66 My life! my joy! my only love!" A voice at distance cries :· That voice her inmost soul could move, Now o'er the beach, with eager haste, Her aged father too appears, His much-lov'd wife in transport flies Yet views her lord with anxious eyes, The fond embrace he oft renews, And oft, with grief oppress'd, The fatal wreck again he views, And smites his trembling breast. "Lo! there," he cried, "the sad remains "Of my once boasted store, "For all the fruit of all our pains "Is sunk-to rise no more. "Yet should this b breast ne'er heave a groan "For all my fruitless care; "Did sorrow seize on me alone, "But ah! for thee my heart must grieve, "Still to our humble home confin'd, "A nymph to shine in courts design'd, "And brighten ev'ry joy. "In thought, by pleasing hope inspired, "I saw my child appear, "By all beloved, by all admired, "The fairest of the fair. "I saw her raised to pomp and state, "With fond delight my bosom glowed, "And Heaven the wished success bestowed "But ah! the dream is filed. "And thou, dear partner of each care, "This anxious heart has known; "Thou too, with me, hast felt thy share "Of hopes, for ever gone. "Thy thoughts, like mine, in time to come, "A scene of bliss enjoyed, " "Till one sad moment's fatal doom "The airy good destroyed. “And thou, with me, our loss must mourn, 66 Thy tears with mine descend; “And thus, alas! my wished return "Our transient joy must end." While thus with agonizing sighs They viewed the fatal place, By her own heart, his heart she knew, Ah! blest indeed the chosen few Serene and firm their joys shall prove, No mean suspicion taint their love, And now her soul with transport glows, And animates each grace; A smile, beyond what pleasure knows, "And is it thus, my friends," she cried, "When every storm is past, “When all our fears at once subside, "Thus do we meet at last? "O lift with me your hearts to Heaven "In strains of ardent praise, "With transport own the blessings given, "To crown our future days. 1 "How oft my fervent prayers arose "While terrors shook my soul, "To Him who could the storm compose, "And winds and waves control ? 66 My prayers are heard my fears are gone, My much-loved friends I see; 66 "I feel a joy till now unknown, "And can ye grieve for me? "Content I shared an humble fate, "Nor wished in courts to shine ;"The airy dream which pleased of late, "With joy I now resign. "What tho' no scenes of gay delight "Amuse each idle guest, "No costly luxuries invite "To share the splendid feast; "Yet Peace and Innocence shall smile, "And purer joys afford; "And Love secure from doubt or guile "Shall bless our humble board. "What tho' we boast nor wealth nor power, "Each sorrow to relieve, "A little, from our little store, "The poor shall yet receive; "And words of peace shall soothe the woe "Which riches could not heal, "And sweet benevolence bestow " An aid which all must feel; 66 Beyond the reach of Fortune's power, "Her gentle force extends; "She cheers Affliction's darkest hour, "Tho' here to narrow bounds confined, "In prosperous state, o'er all she showers "And trusts the rest to Heaven. "The lofty dwellings of the great "Yet starting from his short repose, "With anxious fear he dreads to lose "That good he ne'er could taste: "And oft beneath the silent shade "A noble heart remains, "Where Heaven's bright image is displayed, "And ev'ry virtue reigns: "Sweet peace and joy that heart shall find "Unmoved by grief or pain; "Be such the lot to us assigned, 6 And Fortune's frowns are vain — |