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, 300 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. “Behold,” said he, “thy future spouse attends; Receive him, daughter, as the best of friends; Observe, respect him--humble be each word, 310 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; I wore it once, and every grateful wife Repays it with obedience through her life: Have no regard to Sybil’s dress, have none } 320 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.” 330 The door unclosed, and she beheld her sire Lead in the youth, then hasten to retire. “Daughter, my friend--my daughter, friend,” he cried, 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; 340 But in this instant Sybil’s eye had seen The tall fair person, and the still staid mien; The glow that temp’rance o’er the cheek had spread, Where the soft down half veil’d the purest red; And the serene deportment that proclaim’d A heart unspotted, and a life unblamed. But then with these she saw attire too plain, The pale brown coat, though worn without a stain; The formal air, and something of the pride