That indicates the wealth it seems to hide; 350 And looks that were not, she conceived, exempt From a proud pity, or a sly contempt. Josiah’s eyes had their employment too, Engaged and soften’d by so bright a view: A fair and meaning face, an eye of fire, That check’d the bold, and made the free retire. But then with these he mark’d the studied dress And lofty air, that scorn or pride express; With that insidious look, that seem’d to hide In an affected smile the scorn and pride; 360 And if his mind the virgin’s meaning caught, } He saw a foe with treacherous purpose fraught-- } Captive the heart to take, and to reject it caught. } Silent they sate--thought Sybil, that he seeks Something, no doubt; I wonder if he speaks. Scarcely she wonder’d, when these accents fell Slow in her ear--“Fair maiden, art thou well?”-- “Art thou physician?” she replied; “my hand, My pulse, at least, shall be at thy command.” She said--and saw, surprised, Josiah kneel, 370 And gave his lips the offer’d pulse to feel; The rosy colour rising in her cheek Seem’d that surprise, unmix’d with wrath, to speak; Then sternness she assumed, and--“Doctor, tell, Thy words cannot alarm me--am I well?” “Thou art,” said he; “and yet thy dress so light, I do conceive, some danger must excite.” “In whom?” said Sybil, with a look demure; “In more,” said he, “than I expect to cure. I, in thy light luxuriant robe, behold } Want and excess, abounding and yet cold: } Here needed, there display’d, in many a wanton fold; } Both health and beauty, learned authors show, From a just medium in our clothing flow.” “Proceed, good doctor; if so great my need, What is thy fee? Good doctor! pray proceed.” “Large is my fee, fair lady, but I take None till some progress in my cure I make. Thou hast disease, fair maiden; thou art vain; Within that face sit insult and disdain; 390 Thou art enamour’d of thyself; my art Can see the naughty malice of thy heart; With a strong pleasure would thy bosom move, Were I to own thy power, and ask thy love; And such thy beauty, damsel, that I might, } But for thy pride, feel danger in thy sight, } And lose my present peace in dreams of vain delight.” } “And can thy patients,” said the nymph, “endure Physic like this? and will it work a cure?” “Such is my hope, fair damsel; thou, I find, 400 Hast the true tokens of a noble mind; But the world wins thee, Sybil, and thy joys Are placed in trifles, fashions, follies, toys; Thou hast sought pleasure in the world around, That in thine own pure bosom should be found. Did all that world admire thee, praise and love, Could it the least of nature’s pains remove?