474 
Armine and Elvira . 
<( On Sherwood’s old heroic plain, 
“ Elvira grac’d the festal day, 
“ There, foremost of the youthful train, 
u Her Armine bore the prize away. 
<£ There first that form my eye survey’d, 
With future hopes that fill’d my heart ; 
“ But ah ! beneath that frown they fade— 
u Depart, vain, vanquish’d hopes ! depart.” 
He said ; and on the ground his eyes 
Were fix’d abash’d : the attentive maid, 
Lost in the tumult of surprise, 
The well-remember’d youth survey’d. 
The transient colour went and came, 
The struggling bosom sunk and rose, 
The trembling tumults of her frame 
The strong-conflicting soul disclose. 
The time, the scene, she saw with dread, 
Like Cynthia setting glanc’d away, 
But scatter’d blushes, as she fled, 
Blushes, that spoke a brighter day. 
A friendly shepherd’s neighbouring shed 
To pass the live-long night he sought, 
And hope, the lover’s downy bed, 
A sweeter charm than slumber brought* 
On ev’ry thought Elvira dwelt, 
The tender air, the aspect kind, 
The pity that he found she felt, 
And all the angel in her mind. 
No self-plum’d vanity was there,. 
With fancy’d consequence elate 
Unknown to her the haughty air 
That means to speak superior statd. 
Her brow no keen resentments arm, 
No swell of empty pride she knew, 
In trivial minds that take the alarm. 
Should humble love inspire to sue. 
Such love, by flattering charms betray’d, 
Shall yet, indignant, soon rebel, 
And, blushing for the choice he made. 
Shall fly where gentler virtues dwell. 
