The parting came; and when the aunt perceived
The tears of Sybil, and how much she grieved,
To love for her that tender grief she laid,
That various, soft, contending passions made.
When Sybil rested in her father's arms
His pride exulted in a daughter's charms;
A maid accomplish'd he was pleased to find,
Nor seem'd the form more lovely than the mind :
But when the fit of pride and fondness fled,
He saw his judgment by his hopes misled;
High were the lady's spirits, far more free
Her mode of speaking than a maid's should be ;
Too much, as Jonas thought, she seem'd to know,
And all her knowledge was disposed to show;
"Too gay her dress, like theirs who idly dote
On a young coxcomb, or a coxcomb's coat;
In foolish spirits when our friends appear,
And vainly grave when not a man is near."
. Thus Jonas, adding to his sorrow blame,
And terms disdainful to his sister's name :-
The sinful wretch has by her arts defiled

The ductile spirit of my darling child."

"The maid is virtuous," said the dame.-Quoth
he,

"Let her give proof, by acting virtuously:
Is it in gaping when the elders pray?
In reading nonsense half a summer's day?

In those mock forms that she delights to trace,
Or her loud laughs in Hezekiah's face?
She-O Susannah!-to the world belongs;
She loves the follies of its idle throngs,
And reads soft tales of love, and sings love's
ening songs.

"Alas!" the matron answer'd, "much I dread
That dangerous love by which the young are led!
That love is earthy; you the creature prize,
And trust your feelings and believe your eyes.
Can eyes and feelings inward worth descry?
No! my fair daughter, on our choice rely!
Your love, like that display'd upon the stage,
Indulged is folly, and opposed is rage;-
More prudent love our sober couples show,
All that to mortal beings, mortals owe ;-
All flesh is grass-before you give a heart,
Remember, Sybil, that in death you part;
And should your husband die before your love,
What needless anguish must a widow prove!
No! my fair child, let all such visions cease;
Yield but esteem, and only try for peace."

"I must be loved," said Sybil; "I must see
The man in terrors who aspires to me;
At my forbidding frown, his heart must ache,
His tongue must falter, and his frame must shake:
And if I grant him at my feet to kneel,
What trembling, fearful pleasure must he feel!
| Nay! such the raptures that my smiles inspire,
That reason's self must for a time retire."

"Alas! for good Josiah," said the dame,
"These wicked thoughts would fill his soul with
shame ;

He kneel and tremble at a thing of dust!
He cannot, child."-The child replied, "He must."
They ceased the matron left her with a frown,
So Jonas met her when the youth came down :
soft-Behold," said he, " thy future spouse attends;
Receive him, daughter, as the best of friends;
Observe, respect him; humble be each word
That welcomes home thy husband and thy lord."
Forewarn'd, thought Sybil, with a bitter smile,
I shall prepare my manner and my style.
Ere yet Josiah enter'd on his task,
The father met him; "Deign to wear a mask
A few dull days, Josiah-but a few-
It is our duty, and the sex's due;

But, as our friend is yet delay'd in town,
We must prepare her till the youth comes dowI.
You shall advise the maiden; I will threat;
Her fears and hopes may yield us comfort yet."
Now the grave father took the lass aside,
Demanding sternly, "Wilt thou be a bride ?"
She answer'd, calling up an air sedate,
"I have not vow'd against the holy state."

No folly, Sybil," said the parent; "know
What to their parents virtuous maidens owe
A worthy, wealthy youth, whom I approve,
Must thou prepare to honour and to love.
Formal to thee his air and dress may seem,
But the good youth is worthy of esteem;
Shouldst thou with rudeness treat him; of disdain
Should he with justice or of slight complain,
Or of one taunting speech give certain proof
Girl! I reject thee from my sober roof."

I wore it once, and every grateful wife
Repays it with obedience through her life:
Have no regard to Sybil's dress, have none
To her pert language, to her flippant tone :
Henceforward thou shalt rule unquestion'd and

alone;

And she thy pleasure in thy looks shall seek—
How she shall dress, and whether she may speak, “
A sober smile return'd the youth, and said,
"Can I cause fear, who am myself afraid?"

Sybil, meantime, sat thoughtful in her room,
And often wonder'd-" Will the creature come?
Nothing shall tempt, shall force me to bestow
My hand upon him, yet I wish to know."

The door unclosed, and she beheld her sire
Lead in the youth, then hasten to retire ;
Daughter, my friend: my daughter, friend,"—he
cried,

"My aunt," said Sybil," will with pride protect
One whom a father can for this reject;
Nor shall a formal, rigid, soulless boy
My manners alter, or my views destroy!"
Jonas then lifted up his hands on high,
And uttering something 'twixt a groan and sigh,
Left the determined maid, her doubtful mother by."
Hear me," she said; " incline thy heart, my child,
And fix thy fancy on a man so mild:
Thy father, Sy bil, never could be moved
By one who loved him, or by one he loved
Union like ours is but a bargain made
By slave and tyrant-he will be obey'd;
Then calls the quiet, comfort;-but thy youth
Is mild by nature, and as frank as truth."

