Armine and Elvira* 
473 
« Far gentler thoughts—” his faulting tongue.. 
By humble diffidence restrain’d, 
Paus’d in suspence— but thus ere long, 
As love impell’d, its power regain’d. 
li Far gentler thoughts that form inspires ; 
“ With me far gentler passions dwell ; 
a This heart hides only blameless fires, 
“ Yet burns with what it fears to tell. 
“ The fault’ring voice that fears controul, 
a Blushes that inward fires declare, 
u Each tender tumult o.f the soul 
a In silence owns Elvira there.” 
He said ; and as the trembling dove, 
Sent forth to explore the wat’ry plain, 
Soon fear’d her flight might fatal prove. 
And sudden nought her ark again. 
His heart recoil’d ; as one that ru’d 
What he too hastily confest, 
And all the rising soul subdu’d, 
Sought refuge in his inmost breast. 
The tender strife Elvira saw 
Distrest ; and as some parent mild, 
When arm’d with words and looks of a\ve. 
Melts o’er the terrours of her child. 
Reproof prepar’d and angry fear 
In soft sensations died away : 
They felt the force of Armine’s tear, 
And fled from pity’s rising sway. 
u That mournful voice, that modest air, 
“ Young stranger, speak the courteous breast, 
u Then why to these rude scenes repair, 
il Of shades the solitary guest ? 
“ And who is she, whose fortunes bear 
il Elvira’s melancholy name ? 
O may those fortunes prove more fair, 
u Than her’s, who sadly owns the same 1 
44 Ah ! gentle maid, in mine survey 
“ A heart,” he cries, « that’s your’s alone I 
* Long has it own’d Elvira’s sway, 
“ The’ long vmnofck’d and unknown. 
