There was a worthy, but a simple pair, Who nursed a daughter, fairest of the fair. Sons they had lost, and she alone remain’d, Heir to the kindness they had all obtain’d; Heir to the fortune they design’d for all, Nor had th’ allotted portion then been small; But now, by fate enrich’d with beauty rare, They watch’d their treasure with peculiar care. The fairest features they could early trace, } And, blind with love, saw merit in her face-- } 10 Saw virtue, wisdom, dignity, and grace; } And Dorothea, from her infant years, Gain’d all her wishes from their pride or fears; She wrote a billet, and a novel read, And with her fame her vanity was fed; Each word, each look, each action was a cause For flattering wonder, and for fond applause; She rode or danced, and ever glanced around, Seeking for praise, and smiling when she found. The yielding pair to her petitions gave 20 An humble friend to be a civil slave; Who for a poor support herself resign’d To the base toil of a dependent mind. By nature cold, our heiress stoop’d to art, To gain the credit of a tender heart; Hence at her door must suppliant paupers stand, To bless the bounty of her beauteous hand. And now, her education all complete, She talk’d of virtuous love and union sweet; She was indeed by no soft passion moved, 30 But wish’d, with all her soul, to be beloved. Here on the favour’d beauty fortune smiled; Her chosen husband was a man so mild, So humbly temper’d, so intent to please, } It quite distress’d her to remain at ease, } Without a cause to sigh, without pretence to tease. } She tried his patience in a thousand modes, And tired it not upon the roughest roads. Pleasure she sought, and, disappointed, sigh’d For joys, she said, “to her alone denied;” 40 And she was “sure her parents, if alive, Would many comforts for their child contrive.” The gentle husband bade her name him one;-- “No--that,” she answer’d, “should for her be done; How could she say what pleasures were around? But she was certain many might be found.”-- “Would she some sea-port, Weymouth, Scarborough, grace?”-- “He knew she hated every watering-place.”-- “The town?”--“What! now ’twas empty, joyless, dull?” --“In winter?”--“No; she liked it worse when full.” 50 She talk’d of building--“Would she plan a room?”-- “No! she could live, as he desired, in gloom.”-- “Call then our friends and neighbours?”--“He might call, } And they might come and fill his ugly hall; } A noisy vulgar set, he knew she scorn’d them all.”-- } “Then, might their two dear girls the time employ, And their improvement yield a solid joy?”-- “Solid indeed! and heavy--oh! the bliss