sad rites,
“With mournful rev'rence paid?”
A grey-hair'd peasant rais'd his eyes,
And, sighing, thus he said:
“With mournful rev'rence paid?”
A grey-hair'd peasant rais'd his eyes,
And, sighing, thus he said:
“If e'er you've known Love's wond'rous pow'r,
“The pitying tear prepare,
“Yon grave contains the sweetest flow'r,
“E'er nipt by cold Despair.
“The pitying tear prepare,
“Yon grave contains the sweetest flow'r,
“E'er nipt by cold Despair.
“Not sportive lambkin on the down
“More lively was than she;
“Not lambkin ever cropt the green,
“From guileful thoughts more free.
“More lively was than she;
“Not lambkin ever cropt the green,
“From guileful thoughts more free.
“Not apple-blossoms in the spring,
“Cou'd with her beauties vie;
“More graceful than the doe her shape,
“Sense sparkled in her eye.
“Cou'd with her beauties vie;
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“Sense sparkled in her eye.
“Soft tho' her bosom, yet untouch'd
“By Love's all-pow'rful flame,
“Till a young swain, of peerless worth,
“From yon blue uplands came.
“By Love's all-pow'rful flame,
“Till a young swain, of peerless worth,
“From yon blue uplands came.
“The pride of swains sweet William was,
“Thus shepherds all agree;
“A youth so manly, gentle, brave,
“I ne'er again shall see.
“Thus shepherds all agree;
“A youth so manly, gentle, brave,
“I ne'er again shall see.
“Each nymph beheld him with delight,
“Each swain with envious eyes;
“Ev'n Envy's self might stand excus'd,
“When Fanny was the prize.
“Each swain with envious eyes;
“Ev'n Envy's self might stand excus'd,
“When Fanny was the prize.
“They saw, they lov'd—So sweet a pair
“Ne'er grac'd our wond'ring plain,
“He seem'd by heav'n for her design'd,
“She for her upland swain.
“Ne'er grac'd our wond'ring plain,
“He seem'd by heav'n for her design'd,
“She for her upland swain.
“Their parents, friends, with glad accord
“Did on their passion smile;
“But Fate with Cruelty high rais'd
“Their hopes—but to beguile.
“Did on their passion smile;
“But Fate with Cruelty high rais'd
“Their hopes—but to beguile.
“Ah, what is Happiness?—A fly
“With tinsel'd wings so gay:
“Sure of the prize, we stretch our hands,
“'Tis gone—'Tis lost for ay.
“With tinsel'd wings so gay:
“Sure of the prize, we stretch our hands,
“'Tis gone—'Tis lost for ay.
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“Heading the needy highland clans,
“Onward, in threat'ning mood,
“Giant Rebellion came—to drench
“Our peaceful fields in blood.
“Onward, in threat'ning mood,
“Giant Rebellion came—to drench
“Our peaceful fields in blood.
“To save their country, Freedom's sons
“With gen'rous ardor flew;
“Never again, oh, may these eyes
“Such scenes of horror view.
“With gen'rous ardor flew;
“Never again, oh, may these eyes
“Such scenes of horror view.
“Young William's Lord, to whom both love
“And gratitude were bound,
“With William, foremost in his train,
“In Freedom's ranks were found.
“And gratitude were bound,
“With William, foremost in his train,
“In Freedom's ranks were found.
“Conquest with laurels William crowns,
“His worth ev'n foes approve;
“But, ah!—tho' Conquest crowns his arms,
“Despair—awaits his love.
“His worth ev'n foes approve;
“But, ah!—tho' Conquest crowns his arms,
“Despair—awaits his love.
“A Squire, for large possessions fam'd,
“Saw Fanny and ador'd;
“For charms like her's might captivate
“The heart—ev'n of a Lord.
“Saw Fanny and ador'd;
“For charms like her's might captivate
“The heart—ev'n of a Lord.
“He saw, and vows of ardent love,
“Impatiently he prest;
“Poor Fanny had no heart to give,
“'Twas lodg'd in William's breast.
“Impatiently he prest;
“Poor Fanny had no heart to give,
“'Twas lodg'd in William's breast.
“But cursed Av'rice, age's bane,
“Had froze her father's mind;
“She wept, she pray'd;—nor pray'rs nor tears
“Alas! cou'd pity find.
“Had froze her father's mind;
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“Alas! cou'd pity find.
“To feeling deaf—by riches lur'd,
“He laid his strict command;
“He dragg'd her to the church;—he forc'd
“Her cold, her heartless hand.
“He laid his strict command;
“He dragg'd her to the church;—he forc'd
“Her cold, her heartless hand.
“Wealth! what is wealth of Peace depriv'd?
“A glittering pois'nous toy;
“The night-shade's jetty shining fruit
“Allures, but to destroy.
“A glittering pois'nous toy;
“The night-shade's jetty shining fruit
“Allures, but to destroy.
“Scarce seven days gone, since Fanny wore
“The hated marriage chain;
“And but yestreen a broken heart,
“Freed Fanny from her pain.
“The hated marriage chain;
“And but yestreen a broken heart,
“Freed Fanny from her pain.
“But, Stranger, sure those looks of your's,
“Unusual feelings speak;
“The bridle quits your trembling hands,
“The blood forsakes your cheek.—”
“Unusual feelings speak;
“The bridle quits your trembling hands,
“The blood forsakes your cheek.—”
Down dropt poor William like a corse,
Upon the green-swaird laid;
By pitying peasants known, he's straight
To friendly roof convey'd.
Upon the green-swaird laid;
By pitying peasants known, he's straight
To friendly roof convey'd.
Reviv'd, heart-rending sighs and groans,
A fix'd despair confess;
But madness—sad relief!—arrives
To lighten his distress.
A fix'd despair confess;
But madness—sad relief!—arrives
To lighten his distress.
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When midnight came, from bed escap'd,
To Fanny's grave he flew;
There stretch'd, he Fanny call'd—and soon
To mis'ry bad adieu.
To Fanny's grave he flew;
There stretch'd, he Fanny call'd—and soon
To mis'ry bad adieu.
Cold as the lovely Fair within,
Next morn was William found;
Weeping, the village saw 'em laid
In the same hallow'd ground.
Next morn was William found;
Weeping, the village saw 'em laid
In the same hallow'd ground.
There nymphs and shepherds often meet,
To plight their vows so true,
And from a sympathy of soul,
Their grave with tears bedew.
To plight their vows so true,
And from a sympathy of soul,
Their grave with tears bedew.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |