Upon a rock with lichens wild, Beside him Ellen sat and smiled.--Smiled she to see the stately drake Lead forth his fleet upon the lake, While her vexed spaniel from the beach Bayed at the prize beyond his reach?
Yet tell me, then, the maid who knows, Why deepened on her cheek the rose?--Forgive, forgive, Fidelity!
Perchance the maiden smiled to see Yon parting lingerer wave adieu, And stop and turn to wave anew;And, lovely ladies, ere your ire Condemn the heroine of my lyre, Show me the fair would scorn to spy And prize such conquest of her eve!
