Before them Death with shrieks directs their way, Fills the wild yell, and leads them to their prey. "Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day, "When first from Schiraz' walls I bent my way!"

At that dread hour the silent asp shall creep, If aught of rest I find, upon my sleep: Or some swoln serpent twist his scales around, And wake to anguish with a burning wound. Thrice happy they, the wise contented poor, From lust of wealth, and dread of death secure! They tempt no deserts, and no griefs they find; Peace rules the day where reason rules the mind. "Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day, "When first from Schiraz' walls I bent my way!"

O hapless youth! for she thy love hath won,

The tender Zara will be most undone !

Big swell'd my heart, and own'd the powerful maid,

When fast she dropt her tears, as thus she said:

"Farewell the youth whom sighs could not detain, "Whom Zara's breaking heart implor'd in vain!

"Yet as thou goest may every blast arise

"Weak, and unfelt as these rejected sighs!

"Safe o'er the wild, no perils may'st thou see,

"No griefs endure, nor weep, false youth, like me!"

Oh let me safely to the fair return,

Say, with a kiss, she must not, shall not mourn;

Oh! let me teach my heart to lose its fears,
Recall'd by Wisdom's voice, and Zara's tears.

He said, and call'd on Heaven to bless the day,
When back to Schiraz' walls he bent his way.

ECLOGUE III.

ABRA; OR, THE GEORGIAN SULTANA,

SCENE, A FOREST.

TIME, THE EVENING.

IN Georgia's land, where Tefflis' towers are seen,

In distant view along the level green,

While evening dews enrich the glittering glade,

And the tall forests cast a longer shade,

What time 'tis sweet o'er fields of rice to stray, Or scent the breathing maize at setting day; Amidst the maids of Zagen's peaceful grove, Emyra sung the pleasing cares of love.

Of Abra first began the tender strain,

Who led her youth with flocks upon the plain:

At morn she came her willing flocks to lead,
Where lilies rear them in the watery mead;

From early dawn the live-long hours she told,
"Till late at silent eve she penn'd the fold.

Deep in the grove, beneath the secret shade,

A various wreath of odorous flowers she made:

*Gay-motley'd pinks and sweet jonquils she chose, The violet blue that on the moss-bank grows;

All sweet to sense, the flaunting rose was there: The finish'd chaplet well adorn'd her hair.

Great Abbas chanc'd that fated morn to stray,

By love conducted from the chase away;

* These flowers are found in very great abundance in some of the provinces of Persia,

Among the vocal vales he heard her song,

And sought the vales and echoing groves among: At length he found, and wooed the rural maid; She knew the monarch, and with fear obey'd. "Be every youth like royal Abbas mov'd, "And every Georgian maid like Abra lov'd."

The royal lover bore her from the plain;

Yet still her crook and bleating flock remain:
Oft, as she went, she backward turn'd her view,
And bade that crook and bleating flock adieu.
Fair, happy maid! to other scenes remove,

To richer scenes of golden power and love!
Go, leave the simple pipe, and shepherd's strain;
With love delight thee, and with Abbas reign.

C