i4« THE BEE, OR Jan. 26. 



Abfence—An Ode. 



Of joys departed 

 Never to return, how painful the remembrance ! 



Blair. 



jL E dark rugged rocks that recline o'er the deep, 



Ye breezes that figh o'er the main. 

 Here flicker me under your clifFs, while I weep, , 



And ceafe, while ye hear me complain ; 

 For diftant, alas ! from my dear native fhores, 



And far from each friend now I be -, 

 And wide is the mercilefs ocean, that roars 



Between my Matilda and me. 



How blefl: were the times when together we ftray'd 



(While Phoebe fhone filent above) 

 Beneath the lone beeches' mild cheequering fhade, 



And talk'd the whole evening of love ! 

 Around us all Nature lay wrapt up in peace, 



Nor noife could our pleafures annoy. 

 Save Cartha's hoarfe brawling, convey'd on the brecEC, 



That footh'd us to love and to joy. 



If haply, fonie youth bad his paflien exprcfs'd. 



And prais'd the bright charms of her face. 

 What horrors, unceafmg, revolv'd thro' my breafl, . 



While, fighing, I ftole from the place! 

 For where is the eye that could view her alone 



The ear that could lift to her ftrain. 

 Nor wifh the adorable Nymph for his own, 



Nor double the pangs I fuftain ! 



Thou Moon ! that now brightens thofe regions above, 



How oft haft thou witnefs'd my blifs ! 

 While breathing my tender exprelfions of love, 



I fcal'd each kind vow with a kifs. 



