“Yes! we must go, my child, and by our dress A grave conformity of mind express; Must sing at meeting, and from cards refrain, The more t’ enjoy when we return again.” Thus spake the aunt, and the discerning child Was pleased to learn how fathers are beguiled. 120 Her artful part the young dissembler took, And from the matron caught th’ approving look. When thrice the friends had met, excuse was sent For more delay, and Jonas was content; Till a tall maiden by her sire was seen, In all the bloom and beauty of sixteen; He gazed admiring;--she, with visage prim, Glanced an arch look of gravity on him; For she was gay at heart, but wore disguise, And stood a vestal in her father’s eyes-- 130 Pure, pensive, simple, sad; the damsel’s heart, When Jonas praised, reproved her for the part; For Sybil, fond of pleasure, gay and light, Had still a secret bias to the right; Vain as she was--and flattery made her vain-- Her simulation gave her bosom pain. Again return’d, the matron and the niece Found the late quiet gave their joy increase; The aunt, infirm, no more her visits paid, But still with her sojourn’d the favourite maid. 140 Letters were sent when franks could be procured; And, when they could not, silence was endured. All were in health, and, if they older grew, It seem’d a fact that none among them knew; The aunt and niece still led a pleasant life, And quiet days had Jonas and his wife. Near him a widow dwelt of worthy fame: Like his her manners, and her creed the same. The wealth her husband left her care retain’d For one tall youth, and widow she remained; 150 His love respectful all her care repaid, Her wishes watch’d, and her commands obey’d. Sober he was and grave from early youth, Mindful of forms, but more intent on truth; In a light drab he uniformly dress’d, And look serene th’ unruffled mind express’d; A hat with ample verge his brows o’erspread, And his brown locks curl’d graceful on his head; Yet might observers in his speaking eye } Some observation, some acuteness spy; } 160 The friendly thought it keen, the treacherous deem’d } it sly. } Yet not a crime could foe or friend detect; His actions all were, like his speech, correct; And they who jested on a mind so sound, Upon his virtues must their laughter found: ‘Chaste, sober, solemn,’ and ‘devout’ they named Him who was thus, and not of _this_ ashamed. Such were the virtues Jonas found in one In whom he warmly wish’d to find a son. Three years had pass’d since he had Sybil seen; 170 But she was doubtless what she once had been-- Lovely and mild, obedient and discreet: