Then she plots, then she ruminates, then she devises, and what they think in their hearts they may effect, they will break their hearts but they will effect.
Merry Wives of Windsor, Act II. Scene 2.
She hath spoken that she should not, I am sure of that
Heaven knows what she hath known.
Our house is hell, and thou a merry devil.
Merchant of Venice, Act II. Scene 3.
And yet, for ought I see, they are as sick that surfeit of too much, as they that starve with nothing; it is no mean happiness, therefore, to be seated in the mean.
Merchant of Venice, Act I. Scene 2.
A VICAR died, and left his Daughter poor-
It hurt her not, she was not rich before:
Her humble share of worldly goods she sold,
Paid every debt, and then her fortune told;
And found, with youth and beauty, hope and health,
Two hundred guineas was her worldly wealth;
It then remain❜d to choose her path in life,
And first, said Jesse, "Shall I be a wife?—
"Colin is mild and civil, kind and just,
"I know his love, his temper I can trust;
"But small his farm, it asks perpetual care,
"And we must toil as well as trouble share:
"True, he was taught in all the gentle arts
"That raise the soul, and soften human hearts;
"And boasts a Parent, who deserves to shine
"In higher class, and I could wish her mine;
"Nor wants he will his station to improve,
"A just ambition wak'd by faithful love;—
"Still is he poor-and here my Father's Friend
66 Deigns for his Daughter, as her own, to send;
"A worthy lady, who it seems has known
"A world of griefs and troubles of her own:
"I was an infant, when she came, a guest "Beneath my Father's humble roof to rest; "Her kindred all unfeeling, vast her woes, "Such her complaint, and there she found repose; "Enrich'd by fortune, now she nobly lives, "And nobly, from the blest abundance, gives; "The grief, the want of human life, she knows, "And comfort there and here relief bestows; "But, are they not dependants?-Foolish pride! "Am I not honour'd by such friend and guide? "Have I a home," (here Jesse dropp'd a tear,) "Or friend beside?"-A faithful friend was near.
Now Colin came, at length resolv'd to lay
His heart before her, and to urge her stay;
True, his own plough the gentle Colin drove,
An humbler farmer with aspiring love;
Who, urg'd by passion, never dar'd till now,
Thus urg'd by fears, his trembling hopes avow:
Her father's glebe he manag'd; every year
The grateful Vicar held the Youth more dear;
He saw indeed the prize in Colin's view,
And wish'd his Jesse with a man so true;
Timid as true, he urg'd with anxious air
His tender hope, and made the trembling prayer;
When Jesse saw, nor could with coldness see,
Such fond respect, such tried sincerity :
Grateful for favours to her Father dealt,
She more than grateful for his passion felt;
Nor could she frown on one so good and kind,
Yet fear'd to smile, and was unfix'd in mind;
But prudence plac'd the Female Friend in view
What might not one so rich and grateful do?
So lately, too, the good old Vicar died,
His faithful daughter must not cast aside
The signs of filial grief, and be a ready bride:
Thus, led by prudence, to the Lady's seat,
The Village-Beauty purpos'd to retreat;
But, as in hard-fought fields the victor knows
What to the vanquish'd he, in honour, owes,
So in this conquest over powerful love,
Prudence resolv'd a generous foe to prove;
And Jesse felt a mingled fear and pain
In her dismission of a faithful swain,
Gave her kind thanks, and when she saw his wo,
Kindly betray'd that she was loth to go;
'But would she promise, if abroad she met
'A frowning world, she would remember yet 'Where dwelt a friend?'-" That could she not forget." And thus they parted; but each faithful heart Felt the compulsion, and refus'd to part.
Now by the morning mail the timid Maid
Was to that kind and wealthy Dame convey'd;
Whose invitation, when her Father died,
Jesse as comfort to her heart applied;
She knew the days her generous Friend had seen---
As wife and widow, evil days had been;
She married early, and for half her life
Was an insulted and forsaken wife;
Widow'd and poor, her angry father gave,
Mix'd with reproach, the pittance of a slave;
Forgetful brothers pass'd her, but she knew
Her humbler friends, and to their home withdrew;
The good old Vicar to her sire applied
For help, and help'd her when her sire denied;
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