TALE IV.

PROCRASTINATION.

Heaven witness

I have been to you ever true and humble.

Henry VIII. Act II, Scene 4.

Gentle lady,

When first I did impart my love to you,

I freely told you all the wealth I had.

Merchant of Venice, Act III. Scene 2.

The fatal time

Cuts off all ceremonies and vows of love,

And ample interchange of sweet discourse,

Which so long sundred friends should dwell upon.

Richard III. Act V. Scene 3.

I know thee not, old Man, fall to thy prayers.

2 Henry IV. Act V. Scene 5.

Farewell,

Thou pure impiety, thou impious purity,

For thee I'll lock up all the gates of love.

Much Ado about Nothing, Act IV. Seene 2.

TALE IV.

PROCRASTINATION.

Love will expire, the gay, the happy dream
Will turn to scorn, indiff'rence, or esteem:
Some favour'd pairs, in this exchange, are blest,
Nor sigh for raptures in a state of rest;
Others, ill match'd, with minds unpair'd, repent
At once the deed, and know no more content;
From joy to anguish they, in haste, decline,
And with their fondness, their esteem resign:
More luckless still their fate, who are the prey
Of long-protracted hope and dull delay;
'Mid plans of bliss, the heavy hours pass on,
Till love is wither'd, and till joy is gone.

This gentle flame two youthful hearts possess'd, The sweet disturber of unenvied rest : The prudent Dinah was the maid belov❜d, And the kind Rupert was the swain approv'd:

A wealthy Aunt her gentle niece sustain'd,
He, with a father, at his desk remain'd;
The youthful couple, to their vows sincere,
Thus lov'd expectant! year succeeding year,

With pleasant views and hopes, but not a prospect near.
Rupert some comfort in his station saw,

But the poor Virgin liv'd in dread and awe;
Upon her anxious looks the Widow smil❜d,
And bade her wait, for she was yet a child.'
She for her neighbour had a due respect,
Nor would his son encourage or reject ;
And thus the pair, with expectations vain,
Beheld the seasons change and change again:
Meantime the Nymph her tender tales perus'd,
Where cruel aunts impatient girls refus'd;
While hers, though teazing, boasted to be kind,
And she, resenting, to be all resign'd.

The Dame was sick, and when the Youth applied For her consent, she groan'd, and cough'd, and cried; Talk'd of departing, and again her breath

Drew hard, and cough'd, and talk'd again of death: Here you may live, my Dinah! here the boy

And you together my estate enjoy ;' Thus to the Lovers was her mind exprest,

Till they forbore to urge the fond request.

Servant, and nurse, and comforter, and friend, Dinah had still some duty to attend;

But yet their walk, when Rupert's evening call
Obtain'd an hour, made sweet amends for all;
So long they now each other's thoughts had known,
That nothing seem'd exclusively their own;

But with the common wish, the mutual fear,
They now had travell'd to their thirtieth year.

At length a prospect open'd-but, alas! Long time must yet, before the union, pass; Rupert was call'd in other clime, t' increase, Another's wealth and toil for future peace; Loth were the Lovers; but the Aunt declar'd 'Twas fortune's call, and they must be prepar'd;

You now are young, and for this brief delay, "And Dinah's care, what I bequeath will pay; All will be yours; nay, love, suppress that sigh, The kind must suffer, and the best must die :' Then came the cough, and strong the signs it gave, Of holding long contention with the grave.

The Lovers parted with a gloomy view, And little comfort but that both were true; He for uncertain duties doom'd to steer, While hers remain'd too certain and severe.

Letters arriv'd, and Rupert fairly told

"His cares were many, and his hopes were cold; "The view more clouded, that was never fair, "And love alone preserv'd him from despair:"