Virgin's Choice, or, Youth Preferred to Old Age/Fidele's Tomb
FIDELE'S TOMB.
To fair Fidele's glassy tomb,
soft maids and village hinds shall bring,
Each op'ning sweet of earliest bloom,
rifle all the breathing spring.
soft maids and village hinds shall bring,
Each op'ning sweet of earliest bloom,
rifle all the breathing spring.
No wailing ghost shall dare appear,
to vex with shrieks this quiet grove;
But shepherd lads assemble here,
and tender virgins own their love.
to vex with shrieks this quiet grove;
But shepherd lads assemble here,
and tender virgins own their love.
No with'red witch shall here be seen,
no goblins lead their nightly crew;
But female faes shall haunt the green,
and deck thy grave with pearly dew.
no goblins lead their nightly crew;
But female faes shall haunt the green,
and deck thy grave with pearly dew.
The red-breast oft at evening hours,
shall kindly lend its little aid,
With hoary moss and gath'red flow'rs,
to deck the ground where thou art laid.
shall kindly lend its little aid,
With hoary moss and gath'red flow'rs,
to deck the ground where thou art laid.
When howling winds and beating rain,
in tempests stake the Sylvian cell;
Or midst the chace upon the plain
the tender thought on thee shall dwell.
in tempests stake the Sylvian cell;
Or midst the chace upon the plain
the tender thought on thee shall dwell.
Each lonely scene shall thee restore,
for thee the tear be daily shed:
Belov'd till life could charm no more,
and mourn'd till Pity's self is dead.
for thee the tear be daily shed:
Belov'd till life could charm no more,
and mourn'd till Pity's self is dead.