To soothe his grief, support his care,

His shame, his punishment, to share.

But how, from whom assistance claim?

Banish’d, disown’d—my very name

Forbidden to my father’s ear,

Would he my plaint or purpose hear?

Friendless and poor—one desperate thought

Amid my wilder’d musings wrought.

If mine the crime, the sentence too,

Whisper’d the demon. Oh! how few