Eugenio and Eliza, a Tale.

Eugenio and Eliza , a Tale . FOUNDED ON FACT . THE rising Sun had ting'd the east with gold , And scarce a cloud obscur'd his azure reign — ( That Sun , whose fatal beams did first unfold The dreadful scene of Naseby's sanguine plain ; Where Charles , misguided monarch , wise too late , Saw the last efforts of his party fail ; Saw Rupert's luckless triumph Prince Rupert lost this battle by pursuing the enemy too far . urge his fate , And Cromwell's rising destiny prevail ) — When young Eliza left her lonely shed , And wander'd pensive amid heaps of slain , Not by a base desire of plunder led , But hope to sooth some dying Warrior's pain . Though mean her parents , and obscure her lot , Each nobler feeling to her heart was known ; And , though the humble inmate of a cot , Her form and mind had grac'd the proudest throne . But hopeless passion o'er each opening grace Had cast a tender , melancholy air ; Eliza lov'd a youth of noble race , And from the first she languish'd in despair . Twelve months had pass'd since o'er Eugenio's form With fond surprise her wondering eyes had stray'd ; But , while his charms her artless bosom warm , By him unnoted pass'd the blooming maid . From that sad hour a stranger to repose , She shunn'd the wake , she shunn'd the festive green ; And still where'er Affliction calls she goes , A pale attendant at each mournful scene . At every step with horror she recoil'd , While her moist eyes the dreadful carnage view'd Of hostile kindred upon kindred pil'd , And British fields with British blood imbu'd . But as , advancing o'er the dismal field , Where devastation sadden'd all around , She view'd those lids in endless darkness seal'd , And heard of dying groans the plaintive sound — A form of grace superior drew her eyes , Bending to view the Warrior's face she stood ; O fatal sight ! her lov'd Eugenio lies On earth extended , and deform'd with blood . Struck at the view , awhile in silent grief She stood , nor yet a sigh confess'd her pain ; Nor yet her bursting tears could bring relief , While her chill blood ran cold through ev'ry vein . At length , adown her cheek and snowy breast The pearly tears in quick succession ran ; And with a voice by sorrow half suppress'd , In broken accents , thus the fair began : " O thou , whom lovely and belov'd in vain , " Unpitying Fate has snatch'd in early bloom , " Is this the meed thy patriot virtues gain ? " Dearer than life , is this thy hapless doom ? " When last I saw thee , o'er thy manly cheek " Health's orient glow a mantling lustre cast ; " Enamour'd Glory seem'd thy paths to seek , " Fortune in thee her favourite child embrac'd . " Now cold on earth thou liest — no weeping friend " With pious tears receiv'd thy parting breath ; " No kindred round thy bleeding corse attend , " With grief like mine to mourn thy early death . " Ah ! what avail'd the virtues of thy youth , " The mind that dar'd Rebellion's fury brave , " Thy constant loyalty , thy matchless truth ? " Those very virtues sunk thee to the grave . " Kneeling as thus she spoke , his hand she press'd , And view'd his form with ev'ry charm replete ; But what emotions fill'd her raptur'd breast When still she found his languid pulses beat ! Some neighbouring peasants led by chance that way , Touch'd by the sorrows of the weeping fair , With pitying eyes the fainting youth survey , And to Eliza's well-known cottage bear . There , with a Leech's care , her hands applied Some lenient herbs to every rankling wound ; Herbs , by the test of long experience tried , Of sovereign virtue in each trial found . While anxious Love its lavish care supplies , Eugenio's face resumes a fresher hue ; And on the maid he fix'd his opening eyes , While tears of joy her polish'd cheeks bedew . The dawn of gratitude , and wonder join'd , With varying thoughts distract his labouring breast ; And , anxious to relieve his dubious mind , In faltering words he thus the fair address'd : " O say , what friend , solicitous to save , " Procur'd for me your hospitable care ? " For , when at Naseby the last sigh I gave , " Nor Friendship nor Humanity was there . " Blushing , the maid with down-cast looks replied , " To Heaven alone thy gratitude is due : " That God , whose angels round the good preside , " To thy relief my feeble succour drew . " I found thee senseless 'mid a heap of slain ; " I bore thee here , and Heaven thy life has spar'd : " That life restor'd , I ask nor thanks nor gain ; " A virtuous action is its own reward . " With mute surprise th' attentive youth admir'd , 'Mid scenes so rude , a form so passing fair ; But more he wonder'd , when , by Heaven inspir'd , Her words bespoke a guardian angel's care , And every day new beauties caught his view , And every hour new virtues charm'd his mind , Till admiration into passion grew , By pure esteem and gratitude refin'd . In vain , to change the purpose of his heart , Ambition frown'd contemptuous on the maid ; Pride urg'd him from her humble cot to part , And martial ardour call'd him from the shade . He saw his country , in subjection led , Pay servile homage to a zealot's nod , Who sternly claim'd his captive Sovereign's head , And thought by anarchy to serve his God . He knew his single efforts would be vain , His Prince from factious thousands to support , And scorn'd to mingle with the abject train Who , led by interest , swell'd a guilty Court . Since Virtue's cause no more his arms could claim , And hope of conquest could no longer move , Fix'd , he resolves to wed the beauteous dame , And consecrate his future life to love . Fast by the cot a spreading linden grew , Whose boughs o'ershadow'd a fantastic seat , Where the pale primrose and the violet blue Breath'd from the verdant turf a mingled sweet . There , with Eliza often by his side , Eugenio shunn'd the scorching heats of noon ; Amid night's stillness there he often hied , And solitary watch'd the silver moon . Perusing there the philosophic page , Untir'd the livelong day he would remain , Or for the Poet quit the graver Sage , And raptur'd glance through Fancy's airy reign . Beneath the branches of this silent shade , By hours of past tranquillity endear'd , He vow'd his passion to the blushing maid , Whose timid love his loss each moment fear'd . Untaught in the pernicious schools of Art , Which curb the genuine feelings as they rise , She own'd the sentiments that fill'd a heart Whose conscious purity contemn'd disguise . The sacred rites perform'd , with festive state To his high dome Eugenio led the fair : 'Mid lofty woods , arose the ancient seat , Whose solid , grandeur time could not impair . There unperceiv'd life's current flow'd away , Nor could old age their constant love destroy ; And often they deplor'd , yet bless'd that day , To others source of grief , to them of joy . They liv'd to see the artful Cromwell die , And from their transient power his offspring driven , And then beheld th' imperial dignity Once more to the inglorious Stuarts given . Charles they survey'd , in luxury , and ease , And sensual pleasures , pass life's ill-spent day ; And bigot James an injur'd nation raise , Then coward shun the battle's dread array . Next Nassau , crown'd by policy and arms , In early youth for matchless prudence known , Unmov'd in dangers , fearless in alarms , With royal Mary shar'd the British throne . Last Anna's prosperous reign in age they view'd , And Marlborough glorious from Germania's war — Marlborough , for councils as for fight endued , Who with his own spread England's fame afar : Then , pleas'd their country's triumphs to behold , In youthful verdure while her laurels bloom , Their aged lids in Death's soft sleep they fold , And not unwilling sink into the tomb .