"But will he love?" said Sybil; "I am told That these mild creatures are by nature cold."

And gave a meaning look, and stepp'd aside,
That look contain'd a mingled threat and prayer,
"Do take him, child,-offend him, if you dare."

The couple gazed-were silent, and the maid
Look'd in his face, to make the man afraid;
The man, unmoved, upon the maiden cast
A steady view-so salutation pass'd:
But in this instant Sybil's eye had seen
The tall fair person, and the still staid mien;"

The glow that temperance o'er the cheek had spread, | Could it for errors, follies, sins atone,
Where the soft down half veil'd the purest red;

Or give thee comfort, thoughtful and alone?
It has, believe me, raid, no power to charm
Thy soul from sorrow, or thy flesh from harm:
Turn then, fair creature, from a world of sin,

The pale brown coat, though worn without a And seek the jewel happiness within."

That, for a sinner, thou'rt too much a saint;
Hast too much show of the sedate and pure,
And without cause art formal and demure :
This makes a man unsocial, unpolite;
Odious when wrong, and insolent if right.
Thou mayst be good, but why should goodness be
Wrapt in a garb of such formality?

He saw a foe with treacherous purpose fraught-Thy person well might please a damsel's eye,
Captive the heart to take, and to reject it caught.

'He loves," the man exclaim'd, "he loves, 'tis | But when the men beside their station took,

plain,

The thoughtless girl, and shall he love in vain?
She may be stubborn, but she shall be tried,
Born as she is of wilfulness and pride."

With anger fraught, but willing to persuade,
The wrathful father met the smiling maid
"Sybil," said he, "I long, and yet I dread
To know thy conduct; hath Josiah fled ?
And, grieved and fretted by thy scornful air
For his lost peace betaken him to prayer?
Couldst thou his pure and modest mind distress,
By vile remarks upon his speech, address,
Attire, and voice ?"-" All this I must confess."-
"Unhappy child! what labour will it cost
To win him back!"-" I do not think him lost."
"Courts he then, trifler! insult and disdain ?"—
No: but from these he courts me to refrain."
Then hear me, Sybil; should Josiah leave
Thy father's house ?"-" My father's child would
grieve."-

"That is of grace, and if he come again

To speak of love?"—"I might from grief refrain.""Then wilt thou, daughter, our design embrace?""Can I resist it, if it be of grace?"

The maidens with them, and with these the cook
When one huge wooden bowl before them stood,
Fill'd with huge balls, of farinaceous food;
With bacon, mass saline, where never lean
Beneath the brown and bristly rind was seen
When from a single horn the party drew
Their copious draughts of heavy ale and new;
When the course cloth she saw, with many a stain
Soil'd by rude hinds who cut and came again,
She could not breathe; but, with a heavy sigh,
Rein'd the fair neck, and shut th' offended eye;
She minced the sanguine flesh in frustums fine,
And wonder'd much to see the creatures dine :
When she resolved her father's heart to move,
If hearts of farmers were alive to love.

She now entreated by herself to sit
In the small parlour, if papa thought fit,
And there to dine, to read, to work alone.
No!" said the farmer, in an angry tone;
"These are your school-taught airs; your mother's
pride

Would send you there, but I am now your guide.
Arise betimes, our early meal prepare,
And this despatch'd, let business be your care;

"Dear child! in three plain words thy mind ex- Look to the lasses, let there not be one

press;

Who lacks attention, till her tasks be done;

Wilt thou have this good youth?"-" Dear father! In every household work your portion take, yes."

TALE VII.

THE WIDOW'S TALE.

Ah me! for aught that I could ever read,
Or ever hear by tale or history,

The course of true love never did run smooth:
But either it was different in blood,
Or else misgrafted in respect of years,
Or else it stood upon the choice of friends;
Or if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it.

Midsummer Night's Dream, act i. sc. 1.

O! thou didst then ne'er love so heartily,
If thou rememberest not the slightest folly
That ever love did make thee run into.

As You Like It, act ii. sc. 4.
Cry the man mercy; love him, take his offer.
Ibid. act iii. sc. 5.

To farmer Moss, in Langar Vale, came down
His only daughter, from her school in town;
A tender, timid maid who knew not how
To pass a pig-sty, or to face a cow:
Smiling she came, with petty talents graced,
A fair complexion, and a slender waist.

Used to spare meals, disposed in manner pure,
Her father's kitchen she could ill endure;
Where by the steaming beef he hungry sat,
And laid at once a pound upon his plate:
Hot from the field, her eager brother seized
An equal part, and hunger's rage appeased;
The air, surcharged with moisture, flagg'd around
And the offended damsel sigh'd and frown'd;
The swelling fat in lumps conglomerate laid,
And fancy's sickness seized the loathing maid:

And what you make not, see that others make:
At leisure times attend the wheel, and see
The whitening web he sprinkled on the Lea;
When thus employ'd, should our young neighbour
view

A useful lass, you may have more to do."
Dreadful were these commands; but worse than

these

The parting hint, a farmer could not please:
"Tis true she had without abhorrence seen
Young Harry Carr, when he was smart and clean;
But to be married, be a farmer's wife,

