May Day with the Muses Part 4

Would Philip dance, and leave his girl behind?

She in her bosom hid a written prize, Inestimably rich in Philip's eyes; The warm effusion of a heart that glow'd With joy, with love, and hope by Heaven bestow'd.

He woo'd, he soothed, and every art a.s.say'd, To hush the scruples of the bashful maid, Drawing, at length, against her weak command, Reluctantly the treasure from her hand: And would have read, but pa.s.sion chain'd his tongue, He turn'd aside, and down the ballad flung; And paused so long from feeling and from shame, That old Sir Ambrose halloo'd him by name: "Bring it to me, my lad, and never fear, "I never blamed true love, or scorn'd a tear; "They well become us, e'en where branded most."

He came, and made a proxy of his host, Who, as the dancers cooling join'd the throng, Eyed the fair writer as he read her song.

ROSAMOND'S SONG OF HOPE.

Sweet Hope, so oft my childhood's friend, I will believe thee still, For thou canst joy with sorrow blend, Where grief alone would kill.

When disappointments wrung my heart, Ill brook'd in tender years, Thou, like a sun, perform'dst thy part, And dried my infant tears.

When late I wore the bloom of health, And love had bound me fast, My buoyant heart would sigh by stealth For fear it might not last.

My sickness came, my bloom decay'd, But Philip still was by; And thou, sweet Hope, so kindly said, "He'll weep if thou should'st die."

Thou told'st me too, that genial Spring Would bring me health again; I feel its power, but cannot sing Its glories yet for pain.

But thou canst still my heart inspire, And Heaven can strength renew; I feel thy presence, holy fire!

My Philip will be true.

All eyes were turn'd, all hearts with pity glow'd, The maid stood trembling, and the lover bow'd As rose around them, while she dried her tears, "Long life to Rosamond, and happy years!"

Scarce had the voices ceased, when forth there came Another candidate for village fame: By grat.i.tude to Heaven, by honest pride, Impell'd to rise and cast his doubts aside, A st.u.r.dy yeoman, b.u.t.ton'd to the throat, Faced the whole ring, and shook his leathern coat.

"I have a tale of private life to tell, "'Tis all of self and home, I know it well; "In love and honour's cause I would be strong, "Mine is a father's tale, perhaps too long, "For fathers, when a duteous child's the theme, "Can talk a summer's sun down, and then dream "Of retrospective joys with hearts that glow "With feelings such as parents only know."

ALFRED AND JENNET.

Yes, let me tell of Jennet, my last child; In her the charms of all the rest ran wild, And sprouted as they pleased. Still by my side, I own she was my favourite, was my pride, Since first she labour'd round my neck to twine, Or clasp'd both little hands in one of mine: And when the season broke, I've seen her bring Lapfuls of flowers, and then the girl would sing Whole songs, and halves, and bits, O, with such glee!

If playmates found a favourite, it was she.

Her lively spirit lifted her to joy; To distance in the race a clumsy boy Would raise the flush of conquest in her eye, And all was dance, and laugh, and liberty.

Yet not hard-hearted, take me right, I beg, The veriest romp that ever wagg'd a leg Was Jennet; but when pity soothed her mind, Prompt with her tears, and delicately kind.

The half-fledged nestling, rabbit, mouse, or dove, By turns engaged her cares and infant love; And many a one, at the last doubtful strife, Warm'd in her bosom, started into life.

At thirteen she was all that Heaven could send, My nurse, my faithful clerk, my lively friend; Last at my pillow when I sunk to sleep, First on my threshold soon as day could peep: I heard her happy to her heart's desire, With clanking pattens, and a roaring fire.

Then, having store of new-laid eggs to spare, She fill'd her basket with the simple fare, And weekly trudged (I think I see her still) To sell them at yon house upon the hill.

Oft have I watch'd her as she stroll'd along, Heard the gate bang, and heard her morning song; And, as my warm ungovern'd feelings rose, Said to myself, "Heaven bless her! there she goes."

