For why the lady should her heart bestow } On me, or I of her enamour’d grow, } There’s none can reason give, there’s none can danger show.” } These were his rapid thoughts, and then he spoke. “I make a promise, and will not revoke; You are my judge in what is fit and right, And I obey you—bid me love or fight; Yet had I rather, so the act could meet With your concurrence, not to play the cheat; 360 In a fair cause”——“Charles, fighting for your king, Did you e’er judge the merits of the thing? Show me a monarch who has cause like mine, And yet what soldier would his cause decline?” Poor Charles or saw not, or refused to see, How weak the reasoning of our hopes may be, And said—“Dear uncle, I my king obey’d, And for his glory’s sake the soldier play’d; Now a like duty shall your nephew rule, And for your vengeance I will play the fool.” 370 ’Twas well; but ere they parted for repose, A solemn oath must the engagement close. “Swear to me, nephew, from the day you meet This cruel girl, there shall be no deceit; That by all means approved and used by man You win this dangerous woman, if you can; That, being won, you my commands obey, Leave her lamenting, and pursue your way; And that, as in my business, you will take My will as guide, and no resistance make: 380 Take now an oath—within the volume look, There is the Gospel—swear, and kiss the book.” “It cannot be,” thought Charles, “he cannot rest In this strange humour—it is all a jest, All but dissimulation—Well, sir, there; Now I have sworn as you would have me swear.” “’Tis well,” the uncle said in solemn tone; “Now send me vengeance, Fate, and groan for groan!” The time is come: the soldier now must meet Th’ unconscious object of the sworn deceit. 390 They meet; each other’s looks the pair explore, And, such their fortune, wish’d to part no more. Whether a man is thus disposed to break An evil compact he was forced to make, Or whether some contention in the breast Will not permit a feeling heart to rest; Or was it nature, who in every case Has made such mind subjected to such face: Whate’er the cause, no sooner met the pair Than both began to love, and one to feel despair. 400 But the fair damsel saw with strong delight Th’ impression made, and gloried in the sight. No chilling doubt alarm’d her tender breast, But she rejoiced in all his looks profess’d; Long ere his words her lover’s hopes convey’d, They warm’d the bosom of the conscious maid; One spirit seem’d each nature to inspire, And the two hearts were fix’d in one desire. “Now,” thought the courteous maid, “my father’s friend Will ready pardon to my fault extend; 410 He shall no longer lead that hermit’s life, But love his mistress in his nephew’s wife; My humble duty shall his anger kill, } And I who fled his love will meet his will, }