It chanc't the noble master of the dome Still made his house the wand'ring stranger's home: The pair arrive: the liv'ry'd servants wait; 55 Then led to reft, the day's long toil they drown: Deep funk in fleep, and filk, and heaps of down. 60 At length 'tis morn, and at the dawn of day, Along the wide canals the Zephyrs play: Fresh o'er the gay parterres the breezes creep, And shake the neighb'ring wood to banish sleep. Up rife the guests, obedient to the call: 65 An early banquet deck'd the fplendid hall; The fhining spoil his wiley partner show'd. 71 75 He stopp'd with filence, walk'd with trembling heart, And much he wish'd, but durft not ask to part: Murm'ring he lifts his eyes, and thinks it hard, That generous actions meet a base reward. 80 While thus they pass, the fun his glory shrouds, The changing kies hang out their fable clouds; A found in air prefag'd approaching rain, And beasts to covert fcud across the plain. Warn'd by the figns, the wand'ring pair retreat, To seek for shelter at a neighb'ring feat. 'Twas built with turrets, on a rifing ground, And ftrong, and large, and unimprov'd around; Its owner's temper, tim'rous and severe, Unkind and griping, caus'd a defert there. 86 As near the Mifer's heavy doors they drew, Fierce rifing gufts with fudden fury blew; The nimble lightning mix'd with fhow'rs began, And o'er their heads loud-rolling thunder ran. Here long they knock, but knock or call in vain, Driv'n by the wind, and battered by the rain. At length fome pity warm'd the mafter's breaft, ('Twas then his threshold first receiv'd a guest); Slow creaking turns the door with jealous care, And half he welcomes in the shivering pair; 100 One frugal faggot lights the naked walls, And nature's fervor thro' their limbs recals : Bread of the courfeft fort, with eager wine, (Each hardly granted) ferv'd them both to dine; And when the tempeft first appear'd to cease, 105 A ready warning bid them part in peace. With still remark the pond'ring Hermit view'd, In one so rich, a life so poor and rude; And why should fuch (within himself he cry'd,) When from his veft the young companion bore 115 But now the clouds in airy tumult fly; The fun emerging opes an azure sky; A fresher green the smelling leaves difplay, And, glitt'ring as they tremble, cheer the day; The weather courts them from the poor retreat, And the glad mafter bolts the wary gate. While hence they walk, the Pilgrim's bofom wrought With all the travel of uncertain thought; His partner's acts without their cause appear, 125 "Twas there a vice, and feem'd a madness here: Detefting that, and pitying this, he goes, Loft and confounded with the various shows. Now night's dim shades again involve the sky, Again the wand'rers want a place to lye, The foil improv'd around, the mansion neat, It seem'd to speak its master's turn of mind, 145 Without a vain, without a yielding heart, 140 To him who gives us all, I yield a part; From him you come, for him accept you here, A frank and fober, more than coftly cheer: He spoke, and bid the welcome table spread, Then talk'd of virtue till the time of bed, When the grave houfhold round his hall repair, Warn'd by a bell, and close the hours with pray'r. At length the world, renew'd by calm repose, Was ftrong for toil; the dappled morn arose; Before the pilgrims part, the younger crept, 150 Near the clos'd cradle where an infant flept, And writh'd his neck: the landlord's little pride, Oftrange return! grew black, and gasp’d, and dy’d. Horrour of horrours! what! his only fon! How look'd our Hermit when the fact was done? Not hell, tho' hell's black jaws in funder part, And breathe blue fire, cou'd more affault his heart. Confus'd, and ftruck with filence at the deed, He flies, but trembling fails to fly with speed. His fteps the youth purfues; the country lay 160 And moves in all the majefty of light. 180 Though loud at firft the pilgrim's paffion grew, Sudden he gaz'd, and wist not what to do; Surprize in fecret chains his words fufpends, And in a calm his fettling temper ends. But filence here the beauteous Angel broke (The voice of mufic ravifh'd as he spoke). 185 |