138 REDEMPTION.
Or damp my heart, with sorrows' load o'erfraught. But yet, another voice its motive lends, And bids me this foreboding now express. Come with me yonder, to that gentle knoll, And 'neath the yew trees sit, where that befel, Which racks my mind with wav'ring doubts, And leads me on thee to cast all my care, From whom no secret thought I e'er withheld."
Thus she, with voice subdued, and teeming eye, Preferr'd the rising fear, that cast its shade Over the placid heaven of her breast, And darkly shadow'd grief foredoom'd to come. So, hand in hand they walk, to where a hill, With easy slope rose from the grassy sward, Timber'd with yews. A bower of jessamine Adorn'd the spot, whose graceful tendrils wove A trellis'd arch, festoon'd with flow'rs, then fell In rich profusion, fragrant, to the ground ; Where, seated, Mary, sighing, slow resumed :
" 'Twas yester-e'en ; the sun obliquely pour'd His sultry beams o'er hill, o'er field, and stream ; All creatures own'd the heat's oppressive force, And panting, fled t' escape the burning ray. The birds their warblings hush'd, the leaves stood still; The fawns their gambols ceased ; my fleet gazel Grew weary of his play ; tired nature slept. Each thing that lives, or taught to bide my voice, Or, native sportful, pleased my steps attend, In coverts hid, now dozed the hour away; Nor I withstood, but soon sank to repose. Sleep scarcely had o'erspread my weary sense, When thou, methought, stood'st near me, calm and mild;
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