936 ANNUAL;REGISTER, 1804. 



To wander o'er the world with him she lov'd ; 

 Nor was his birth ignoble, for he shone 

 ^Mid England's gallant youth in ikl ward's reign — 

 With countenance erect, and honest eye, 

 Commanding, (yet suflus'd in tinderntss 

 At times) and smiles that like the lightning play'd 

 On his brown cheek, — so gently stern he stood, 

 Accomplish'd, gen'rous, gentle, brave, sincere, — 

 Robert A Machin. But the sulk-n pride 

 Of liaughty D'Arfet scorn'd all other claim 

 To his high heritage, save what the pomp 

 Of amplest wealth, and loftier lineage gave*. 

 Reckless of human tenderness, that seeks 

 One lov^d, one honour'd object : wealth alone 

 He worshipp'd ; and for this he could consign 

 His only child, his aged hope, to loath'd 

 Embraces, and a life of tears 1 Nor here 

 His hard ambition ended ; for he sought, 

 By secret whispers of conspiracies, 

 His sovereign to abuse, bidding him lift 

 His arm avenging, and upon a youth 

 Of promise, close the dark forgotten gates 

 Of living sepulture, and in the gloom 

 Inhume the slovply-wasting victim. — 

 He purpos'd, but in vain : the ardent youth 

 Bescu'd her — her whom more than life he lov'd, 

 E'en when the horrid day of sacrifice 

 . Drew nigh. He pointed to the distant bark, 

 And while he kiss'd a stealing tear that fell 

 On her pale cheek, as trusting, she redin'd 

 Her head upon his breast, with ardour cry'd, 

 *' Be mine, be only mine ; the hour invites ; 

 *' Be mine, be only mine." So won, she cast 

 A look of last aft'ection on the towers 

 Where she had pass'd her infant days, that novf 

 Shone to the setting snn — " I follow thee," 

 Her faint voice said ; and lo ! where in the air 

 A sail hangs tremulous, and soon her steps 

 Ascend the vessel's side : The vessel glides 

 Down the smooth current, as the I'wilight fades. 

 Till soon the woods of Severn, and the spot 

 Where D'Arfet's solitary turrets rose, 

 Is lost — a tear starts to her eye — she thinks 

 Of him whose grey head to the earth shall bend, 

 When he speaks nothing — but be all, like death, 

 Forgotten. Gently blows the placid breeze, 



*" Machin was of the third order of nobility. 



And 



