Mariana and Edwin

When injur'd innocence attracts the eye, Lives there a man that can repress the sigh? Will social sympathy not lend a share, To sooth or solace or support the fair? Or beats the heart that cannot feel distress, When speechless pity silent claims redress? If such there be—O bear the niggard soul Where frigid seasons half condense the pole.

Sweet Mariana! lovliest of the throng, The fairest maid that walk'd thy banks along, Soft flowing Lagan!—(where I us'd to leave My youthful limbs amid thy polish'd wave, And on thy margin early in the morn With Gaston shook the dew-drop off the thorn, Or through old Cromac sought the colar shade, Where aged oaks their verdant branches spread, There Thomson's page first taught me to admire The rural scene, and string the doubtful lyre,) —Tall, graceful, elegant, designed to please, A modest dignity she join'd with ease, A face as fair as beauty's queen displayed, When yielding waves bestow'd the charming maid; These graces too accompany'd sense refin'd, Learning the brightest jewel of the mind: Such was the youthful Mariana's charms, That kindle love and sensual thoughts disarms

An early band of wealthy suitors came, Whose lands were merit and whose gold were fame; This wished her hand and that to gain her strove, But 'mong their pleadings never spoke of love, Each thought, but vainly, his estate in land Should all obedience and respect command.

Among the rest young Edwin gently came And bashful blushing told his tender flame, Sweet Mariana listened as he spoke, And soon the sigh of self-conviction broke; Her fault'ring breath could scarce the word compose, While o'er her cheek the vermil symptom glows, Her wounded heart with palpitations strong, Robb'd of its eloquence the nimble tongue. But Edwin ignorant in ways of love, Thought not his words of artless truth could move, Simply he deem'd they some offence convey'd, And bowing pleaded pardon from the maid. A candid passion can't be long conceal'd, And soon their mutual wishes were reveal'd, Reveal'd alas to be their mutual smart Not the solicitude that charms the heart.

What bounds can hold the heart when love inspires, What object stay or turn the fond desires Not all Potosia's riches laid to view Could swerve the lover when his passion's true; Teem India's treasures to his ready eye, And heedless still he'll for his mistress sigh: Reason itself with love has little force— It surely rises from some noble source.

Young Edwin's fortune was but charms and sense, And Maria's father doated on his pence; A wealthy match was all his heart desir'd, Heedless if love or tenderness inspir'd; So when his daughter's wishes first he knew, He swell'd with anger and in passion flew, Rage fill'd his bosom and revenge his heart, And quickly plann'd the faithful pair to part.

War then with horror spread its dread alarms Took sires and sons from wives and mothers arms, This fell a victim, that with dread beheld, The frightful terrors of th' embattled field; Then Mariana's father laid it so That prov'd young Edwin to the King a foe, Straight had him seiz'd and charg'd as for a spy; Himself the judge the injur'd youth to try.

What could he hope from innocence itself, When perjur'd prejudice for worldly pelf Fill'd the broad seat where justice should prevail, And hold aloft her ne'er-belying scale?— Doom'd to the gallows see the victim led, While round the croud their tears unceasing shed The sob of sympathy in ev'ry breast, Their tender pity and their grief confest.— He fondly begg'd but just to see his love, But all in vain, his pleadings could not move: Tore from the world in perfect bloom and health He di' d a sacrifice to sordid wealth.

At home made fast, by servants too secure, Soft Mariana must her lot endure. But guess, if narrow fancy can compose, The pangs of anguish and the wrings of woes, That tore her heart and ev'ry sense awoke, When first her sire of Edwin's murder spoke! Life hing'd on hope will fall when hope's no more, Th' spirit wand'ring seeks some happier shore; So Maria's hopes unhing'd no more could turn, But falling verg'd distractions hopeless bourn. Her eye was clos'd—it open'd—shut again— Then life restor'd her to severer pain.

Too late alas! the father loos'd his child, When she as quickly all his hopes beguil'd, She left his house and sought a better fare, Than that she found beneath his feeless care. First to the city, by distraction led, With heedless steps the luckless mourner sped; Here soon a noted matron mark'd the maid, And soon as mark'd her hopeless heart betray'd; She saw her innocence and play'd her part, With all the cruel cunning of her art, Deceiv'd the mournful fugitive of love, From kinder hopes of happiness above, Undid, seduc'd and ruin'd ev'ry charm That 'waits on virtue or can vice disarm.

Innur'd in all the horrors of her fate, Reflection touched her—but alas! too late: When sleepless conscience 'woke the busy tho' Dire dissipation its condolement wrought; " Another spoiler and another came, " The first was welcome and the last the same, 'Till every tender feeling was effac'd, And in their place sad anguish fill'd the breast Nor now the Bagnio's troubles did she dread, For all her softer sentiments were fled— Yet if some youth should ask what bro't her there The question drew th' involuntary tear, And keen rememb'rance swell'd her troubl'd breast; But true repentance was a transient guest.

Chance turn'd it so her brother met her here, But she so chang'd and alter'd did appear, He knew her not. He harrass'd thro' the wars, So strangely altered, and disguis'd with scars, She ne'er suspected 'twas her brother prest, In am'rous dalliance oe'r her injured breast— But passion pausing stopp'd to hear her tale, Else had the scene been horrid to reveal.

" Beside the Lagan, gentle flowing stream, " My father liv'd, a man of wealthy fame, " Two rising children claim'd his kindest care, " A daughter—I, and only son his heir. " A sordid lover wish'd to gain my hand, " My father too preferr, d his strict command; " But oh! my heart was to another giv'n, " And Edwin's charms were all my hopes of Heav'n, " No wealth he had, and this my father saw, " Devis'd his murder through perverted law— " Then nothing pleas'd depriv'd of joys so dear; " I fled my father and was flatter'd here."— —" Oh! Heav'ns 'tis she! my dear lost sister see, " That brother mention'd and that heir is me " But leave this house where sin and death doe dwell, " Retrieve thy ruins from the jaws of hell— " O Mariana! injured and distrest! " Come child of sorrow to my willing breast

Restor'd again to glad relations arms, And rais'd to virtue with its kindred charms, She fled the world and all its tempting wiles, Where cunning cruelty the wretch beguiles, And by repentance and conviction true, Where holy sisters hallowed rites pursue, Deep in the convent injur'd Heav'n to please, She pass'd a life of piety and ease.