 | Poetical Sketches |  |
7. PART THE SEVENTH.
CARMEL he seeks: the wandering maid he found,
And with each look inflicts a deeper wound;
She strove to veil her blushes from his sight,
And hide her terrors by a sudden flight;
Yet could not fly, nor scarce resolve to stay,
Her burning heart contending passions sway.
And with each look inflicts a deeper wound;
She strove to veil her blushes from his sight,
And hide her terrors by a sudden flight;
Yet could not fly, nor scarce resolve to stay,
Her burning heart contending passions sway.
Approaching her, with awe serene he spoke,
While from his eyes the light of virtue broke;
With humble dignity his crimes confess'd,
No rage against himself his words express'd:
Too well he knew, when swell'd by passion's tide,
How hard the task the throbbing heart to guide;
And penitence he felt, devoid of pride.
While from his eyes the light of virtue broke;
With humble dignity his crimes confess'd,
No rage against himself his words express'd:
Too well he knew, when swell'd by passion's tide,
How hard the task the throbbing heart to guide;
And penitence he felt, devoid of pride.
He view'd her with surprize, for while he speaks,
Delight—not anger, flush'd her modest cheeks;
Th' emotions of her soul her eyes pourtray,
Where transient fires in vivid flashes play:
Rekindling transports as he gaz'd arise,
Which ting'd his lips, and fir'd his rapt'rous eyes;
New sympathies within his bosom sprung,
Which warm in hope impel his glowing tongue:
Pure and refin'd his passions now appear,
His virtues strengthen'd, and his heart sincere;
His voice sublime his eyes alike inspire,
Pervade her soul, and fill her breast with fire:
Dubious no more, she seeks not to retreat,
Too strongly love did in her bosom beat;
Fast from her eyes the tears of transport flow,
Joy takes the language of her former woe;
Amid the shower a smile seraphic broke—
She gave her hand, and thus impassion'd spoke:
Delight—not anger, flush'd her modest cheeks;
136
Th' emotions of her soul her eyes pourtray,
Where transient fires in vivid flashes play:
Rekindling transports as he gaz'd arise,
Which ting'd his lips, and fir'd his rapt'rous eyes;
New sympathies within his bosom sprung,
Which warm in hope impel his glowing tongue:
Pure and refin'd his passions now appear,
His virtues strengthen'd, and his heart sincere;
His voice sublime his eyes alike inspire,
Pervade her soul, and fill her breast with fire:
Dubious no more, she seeks not to retreat,
Too strongly love did in her bosom beat;
Fast from her eyes the tears of transport flow,
Joy takes the language of her former woe;
Amid the shower a smile seraphic broke—
She gave her hand, and thus impassion'd spoke:
"I seek not to restrain my throbbing heart,
"Nor veil its candour with the show of art;
"Forgiveness beams upon thee from mine eyes,
"While all thy virtues to my memory rise.
"Within I feel such powerful sympathy,
"Such strong attraction of my soul to thee,
"That no false pride in this important hour
"Swerves my pure heart with its tyrannic power.
"With agony I saw excess controul
"A mind whose grandeur ever aw'd my soul;
"Thy wonderous songs, replete with genuine fire,
"The love of nature which those songs inspire,
"Were in my heart impress'd with power divine;
"In vain I strove thine image to resign,
"And mourn'd the fall of such a soul as thine:
"But now thy penitence o'erjoy'd I view,
"And yield my heart, as to thy virtue due."
"Nor veil its candour with the show of art;
137
"Forgiveness beams upon thee from mine eyes,
"While all thy virtues to my memory rise.
"Within I feel such powerful sympathy,
"Such strong attraction of my soul to thee,
"That no false pride in this important hour
"Swerves my pure heart with its tyrannic power.
"With agony I saw excess controul
"A mind whose grandeur ever aw'd my soul;
"Thy wonderous songs, replete with genuine fire,
"The love of nature which those songs inspire,
"Were in my heart impress'd with power divine;
"In vain I strove thine image to resign,
"And mourn'd the fall of such a soul as thine:
"But now thy penitence o'erjoy'd I view,
"And yield my heart, as to thy virtue due."
He heard, while joy redoubled in his breast,
And strong emotions every look express'd;
Sublime his soul its ardent love pourtray'd,
But most his future life his gratitude display'd.
And strong emotions every look express'd;
Sublime his soul its ardent love pourtray'd,
But most his future life his gratitude display'd.
| Poetical Sketches | |