Ossian Collection > Gentleman's magazine, and historical chronicle > Volume 66, Part 2

632 SingttlarTakofLoveinhigh Life.' — Songs by a LadpfFoJhlon. [Aug.
tad for fo many years believed him-
felf Cure of pofleffing-yiv'.rA merk ?— the
reafon, he afTured his lady, that he had
fo carefully concealed it from her be-
fore his marriage, as, when once the
indiffolubh knot. was litd, he was quite
indifferent whether (he learned i: or
not; which (he did the hi it time (he
ever faw the parties together after her
marriage,
and taxed the gentleman
with ir7 The two la-iies lived in the
flriftelt friendihip that can be concei-
ved, each eftecmmg the other as a pro-
digy of amiable vvoithinefs for near
ten years ; for, fo long lingered, in its
tenement of day, the lovely (pirit of
ther/y%-/7%, the rej'lgned^ fair. Her
afFeftion jor, her delight in, the fine
children of lier (I cannot fay) rival
was delightful to all who knew the
little melancholy tale. I knew both
ladies well; and have more than once
heard one fay to the other, " Know-
ing my attachment to your hufband, as
you do know it, you muft have the
noblell heart that ever beat in a human
breatl to fend him perlbnally to
(the abode of her parents), to fpend
iluee wteks or a month, when you,
nurfing an infant, cannot accompany
Inni."' To which tl.e o;iier lepiicd :
*' I cannot fee any ncbknefs in it. /
havcKO jealoufv in my nature ; and. If I
had, do not I know that you both fear
God ? and, knowing that vour greateft
felicity on earth is enjoying his con-
veriation, ntuft I not be an hard-
hearted nvretcb not to contrive to moke
you hzi>py fosnctimei? 1 wiGi I could
do it aUvays." When on a long viilt at
— — , the married lady would conftant-
Iv hunt her hulband to her friend's
drelTtng-room, fur half an hour or an
hour every dny, to enjoy her fwcet (o-
ciety tete aie-'e, and, when he oDJtft-
ed that it might have an odd appear*
ranee, (he uled to reply, that, if it ap-
peared e'ven to her, nobody elfe could
objeft to it. I am perluadecl that the
furviving lady never ccafed to lament
the death of her rival friend, if (lie
might be ftykd a rival, the gentleman
almoft adoring his, wife, llie fmgle
lady has freciuently faid to me, " when
I facriticed to parental au-
thority, I never ccafcd to pray tluft, as
I could not marry him myfeli". Heaven
woulii fend him tlie woman upon earth
the mcA calculated to mike him hap-
py ; and, 1 M\ jure, if ever any prayer
nvat anfweied, that lias been, 10 my
grtai wOijfoi..iii\j;i."
As this is rather a fingular tale of
Love, l)ut ftri6\ly true (as, were the
blanks filled up, numbers who read it
would know), it may foothe fome, and
warn otheis— efpecially parents.
1.
NOW S«immer's gauJy charms are gone.
How does my ******** pafs the day i
Doll thou not mourn the diftant fun,
And grieve at his diminidi'd ray ?
Wlien languid drooping plants you fee,
Oh I thmk of abfence ; think of me !
When tedious evening (hades prevail.
Do the long hours unheeded wafte J
Perhaps o'er fome poetic tale,
In pleas'd attention, are they paft.'
When tend'reft woes defcrih'd you fee.
Oh 1 think of abfence ; think of me !
When rofy morning chears the plains
After a cold unjoyous night,
Oh ! think how long a fpace remains
Ere tlioii mull cheer thy Sylvia's fijht *
When boundlefs joylefs plains you fee.
Oh ! think of abfence ; think of me I
If focial mirth and fprightly joy
The ever-fmiimg moments drown »
If fports ths healthful moin employ,
And Evening wear a rofy crown j
Whatever gay around you fee,
Tet think of abfence ; think of me 1
But, (hould kind leifure with it bring
ReflcBim, I were bleft indeed ;
No genuine fentimsnt could fpring
From thence, but muft for Sylvia plead ;
If truth, if faith, can plead with thee,
Thou wilt in abfence think of me.
II.
IN vain, fond Tyrant, haft thou try'd
To dip in gall thy ilart ;
Thy poifons all to cordials change
■ Where Wifdom guards the heart. '
If black Defpair be in thy train,
In hen fair Patience fmiles ;
And Chearfulnefs from Duty fprings,
The tedious time beguj^, s.
For jeilous Hate and Envy, fee
Benevolence appears; —
Whoe'er (he be, ye Powers, prolong
And doubly blefs ker years !
Think'ft thou, blind Boy, my ftubbora
heart
Will e'er of thee complain ?
Or cion it diags, in reafin^fphc,
An heavy hopelefs chain .*
*^-^ A Novice in Natural Hiftory de-
fires to know where he can receive infor-
mation reipefting the Glow-worm, or any
of the Juminous tribe of infers, particular-
ly ihofe that creep; and where Mr. Urban
can obtain or copy drawings of theni J
Theodork's vesfes ars i-eceived.
Mr.