Lord Henry and Fair Katherine; OR, THE Secret Discovered too Late.
|
IN antient times, in BRITAINs
|
Isle,
|
Lord Henry was well known:
|
No Knight in all the land more
|
famd,
|
Or more deservd renown.
|
His thoughs on honour always run
|
He neer could bow to love;
|
No nymph in all the land had
|
charms
|
His frozen heart to move.
|
Among the nymphs where Kath-
|
rine came,
|
The fairest face she shews:
|
She was as bright as morning sun
|
And sweeter than the Rose.
|
Altho she was of mean degree,
|
She daily conquests gains;
|
For neer a youth who her be-
|
held,
|
Escapd her powerful chains.
|
But soon her eyes their lustre lost
|
Her cheeks grew pale and wan,
|
A pining seizd her lovely form,
|
And cures were all in vain.
|
The sickness was to all unknown
|
That did the fair one waste;
|
Her time in sighs and floods of
|
tears,
|
And broken slumbers past.
|
Once in a dream she cryd aloud,
|
O Henry! Im undone!
|
O cruel fate! O wretched maid!
|
Thy love must neer be known.
|
Such is the fate of woman-kind,
|
They must the truth conceal;
|
Ill die ten thousand thousand
|
deaths,
|
Ere I my love reveal.
|
A tender friend that watchd the
|
To Henry hied away,
|
My Lord, says she, weve found
|
the cause
|
Of Kathrines quick decay.
|
She in a dream the secret told,
|
(Till now no mortal knew)
|
Alas! she now expiring lies,
|
And dies for love of you.
|
The genrous Henry heart was
|
touchd,
|
His heart began to flame:
|
Ah poor unhappy maid, he cryd,
|
Yet I am not too blame.
|
Ah! Kathrine, too, too modest
|
maid!
|
Thy love I never knew;
|
Ill ease your pain-And swift as
|
wind,
|
To her bed-side he flew.
|
Awake! awake! he fondly said,
|
Awake! awake! my dear,
|
If I had only guessd your love,
|
You had not shed a tear:
|
Tis Henry calls, complain no
|
more,
|
Renew thy wonted charms;
|
I come to save thee from despair,
|
And take thee to my arms.
|
His words revivd the dying fair,
|
She raisd her drooping head,
|
And gazing on the long-lovd
|
youth,
|
She started from her bed;
|
Around his neck her arm she flung
|
In extacy, and cryd,
|
Will you be kind? will you indeed
|
My love!-And so she dyd.
|
|
|
|
|
|