Long would she tarry, and then dancing home, Tell how the lady bade her oft'ner come, And bade her talk and laugh without control; For Jennet's voice was music to the soul, My tale shall prove it:--For there dwelt a son, An only child, and where there is but one, Indulgence like a mildew reigns, from whence Mischief may follow if that child wants sense.

But Alfred was a youth of n.o.ble mind, With ardent pa.s.sions, and with taste refined; All that could please still courted heart and hand, Music, joy, peace, and wealth, at his command; Wealth, which his widow'd mother deem'd his own; Except the poor, she lived for him alone.

Yet would she weep by stealth when he was near, But check'd all sighs to spare his wounded ear; For from his cradle he had never seen Soul-cheering sunbeams, or wild nature's green.

But all life's blessings centre not in sight; For Providence, that dealt him one long night, Had given, in pity to the blooming boy, Feelings more exquisitely tuned to joy.

Fond to excess was he of all that grew; The morning blossom sprinkled o'er with dew, Across his path, as if in playful freak, Would dash his brow, and weep upon his cheek; Each varying leaf that brush'd where'er he came, Press'd to his rosy lip he call'd by name; He grasp'd the saplings, measured every bough, Inhaled the fragrance that the spring months throw Profusely round, till his young heart confess'd That all was beauty, and himself was bless'd.

Yet when he traced the wide extended plain, Or clear brook side, he felt a transient pain; The keen regret of goodness, void of pride, To think he could not roam without a guide.

Who, guess ye, knew these scenes of home delight Better than Jennet, bless'd with health and sight?

Whene'er she came, he from his sports would slide, And catch her wild laugh, listening by her side; Mount to the tell-tale clock with ardent spring, And _feel_ the pa.s.sing hour, then fondly cling To Jennet's arm, and tell how sweet the breath Of bright May-mornings on the open heath; Then off they started, rambling far and wide, Like Cupid with a wood-nymph by his side.

Thus months and months roll'd on, the summer pa.s.s'd, And the long darkness, and the winter blast, Sever'd the pair; no flowery fields to roam, Poor Alfred sought his music and his home.

What wonder then if inwardly he pined?

The anxious mother mark'd her stripling's mind Gloomy and sad, yet striving to be gay As the long tedious evenings pa.s.s'd away: 'Twas her delight fresh spirits to supply.-- My girl was sent for--just for company.

A tender governess my daughter found, Her temper placid, her instruction sound; Plain were her precepts, full of strength, their power Was founded on the practice of the hour: Theirs were the happy nights to peace resign'd, With ample means to cheer th' unbended mind.

The Sacred History, or the volumes fraught With tenderest sympathy, or towering thought, The laughter-stirring tale, the moral lay, All that brings dawning reason into day.

There Jennet learn'd by maps, through every land To travel, and to name them at command; Would tell how great their strength, their bounds how far, And show where uncle Charles was in the war.

The globe she managed with a timid hand, Told which was ocean, which was solid land, And said, whate'er their diff'rent climates bore, All still roll'd round, though that I knew before.

Thus grown familiar, and at perfect ease, What could be Jennet's duty but to please?

Yet hitherto she kept, scarce knowing why, One powerful charm reserved, and still was shy.

When Alfred from his grand-piano drew Those heavenly sounds that seem'd for ever new, She sat as if to sing would be a crime, And only gazed with joy, and nodded time.

Till one snug evening, I myself was there, The whispering lad inquired, behind my chair, "Bowman, can Jennet sing?" "At home," said I, "She sings from morn till night, and seems to fly "From tune to tune, the sad, the wild, the merry, "And moulds her lip to suit them like a cherry; "She learn'd them here."--"O ho!" said he, "O ho!"

And rubb'd his hands, and stroked his forehead, so.

Then down he sat, sought out a tender strain, Sung the first words, then struck the chords again; "Come, Jennet, help me, you _must_ know this song "Which I have sung, and you have heard so long."

I mark'd the palpitation of her heart, Yet she complied, and strove to take a part, But faint and fluttering, swelling by degrees, Ere self-composure gave that perfect ease, The soul of song:--then, with triumphant glee, Resting her idle work upon her knee, Her little tongue soon fill'd the room around With such a voluble and magic sound, That, 'spite of all her pains to persevere, She stopp'd to sigh, and wipe a starting tear; Then roused herself for faults to make amends.

