Or make, a quarrel, to relieve my mind. “In vain I try--politeness as a shield The angry strokes of my contempt repell’d; 230 Nor must I violate the social law That keeps the rash and insolent in awe. Once I observed, on hearing my replies, The woman’s terror fix’d on me the eyes That look’d entreaty; but the guideless rage Of jealous minds no softness can assuage. But, lo! they rise, and all prepare to take The promised pleasure on the neighbouring lake. “Good heaven! they whisper! Is it come to this? Already!--then may I my doubt dismiss: 240 Could he so soon a timid girl persuade? What rapid progress has the coxcomb made! And yet how cool her looks, and how demure! The falling snow nor lily’s flower so pure-- What can I do? I must the pair attend, And watch this horrid business to its end. “There, forth they go! He leads her to the shore-- Nay, I must follow--I can bear no more: What can the handsome gipsy have in view In trifling thus, as she appears to do? 250 I, who for months have labour’d to succeed, Have only lived her vanity to feed. “O! you will make me room--’tis very kind, And meant for him--it tells him he must mind; Must not be careless:--I can serve to draw The soldier on, and keep the man in awe. O! I did think she had a guileless heart, Without deceit, capriciousness, or art; And yet a stranger, with a coat of red, Has, by an hour’s attention, turn’d her head. 260 “Ah! how delicious was the morning-drive, The soul awaken’d, and its hopes alive; How dull this scene by trifling minds enjoy’d, The heart in trouble and its hope destroy’d. Well, now we land--And will he yet support This part? What favour has he now to court? Favour! O, no! He means to quit the fair; How strange! how cruel! Will she not despair? Well! take her hand--no further if you please, I cannot suffer fooleries like these:-- 270 How? ‘Love to Julia!’ to his wife?--O! dear } And injured creature, how must I appear, } Thus haughty in my looks, and in my words severe? } Her love to Julia, to the school-day friend To whom those letters she has lately penn’d! Can she forgive? And now I think again, The man was neither insolent nor vain; Good humour chiefly would a stranger trace, Were he impartial, in the air or face; And I so splenetic the whole way long, 280 And she so patient--it was very wrong. The boat had landed in a shady scene; The grove was in its glory, fresh and green; The showers of late had swell’d the branch and bough, And the sun’s fervour made them pleasant now. Hard by, an oak arose in all its pride, And threw its arms along the water’s side: Its leafy limbs, that on the glassy lake