These her first thoughts—but as, from time to time, The Lover came, she dwelt not on his crime— “Crime could she call it? prudes, indeed, condemn These slips of youth—but she was not of them.” So gentler thoughts arose as, day by day, The Captain came his passion to display. 120 When he display’d his passion, and she felt, Not without fear, her heart begin to melt— Joy came with terror at a state so new; Glad of his truth; if he indeed were true! This she decided as the heart decides, Resolved to be the happiest of brides. “Not great my fortune—hence,” said she, “’tis plain, Me, and not mine, dear Youth! he hopes to gain; Nor has he much; but, as he sweetly talks, We from our cot shall have delightful walks, 130 Love, lord within it! I shall smile to see My little cherubs on the father’s knee.” Then sigh’d the nymph, and in her fancied lot, She all the mischiefs of the past forgot. Such were their tender meditations; thus Would they the visions of the day discuss: Each, too, the old sad habits would no more Indulge; both dare be virtuous and be poor. They both had past the year when law allows Free-will to lover who would fain be spouse: 140 Yet the good youth his Uncle’s sanction sought— “Marry her, Bob! and are you really caught? Then you’ve exchanged, I warrant, heart for heart— ’Tis well! I meant to warn her of your art; This Parson’s Babe has made you quite a fool— But are you sure your ardour will not cool? Have you not habits, Boy? but take your chance! How will you live? I cannot much advance. But hear you not what through the village flies That this your dove is famed for her disguise? 150 Yet, say they not, she leads a gayish life? Art sure she’ll show the virtues of a wife?”— “Oh, Sir, she’s all that mortal man can love!”— “Then marry, Bob! and that the fact will prove— Yet, in a kind of lightness, folk agree.”— } “Lightness in her! indeed, it cannot be— } ’Tis Innocence alone that makes her manners free.”— } “Well, my good friend! then Innocence alone Is to a something like Flirtation prone; And I advise—but let me not offend— 160 That Prudence should on Innocence attend, Lest some her sportive purity mistake, And term your angel more than half a rake.” The Nymph, now sure, could not entirely curb The native wish her lover to disturb. Oft he observed her, and could ill endure The gentle coquetry of maid so pure: Men he beheld press round her, and the Fair Caught every sigh, and smiled at every prayer; And grieved he was with jealous pains to see 170 The effects of all her wit and pleasantry. “Yet why alarm’d?”—he said; “with so much sense, She has no freedom, dashing, or pretence: ’Tis her gay mind, and I should feel a pride In her chaste levities”—he said, and sigh’d. Yet, when apart from company, he chose To talk a little of his bosom’s woes—