Now, sees wide Lawns their ample Verdure spread,
Where never human Foot presum'd to tread;
While thro' the Plain, irregularly gay,
The loit'ring Riv'let winds its wanton Way - - -
There, distant Torrents down the rough Steep roar,
And to the Western Sun, their Splendor pour,
Till a smooth Lake receives the foaming Flood,
And calmly leads it thro the darksome Wood:
- - - Entranc'd in Rapture, on the blissful Spot,
The World, his Fellows, and himself forgot,
To these romantic Visions all resign'd;
The new-found Paradise absorbs his Mind;
Till o'er the Scene Eve's dusky Mantle thrown,
- - - Sudden he starts - - - he finds himself alone - - -
Backward he hastens, his Associates calls - - -
bit dead, still Silence, all his Soul appals - - -
Now, dreading every Ill which can betide,
He casts a Look across the Ocean wide,
Where o'er the dancing Wave, the sinking Day
In levell'd Radiance shoots a trembling Ray;
Far on its Course, he sees the lessen d Sail,
Forc'd by the rising Surge, and fresh' ning Gale.
Within the lone Elysium now confin'd,
Debarr'd the social Joys of human kind,
- - - Aghast he stands, amid the Solitude - - -
Abhors each Charm, he late with Rapture view'd;
And, while new Horrors round his Fancy rise,
Complains unheard, and heaves unheeded Sighs - - -
- - - Desponding thus, all Hope dispers'd in Air,
PYGMALION stood, a Prey to wild Despair,
Now, tow'rds the Nymph his languid View he bends,
- - - The living Beauty from her Place descends - - -
Oh! GALATEA! Venus! Gods above!
Oh! blissful Omen of propitious Love!"
A rosy Smile adorns her blooming Face,
While sweet Confusion heightens ev'ry Grace;
Onward she gently moves, yet seems to stay,
As bashful Coyness checks her timid Way.
- - - "Twas now indeed, PYGMALION felt a Fire
That fill'd his Soul with exquisite Desire:
In Transport lost, he has no Pow'r to move,
His Eyes alone express his ardent Love:
He fears to speak, to breathe, lest he destroy
The growing Hopes of all his future Joy;
But kneeling still, his outstretch'd Arms betray'd
His fervent Wish to clasp the lovely Maid - - -
She stops : - - - each deeply panting Sigh she hears,
And his keen Looks alarm her Virgin Fears - - -
- - - At length, advancing, on his Arm she lays
Her gentle Hand, and "ah! 'tis me" she says - - -
Me! - - - scarce with breathless Transport he replies,
Once, more, with melting Voice, " 'tis me" she cries:
"Stay, fond Illusion, which dost charm mine Ear,
With such blest Sounds, oh! stay for ever here!
Be this delightful Dream ne'er banish'd hence,
Oh! never, never leave my ravish'd Sense!
She starts - - - and from him now her Course she bends,
Now tow'rds a Marble Form her Hand extends,
But soon withdraws it: there, no kindred Flames
She feels - - - but "oh! this is not me, exclaims:
With discontented Eye, she now surveys
Each Object round, and all unquiet strays;
PYGMALION following, ev'ry Step pursues
And, fill'd with fond Suspense, each Motion views:
His beating Heart almost his Speech denies,
As - - - "GALATEA!" - - - tenderly he cries:
Caught by the Sound, the lovely fair one turns,
Her Virgin Breast with mutual Passion burns;
Soft Streams of liquid Light illume her Eye,
And her warm Bosom breathes a balmy Sigh;
Sweet Extasy her melting Looks display,
And frequent Blushes genuine Love betray - - -
Her rosy Hand, with fond consenting Grace,
'Twixt his uplifted Palms she deigns to place;
"Ah! this again is me!" she sighing says,
Her rosy Hand he to his Heart conveys,
And to his raptur'd Bosom closely prest,
She feels the throbbing Tumult in his Breast:
His glowing Lips imprint a burning Kiss,
He scarce supports th' intolerable Bliss - - -
"Yes, dear enchanting Glory of my Art,
Life of my Life, and Partner of my Heart!
Whose Merit could the wond'ring Gods incline
To let thee live, and let me call thee mine;
'Tis thou alone! I here my Soul bestow,
And all my future Life from thee shall flow."
FINIS.
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