With unrelenting ire his steps opposed, And every gate of hope against him closed. Permit my verse, ye blest Pierian train! To call Arion this ill-fated swain; For, like that bard unhappy, on his head Malignant stars their hostile influence shed: Both, in lamenting numbers, o'er the deep With conscious anguish taught the harp to weep; And both the raging surge in safety bore 220 Amid destruction, panting to the shore: This last, our tragic story from the wave Of dark oblivion haply yet may save; With genuine sympathy may yet complain, While sad remembrance bleeds at every vein. These, chief among the ship's conducting train, Her path explored along the deep domain; Train'd to command, and range the swelling sail, Whose varying force conforms to every gale. Charged with the commerce, hither also came 230 A gallant youth, Palemon was his name: A father's stern resentment doom'd to prove, He came the victim of unhappy love! His heart for Albert's beauteous daughter bled, For her a sacred flame his bosom fed: Nor let the wretched slaves of folly scorn This genuine passion, nature's eldest born! 'Twas his with lasting anguish to complain, While blooming Anna mourn'd the cause in vain. Graceful of form, by nature taught to please, 240 Of power to melt the female breast with ease; To her Palemon told his tender tale, Soft as the voice of summer's evening gale: His soul, where moral truth spontaneous grew, No guilty wish, no cruel passion knew: Though tremblingly alive to nature's laws, Yet ever firm to honour's sacred cause; O'erjoy'd he saw her lovely eyes relent, The blushing maiden smiled with sweet consent. Oft in the mazes of a neighbouring grove 250 Unheard they breathed alternate vows of love: By fond society their passion grew, Like the young blossom fed with vernal dew; While their chaste souls possess'd the pleasing pains That truth improves, and virtue ne'er restrains. In evil hour the officious tongue of fame Betray'd the secret of their mutual flame. With grief and anger struggling in his breast, Palemon's father heard the tale confest: Long had he listen'd with suspicion's ear, 260 And learn'd, sagacious, this event to fear. Too well, fair youth! thy liberal heart he knew, A heart to nature's warm impressions true: Full oft his wisdom strove with fruitless toil With avarice to pollute that generous soil: That soil, impregnated with nobler seed, Refused the culture of so rank a weed. Elate with wealth in active commerce won, And basking in the smile of fortune's sun;