While Alfred trembled to his fingers' ends.

But when this storm of feeling sunk to rest, Jennet, resuming, sung her very best, And on the ear, with many a dying fall, She pour'd th' enchanting "Harp of Tara's Hall."

Still Alfred hid his raptures from her view, Still touch'd the keys, those raptures to renew, And led her on to that sweet past'ral air, The Highland Laddie with the yellow hair.

She caught the sound, and with the utmost ease Bade nature's music triumph, sure to please: Such truth, such warmth, such tenderness express'd, That my old heart was dancing in my breast.

Upsprung the youth, "O Jennet, where's your hand?

"There's not another girl in all the land, "If she could bring me empires, bring me sight, "Could give me such unspeakable delight: "You little baggage! not to tell before "That you could sing; mind--you go home no more."

Thus I have seen her from my own fire-side Attain the utmost summit of her pride; For, from that singing hour, as time roll'd round, At the great house my Jennet might be found, And, while I watch'd her progress with delight, She had a father's blessing every night, And grew in knowledge at that moral school Till I began to guess myself a fool.

Music! why she could play as well as he!

At least I thought so,--but we'll let that be: She read the poets, grave and light, by turns, And talk'd of Cowper's "Task," and Robin Burns; Nay, read without a book, as I may say, As much as some could with in half a day.

'Twas thus I found they pa.s.s'd their happy time, In all their walks, when nature in her prime Spread forth her scents and hues, and whisper'd love And joy to every bird in every grove; And though their colours could not meet his eye, She pluck'd him flowers, then talk'd of poetry.

Once on a sunbright morning, 'twas in June, I felt my spirits and my hopes in tune, And idly rambled forth, as if t' explore The little valley just before my door; Down by yon dark green oak I found a seat Beneath the cl.u.s.tering thorns, a snug retreat For poets, as I deem'd, who often prize Such holes and corners far from human eyes; I mark'd young Alfred, led by Jennet, stray Just to the spot, both chatting on their way: They came behind me, I was still unseen; He was the elder, Jennet was sixteen.

My heart misgave me, lest I should be deem'd A prying listener, never much esteem'd, But this fear soon subsided, and I said, "I'll hear this blind lad and my little maid."

That instant down she pluck'd a woodbine wreath, The loose leaves rattled on my head beneath; This was for Alfred, which he seized with joy, "O, thank you, Jennet," said the generous boy.

Much was their talk, which many a theme supplied, As down they sat, for every blade was dried.

I would have skulk'd away, but dare not move, "Besides," thought I, "they will not talk of love;"

But I was wrong, for Alfred, with a sigh, A little tremulous, a little shy, But, with the tenderest accents, ask'd his guide A question which might touch both love and pride.

"This morning, Jennet, why did you delay, "And talk to that strange clown upon your way, "Our homespun gardener? how can you bear "His screech-owl tones upon your perfect ear?

"I cannot like that man, yet know not why, "He's surely quite as old again as I; "He's ignorant, and cannot be your choice, "And ugly too, I'm certain, by his voice, "Besides, he call'd you pretty."--"Well, what then?

"I cannot hide my face from all the men; "Alfred, indeed, indeed, you are deceived, "He never spoke a word that I believed; "Nay, can he think that I would leave a home "Full of enjoyment, present, and to come, "While your dear mother's favours daily prove "How sweet the bonds of grat.i.tude and love?

"No, while beneath her roof I shall remain, "I'll never vex you, never give you pain."

"Enough, my life," he cried, and up they sprung; By Heaven, I almost wish'd that I was young; It was a dainty sight to see them pa.s.s, Light as the July fawns upon the gra.s.s, Pure as the breath of spring when forth it spreads, Love in their hearts, and sunshine on their heads.

Next day I felt what I was bound to do, To weigh the adventure well, and tell it too; For Alfred's mother must not be beguiled, He was her earthly hope, her only child; I had no wish, no right to pa.s.s it by, It might bring grief, perhaps calamity.

She was the judge, and she alone should know Whether to check the flame or let it grow.