The Wanderer
A SENTIMENTAL BALLAD .
With heavy clouds roll'd on the night,
And all was hush'd and still!
When lost L AVINIA took her flight,
And climb'd the neighb'ring hill.
Unheeded was the dreary gloom,
For Love and deep despair
Had seized her heart — nor left it room
For fears to harbour there. —
" Oh sable night! " she sadly cried,
" Methinks, thy shades I see
" All ready, like the grave, to hide
" My silent griefs and me!
" The breeze which faintly murmurs round,
" My Dirge may whisper here!
" Tho' Pity ne'er shall hear the sound,
" Nor drop her angel tear.
" No feign'd regrets these eyes shall see,
" No flattery sooth my breast;
" Cold Death my partner soon shall be,
" And give my sorrows rest! "
Pale from the thicket from afar,
There shone a glimm'ring light,
Which seem'd, like some benignant star,
To set the Wand'rer right.
Whilst one faint spark of Nature burns,
For safety still we sigh;
And even exhausted Sorrow turns
Its meek and thankful eye!
L AVINIA , with a falt'ring prayer,
Beheld the beaming spot,
And soon she reach'd, with trembling care,
A lonely, wretched cot!
A wretched cot, indeed, was this,
And spoke the inmate poor,
And lordly grandeur well might miss
The shatter'd, humble door.
Admittance was it bound to yield —
One touch — it open flew!
And scarce a tatter'd couch conceal'd
A wretched form from view.
'Twas feeble Age, by Sickness bow'd,
Yet patient and serene;
The gay — the heedless — and the proud
Might even respect the scene.
Tho' Misery on the broken wall
Had wrote her history clear,
A heav'nly ray embellish'd all —
For Virtue languish'd here!
" And wherefore — Oh, my wand'ring child —
" And wherefore art thou come?
" Thy look with misery, sure, is wild,
" And asks a friendly home!
" Oh! cou'd I prove a fost'ring friend!
" But Heaven ordains it right —
" And even this homely cot may give
" A shelter for the night.
" Some fragments too may still be found,
" Tho' poor, alas! they be —
" 'Tis better, still, than earth's cold ground,
" Tho' sure unfit for thee!"
The feelings of a grateful heart
In vain for utt'rance seek,
And silent tears and sobs impart,
What Nature cannot speak!
L AVINIA ! 'twas a precious hour!
Thy anguish to console;
And oh, let soft Compassion's power
Revive thy fainting soul!
" Oh dearest — kindest — gentlest Dame!
(With broken words she said)
" Grant me — oh grant a Daughter's claim
" To share thy humble shed!
" With filial, fond domestic care,
" My youthful hours I'll give —
" Thy counsel sweet, thy pious pray'r,
" May teach a wretch to live.
" And blest shall prove my toilsome hour,
" And light shall be my lot,
" If aught in poor L AVINIA'S pow'r
" Can cheer thy dismal cot. "
A smile benignant o'er the face
Of faded sickness play'd —
" And canst thou in this mournful place
" Devote thy friendly aid?
" And canst thou seek declining Age,
" Which feels neglect severe?
" And ev'n the restless pang assuage,
" When Death shall hover near?
" Then oh, a soothing angel dwell!
" I take thy offers free;
" And Heav'n, my child, which loves thee well
" Will guard thy steps and thee!"
With heavy clouds roll'd on the night,
And all was hush'd and still!
When lost L AVINIA took her flight,
And climb'd the neighb'ring hill.
Unheeded was the dreary gloom,
For Love and deep despair
Had seized her heart — nor left it room
For fears to harbour there. —
" Oh sable night! " she sadly cried,
" Methinks, thy shades I see
" All ready, like the grave, to hide
" My silent griefs and me!
" The breeze which faintly murmurs round,
" My Dirge may whisper here!
" Tho' Pity ne'er shall hear the sound,
" Nor drop her angel tear.
" No feign'd regrets these eyes shall see,
" No flattery sooth my breast;
" Cold Death my partner soon shall be,
" And give my sorrows rest! "
Pale from the thicket from afar,
There shone a glimm'ring light,
Which seem'd, like some benignant star,
To set the Wand'rer right.
Whilst one faint spark of Nature burns,
For safety still we sigh;
And even exhausted Sorrow turns
Its meek and thankful eye!
L AVINIA , with a falt'ring prayer,
Beheld the beaming spot,
And soon she reach'd, with trembling care,
A lonely, wretched cot!
A wretched cot, indeed, was this,
And spoke the inmate poor,
And lordly grandeur well might miss
The shatter'd, humble door.
Admittance was it bound to yield —
One touch — it open flew!
And scarce a tatter'd couch conceal'd
A wretched form from view.
'Twas feeble Age, by Sickness bow'd,
Yet patient and serene;
The gay — the heedless — and the proud
Might even respect the scene.
Tho' Misery on the broken wall
Had wrote her history clear,
A heav'nly ray embellish'd all —
For Virtue languish'd here!
" And wherefore — Oh, my wand'ring child —
" And wherefore art thou come?
" Thy look with misery, sure, is wild,
" And asks a friendly home!
" Oh! cou'd I prove a fost'ring friend!
" But Heaven ordains it right —
" And even this homely cot may give
" A shelter for the night.
" Some fragments too may still be found,
" Tho' poor, alas! they be —
" 'Tis better, still, than earth's cold ground,
" Tho' sure unfit for thee!"
The feelings of a grateful heart
In vain for utt'rance seek,
And silent tears and sobs impart,
What Nature cannot speak!
L AVINIA ! 'twas a precious hour!
Thy anguish to console;
And oh, let soft Compassion's power
Revive thy fainting soul!
" Oh dearest — kindest — gentlest Dame!
(With broken words she said)
" Grant me — oh grant a Daughter's claim
" To share thy humble shed!
" With filial, fond domestic care,
" My youthful hours I'll give —
" Thy counsel sweet, thy pious pray'r,
" May teach a wretch to live.
" And blest shall prove my toilsome hour,
" And light shall be my lot,
" If aught in poor L AVINIA'S pow'r
" Can cheer thy dismal cot. "
A smile benignant o'er the face
Of faded sickness play'd —
" And canst thou in this mournful place
" Devote thy friendly aid?
" And canst thou seek declining Age,
" Which feels neglect severe?
" And ev'n the restless pang assuage,
" When Death shall hover near?
" Then oh, a soothing angel dwell!
" I take thy offers free;
" And Heav'n, my child, which loves thee well
" Will guard thy steps and thee!"
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