“But to address this vixen is a task He is ashamed to take, and I to ask.” Soon as the father from Josiah learn’d 470 What pass’d with Sybil, he the truth discern’d. “He loves,” the man exclaim’d, “he loves, ’tis plain, The thoughtless girl, and shall he love in vain? She may be stubborn, but she shall be tried, Born as she is of wilfulness and pride.” With anger fraught, but willing to persuade, The wrathful father met the smiling maid. “Sybil,” said he, “I long, and yet I dread To know thy conduct--hath Josiah fled, And, grieved and fretted by thy scornful air, 480 For his lost peace betaken him to prayer? Couldst thou his pure and modest mind distress, } By vile remarks upon his speech, address, } Attire, and voice?”--“All this I must confess.”-- } “Unhappy child! what labour will it cost To win him back!”--“I do not think him lost.” “Courts he then, trifler, insult and disdain?”-- “No: but from these he courts me to refrain.”-- “Then hear me, Sybil: should Josiah leave Thy father’s house?”--“My father’s child would grieve.”-- “That is of grace; and if he come again 491 To speak of love?”--“I might from grief refrain.”-- “Then wilt thou, daughter, our design embrace?”-- “Can I resist it, if it be of grace?”-- “Dear child! in three plain words thy mind express-- Wilt thou have this good youth?”--“Dear father! yes.” TALE VII. _THE WIDOW’S TALE._ Ah me! for aught that I could ever read, [Could] ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth; But, either it was different in blood, [. . .] Or else misgrafted in respect of years, [. . .] Or else it stood upon the choice of friends, [. . .] Or if there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it. _Midsummer Night’s Dream_, Act I. Scene 1. Oh! thou didst then ne’er love so heartily, If thou rememberest not the slightest folly That ever love did make thee run into . . . _As You Like It_, Act II. Scene 4. Cry the man mercy; love him; take his offer. _As You Like It_, Act III. Scene 5. TALE VII. _THE WIDOW’S TALE._