The trees no more their wonted verdure boast, Whether those stars that twinkling luftre fend But this we know, that heaven's eternal King, To other lands a rifing day he lends: The spreading dawn another shepherd fpies, And bids the plough correct the fallow foil. The climes oppos'd enjoy meridian light; And when those lands the busy fun forfakes, When the pure foul is from the body flown, The stars shall drop, the fun shall lose his flame, THE NUN. AN ELEGY. WITH each perfection dawning on her mind, Say, gentle maid, what prompts thee to forfake And wafte in cloifter'd walls thy penfive hours? Let fober thought restrain thine erring zeal, That guides thy footsteps to the vestal gate, Left thy foft heart (this friendship bids reveal) Like mine unblest, should mourn like mine too late. Does fome angelic lonely-whisp'ring voice, There, kneeling at yon' altar's marble base (While streams of rapture from thine eye-lid steal, And smiling Heav'n illumes thy foul with grace), Pronounce the vow thou never can'ft repeal. Yet if mifled by falfe entitled friends, Who fay---"That Peace with all her comely train, "From starry regions to this clime defcends, "Smooths ev'ry frown, and foftens ev'ry pain: "That veftals tread contentment's flow'ry lawn, Suspect their fyren song and artful style, Their pleafing founds fome treach'rous thought conFull oft does pride with fainted voice beguile, [ceal! And fordid int'rest wear the mask of zeal. A tyrant abbefs here perchance may reign, Who, fond of pow'r, affects the imperial nod, Looks down disdainful on her female train, And rules the cloister with an iron rod. Reflection fickens at the life-long tie, Back-glancing mem'ry acts her busy part, Its charms the world, unfolds to fancy's eye, And sheds allurement on the wishful heart. Lo! Difcord enters at the facred porch, Rage in her frown, and terror on her crest: Ev'n at the hallow'd lamps fhe lights her torch, And holds it flaming to each virgin breaft. But fince the legends of monaftic bliss By fraud are fabled, and by youth believ'd, Unbought experience learn from my distress, Oh! mark my lot, and be no more deceiv'd. Three luftres fcarce with hafty wing were fled, And (blush ye parents!) by a father's hand. Yet then what folemn scenes deceiv'd my choice! The pealing organ's animating found, The choral virgin's captivating voice, The blazing altar, and the priests around; 37 The train of youths array'd in purest white, Who scatter'd myrtles as I pass'd along; The thousand lamps that pour'd a flood of light, The kifs of peace from all the vestal throng; The golden cenfer tofs'd with graceful hand, With blooming chaplets wove around their head. ---My willing foul was caught in rapture's flame, While facred ardour glow'd in ev'ry vein: Methought applauding angels fung my name, And heaven's unfullied glories gilt the fane. This temporary transport soon expir'd, My drooping heart confefs'd a dreadful void: E'er fince, alas! abandon'd, uninfpir'd, I tread this dome to mifery allied. No wakening joy informs my fullen breast, No faint defcends to footh my foul to reft, 'Here haggard Difcontent ftill haunts my view; The fombre genius reigns in ev'ry place, Arrays each virtue in the darkeft hue, Chills ev'ry prayer, and cancels ev'ry grace. |