A slave! a drudge! she could not, for her life.
With swimming eyes the fretful nymph with-

drew,

And, deeply sighing, to her chamber flew ;
There on her knees, to Heaven she grieving pray'd
For change of prospect to a tortured maid

Harry, a youth whose late departed sire
Had left him all industrious men require,
Saw the pale beauty; and her shape and air
Engaged him much, and yet he must forbear :
For my small farm what can the damsel do?"
He said; then stopp'd to take another view:
Pity so sweet a lass will nothing learn
Of household cares; for what can beauty earn
By those small arts which they at school attain,
That keep them useless, and yet make them vain?'
This luckless damsel look'd the village round,
To find a friend, and one was quickly found;
A pensive widow, whose mild air and dress
Pleased the sad nymph, who wish'd her soul's dis

tress

To one so seeming kind, confiding, to confess.

"What lady that?" the anxious lass inquired, Who then beheld the one she most admired: "Here," said the brother, " are no ladies seenThat is a widow dwelling on the green; A dainty dame, who can but barely live On her poor pittance, yet contrives to give;

She happier days has known, but seems at ease,
And you may call her lady, if you please :
But if you wish, good sister, to improve,
You shall see twenty better worth your love."
These Nancy met; but, spite of all they taught,
This useless widow was the one she sought:
The father growl'd; but said he knew no harm
In such connexion that could give alarm :
"And if we thwart the trifler in her course,
Tis odds against us she will take a worse."

Then met the friends; the widow heard the sigh Duties in every state demand your care,
That ask'd at once compassion and reply.
"Would you, my child, converse with one so poor,
Yours were the kindness-yonder is my door;
And, save the time that we in public pray,
From that poor cottage I but rarely stray."
There went the nymph, and made her strong
complaints,

Painting her wo as injured feeling paints.

"O, dearest friend! do think how one must feel,
Shock'd all day long, and sicken'd every meal!
Could you behold our kitchen, (and to you
A scene so shocking must indeed be new,)
A mind like yours, with true refinement graced,
Would let no vulgar scenes pollute your taste;
And yet, in truth, from such a polish'd mind
All base ideas must resistance find,
And sordid pictures from the fancy pass,"
As the breath startles from the polish'd glass.

Here you enjoy a sweet romantic scene,
Without so pleasant, and within so clean;
These twining jess'mines, what delicious gloom
And soothing fragrance yield they to the room!
What lovely garden! there you oft retire,
And tales of wo and tenderness admire:
In that neat case, your books, in order placed,
Soothe the full soul, and charm the cultured taste;
And thus, while all about you wears a charm,
How must you scorn the farmer and the farm!"
The widow smiled, and "Know you not," said she,
"How much these farmers scorn or pity me;
Who see what you admire, and laugh at all they

And light are those that will require it there:
Fix on the youth a favouring eye, and these,
To him pertaining, or as his, will please."
"What words," the lass replied, "offend my ear
Try you my patience? Can you be sincere ?
And am I told a willing hand to give
To a rude farmer, and with rustic live?
Far other fate was yours: some gentle youth
Admired your beauty, and avow'd his truth;
The power of love prevail'd, and freely both
Gave the fond heart, and pledged the binding oath
And then the rival's plot, the parent's power,
And jealous fears, drew on the happy hour:
Ah! let not memory lose the blissful view,
But fairly show what love has done for you."

"Agreed, my daughter, what my heart has known Of love's strange power shall be with frankness shown:

But let me warn you, that experience finds
Few of the scenes that lively hope designs."
Mysterious all," said Nancy; "you, I know,
Have suffer'd much; now deign the grief to show
I am your friend, and so prepare my heart
In all your sorrows to receive a part."

The widow answer'd, "I had once, like you,
Such thoughts of love; no dream is more untrue:
You judge it fated and decreed to dwell
In youthful hearts, which nothing can expel,
A passion doom'd to reign, and irresistibie.
The struggling mind, when once subdued, in vain
Rejects the fury or defies the pain;
The strongest reason fails the flame t'allay,
And resolution droops and faints away:
Hence, when the destined lovers meet, they prove
At once the force of this all-powerful love:
Each from that period feels the mutual smart,
Nor seeks to cure it: heart is changed for heart;
Nor is there peace till they delighted stand,
And, at the altar, hand is joined to hand.

"Alas! my child, there are who, dreaming so,
Waste their fresh youth, and waking feel the wo;
There is no spirit sent the heart to move
With such prevailing and alarming love;
Passion to reason will submit; or why
Should wealthy maids the poorest swains deny ?
Or how could classes and degrees create
The slightest bar to such resistless fate?
Yet high and low, you see, forbear to mix;
No beggars' eyes the heart of kings transfix;
And who but amorous peers or nobles sigh
When titled beauties pass triumphant by ?
For reason wakes, proud wishes to reprove;
You cannot hope, and therefore dare not love:
All would be safe, did we at first inquire,

Does reason sanction what our hearts desire?"
But quitting precept, let example show
What joys from love uncheck'd by prudence flow

"Slow pass'd the heavy years, and each had more Poor as I was, he ceaseless sought, for years,