Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day, • At that dead 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 wonThe 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 go'st, 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.' -O let me safely to the fair return; Say, with a kiss, she must not, shall not mourn: O! let me teach my heart to lose its fears, He said; and call'd on heaven to bless the day When back to Schiraz' walls he bent his way. ABRA; OR, THE GEORGIAN SULTANA. [IBID.] SCENE-A FOREST. TIME, THE EVENING. IN Georgia's land, where Tefflis' towers are seen, While evening dews enrich the glittering glade, Of Abra first began the tender strain, At morn she came those willing flocks to lead, Great Abbas chanc'd that fated morn to stray, By Love conducted from the chase away; Among the vocal vales he heard her song; And sought, the vales and echoing groves among; At length he found, and woo'd, 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; 'Be every youth like royal Abbas mov'd; Yet, 'midst the blaze of courts, she fix'd her love On the cool fountain, or the shady grove; Still, with the shepherd's innocence, her mind To the sweet vale, and flowery mead, inclin'd: And, oft as Spring renew'd the plains with flowers, Breath'd his soft gales, and led the fragrant hours, With sure return she sought the sylvan scene, The breezy mountains, and the forests green. Her maids around her mov'd, a duteous band! Each bore a crook, all-rural, in her hand! Some simple lay, of flocks and herds they sung; With joy the mountain, and the forest rung. 'Be every youth like royal Abbas mov'd; 'And every Georgian maid like Abra lov'd!' And oft the royal lover left the care And thought of crowns, and busy courts, no more. 'Be every youth like royal Abbas mov'd; Blest was the life that royal Abbas led: Be every youth like royal Abbas mov'd; AGIB AND SECANDER; OR, THE FUGITIVES. [IBID.] SCENE-A MOUNTAIN IN CIRCASSIA, TIME, MIDNIGHT. IN fair Circassia, where, to love inclin❜d, Each swain was blest, for every maid was kind; At that still hour when awful midnight reigus, And none but wretches haunt the twilight plains; |