242

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1766.

And now, when worldly crowds retire
To revels or to refl,

The hermit trimm’d his little fire,
And cheer’d his penfive guefl :

And fpread his vegetable flare,
And gayly prels’d and fmil’d ;

And, fltill’d in legendary lore,
The ling’ring hours beguil’d.

Around in fympathetic mirth
Its tricks the kitten tries ;

The cricket chirrups in the hearth ;
The crackling faggot flies.

But nothing could a charm impart
To footh the llrangefls wo;

For grief was heavy at his heart,
And tears began to flow.

His rifing cares the hermit fpy’d,
With anfwering care opprefi :

“ And whence, unhappy youth,” he cry’d,
" The forrows of thy breafl?

“ From better habitations fpurn’d,
“ Reluctant doll thou rove;

“ Or grieve for friendlhip unreturn’d,
“ Or unregarded love E

" Alas! the joys that fortune brings,
“ Are trifling, and decay ;

" And thofe who prize the paltry thing;,
" More trifling [till than they.

“ And what is friendfhip but a name,
“ A charm that lulls to fleep;

“ A fhade that follows wealth or fame,
“ But leaves the wretch to weep i

“ And love is fiill an emptier found,
“ The haughty fair one’s jefl :

" On earth unfeen, or only found
" To warm the turtle’s nefl.

t‘ For