II. 2.

Where'er thou art, enchanting Power,

Thou foon wilt fmile in Harewood's bower:
Soon will thy fairy feet be seen,

Printing this dew-impearled green ;
Soon shall we mark thy geftures meek,
Thy glitt❜ring eye, and dimpled cheek,
Among the welcome guests that move
Attendant on the ftate of Love.

There, when the Sov'reign leads along
Of Sports and Smiles a jocund train,
Then laft, but lovelieft of the lovely throng,
Thou com'ft to soften, yet secure his reign.
II. 3.

And, hark, completing our prophetic lay,
The fleet hoof rattles o'er the flinty way;

Now nearer, and now nearer sounds,
Avaunt! ye vain, delufive Fears.

Hark! Echo tells through Harewood's ampleft bounds,
That Love, Content, and ATHELWOLD appears.

ATHELWOLD, ELFRIDA, CHORUS.
ATHEL W OLD.

Look ever thus; with that bright glance of joy
Thus always meet my transports. Let thefe arms

Thus

Thus ever fold me;

and this cheek, that blooms

With all health's op'ning rofes, prefs my lips,

Warm as at this bleft moment.

ELFRIDA.

ATHELWOLD,

I had prepar'd me many a ftern rebuke;

Had arm'd my brow with frowns, and taught my eye
Th' averted glance of coldness, which might best
Greet fuch a loit'ring lover: but I find,

'Twas a vain tafk; for this my truant heart
Forgets each leffon, which refentment taught,
And in thy fight knows only to be happy.
ATHEL W OLD.

My best ELFRIDA-Heav'ns! it cannot last.
The giddy height of joy, to which I'm lifted,
Is as a hanging rock, at whofe low foot
The black and beating furge of Infamy
Rolls ready to receive, and fink my foul,
ELFRID A.

So foon to fall into this musing mood—

I thought, my Lord, you promis'd you would leave These looks behind at Court. Nay, 'twas the cause Affign'd for this my refidence at Harewood,

That you might never come to these fond arms,

But

But with a breaft devoid of public care,

And fill'd alone with rapture and ELFRIDA.
Said you not fo? Why then that penfive posture,
That down-caft eye? Surely the City's din,
And this calm grove have loft their difference.

I'll with you to the palace.

ATHEL WOLD.

Heav'n forbid!

ELFRID A.

Nay, my beft Lord, I meant it but in fport;
For fhould you bid me quit these blooming lawns,
For fome bare heath, or drear unpeopled defert;
Believe me, I would think its wildness Eden,
If ATHELWOLD with frequent vifitation
Endear'd the favage fcene: but yet I fear
My Father.

ATHEL W OLD.

Hah! why him;

ELFRID A.

You know his temper;

How jealous of his rank, and his trac'd lineage
From royal ancestry. I fear me much,
He will not brook you should conceal me long
In this lone privacy: No, he will deem it

Far

Far unbecoming her, whofe veins are fill'd
With the rich stream of his nobility.

Should it be fo, his hot and fiery nature,

I doubt, will blaze, and do fome dreadful outrage. ATHEL W OLD.

He need not know it, or, if chance he should,

It matters not, if fo this forest life

Seem of your own adoption and free choice.
And that it will fo feem, I trust that love,
Which ever yet has met my wayward will
With pleas'd compliance, and unafk'd affent.
ELFRID A.

And ever fhall: yet blame me not, my Lord,

If prying womanhood should prompt a wish

To learn the cause of this your ftrange commotion,
Which ever wakes, if I but drop one thought
Of quitting Harewood.

ATHEL W OLD.

Go to the clear furface

Of yon unruffled lake, and, bending o'er it,

There read my answer.

ELFRID A.

These are riddles, Sir

ATHEL

ATHEL WOLD.

No; for its glaffy and reflecting surface

Will smile with charms too tempting for a palace.

ELFRID A.

Does ATHELWOLD diftruft ELFRIDA's faith?

ATHEL WOLD.

No: but he much diftrufts ELFRIDA's beauty.

Away: you trifle.

ELFRID A.

ATHEL WOLD.

Never more in earnest;

I would not for the throne which EDGAR fits on,

That EDGAR should behold it.

ELFRID A.

What, my Lord,

Think you the face, that caught your fingle heart,
Will make all hearts its captives? Vain furmize.
Yet grant it could; the face is your's alone:

Not EDGAR's felf would dare to feize it from

EDGAR's a King, and not a tyrant.

ATHEL W O L D.

True,

EDGAR's a King, a juft one; his firm fect
Walk ever in the fore-right road of honour:

you.

Nor