70 



In glowing charms each panting beauty lay ; 

 Harmonious with surrounding Nature s fires 

 And dreaming thoughts that dreamy Love inspires. 

 While some from valves, in wild, mischievous play, 

 O er sleeping comrades jerk the cooling spray, 

 Or slily crack the sea-weed s slimy fruit 

 Where ardent lover presses earnest suit, 

 Or nip the bee, or gaudy summer fly 

 As skimming the stream they flit exulting by. 

 Or watch, perchance, swift darting from the skies 

 The screaming hawk secure his scaly prize, 

 Or mark the nimble trout, in sportive mood, 

 Leap from the stream and frolic in the flood, 

 Basking his glittering sides in noontide rays, 

 Or devious paddling, in a sluggish ease, 

 While various songsters from each pensile limb 

 That hung umbrageous o er the sun-lit stream. 

 The languid air with warbled richness cloy, 

 Telling in music all their amorous joy. 

 As thus, the pleasures of their simple homes 

 They various see a deeper anguish comes 

 O er each fond bosom, and in hopeless tears 

 Fond memory lingering murmurs, while appears 

 Despair with sable banner, through the gloom, 

 And waves them on, reluctant, to their doom. 



