“My father liv’d beside the Tyne-- A wealthy lord was he; And all his wealth was mark’d as mine: He had but only me. “To win me from his tender arms, Unnumber’d suitors came; Who prais’d me for imputed charms, And felt or feign’d a flame. “Each hour a mercenary crowd With richest proffers strove; Among the rest young Edwin bow’d-- But never talk’d of love. “In humble, simplest habit clad, No wealth nor power had he; Wisdom and worth were all he had-- But these were all to me. “And when, beside me in the dale, He caroll’d lays of love, His breath lent fragrance to the gale, And music to the grove. “The blossom opening to the day, The dews of heaven refin’d, Could nought of purity display To emulate his mind. [Illustration] “The dew, the blossom on the tree, With charms inconstant shine; Their charms were his; but, woe to me, Their constancy was mine. “For still I tried each fickle art, Importunate and vain; And while his passion touch’d my heart, I triumph’d in his pain. “Till, quite dejected with my scorn, He left me to my pride; And sought a solitude forlorn, In secret, where he died. “But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, And well my life shall pay; I’ll seek the solitude he sought, And stretch me where he lay; “And there, forlorn, despairing, hid-- I’ll lay me down and die; ’Twas so for me that Edwin did, And so for him will I.” “Forbid it, Heaven!” the hermit cried, And clasp’d her to his breast: The wondering fair-one turn’d to chide-- ’Twas Edwin’s self that press’d. “Turn, Angelina! ever dear-- My charmer, turn to see Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here, Restor’d to love and thee. “Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign; And shall we never, never part, My life--my all that’s mine! “No; never from this hour to part, We’ll live and love so true; The sigh that rends thy constant heart, Shall break thy Edwin’s too.” [Illustration] [Illustration: THE CAPTIVITY] AN ORATORIO. THE PERSONS. _First Israelitish Prophet._ _Second Israelitish Prophet._ _Israelitish Woman._ _First Chaldean Priest._ _Second Chaldean Priest._ _Chaldean Woman._ _Chorus of Youths and Virgins._ SCENE.--_The Banks of the River Euphrates, near Babylon._ ACT THE FIRST. FIRST PROPHET. _Recitative._ Ye captive tribes, that hourly work and weep, Where flows Euphrates, murmuring to the deep-- Suspend your woes awhile, the task suspend, And turn to God, your Father and your Friend: Insulted, chain’d, and all the world our foe, Our God alone is all we boast below. CHORUS OF ISRAELITES. Our God is all we boast below, To Him we turn our eyes; And every added weight of woe Shall make our homage rise: