'Twas so for me that Edwin did, And so for him will I." "Forbid it, heav'n!" the hermit cried, And clasp'd her to his breast: The wond'ring fair-one turn'd to chide, 'Twas Edwin's self that prest. "Turn, Angelina, ever dear, My charmer, turn to see "Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And ev'ry care resign: And shall we never, never part, My life-my all that's mine? "No, never, from this hour to part, We'll live and love so true, The sigh that rends thy constant heart, Shall break thy Edwin's too." THE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION, A TALE. SECLUDED from domestic strife, Jack Book-worm led a college life; Such pleasures, unalloy'd with care, To ravage in a country town! O!But let exclamation cease: Her presence banish'd all his peace : So with decorum all things carried, Miss frown'd, and blush'd, and then was-married. Need we expose to vulgar sight The raptures of the bridal night? The honey-moon like lightning flew; 1 Skill'd in no other arts was she, But dressing, patching, repartee; And, just as humour rose or fell, By turns a slattern or a belle; 'Tis true she dress'd with modern grace, Half naked at a ball or race; But when at home, at board or bed, Five greasy night-caps wrapt her head. To be a dull domestic friend? Could any curtain lectures bring In short, by night, 'twas fits or fretting; Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy Of powder'd coxcombs at her levy; The 'squire and captain took their stations, And twenty other near relations. Jack suck'd his pipe, and often broke A sigh in suffocating smoke; While all their hours were past between Insulting repartee or spleen. Thus as her faults each day were known, He thinks her features coarser grown: He fancies every vice she shews, Or thins her lip, or points her nose: Whenever rage or envy rise, How wide her mouth, how wild her eyes; Her face is grown a knowing phyz; Now, to perplex the ravell'd noose, As each a diff'rent way pursues, The glass, grown hateful to her sight, Reflected now a perfect fright: |