’Twas fond Esteem! and that immoral boy She now despis’d and his accursed Joy. [Ere] yet the wicked Vengeance she was told, The vile Avenger she could ill behold, And, as he urg’d his prayer, indignant grew, And all her fondness [and her faith] withdrew. Joseph she saw, his Virtues and his Worth, And Love from grateful Sorrow took his Birth. 290 He had her pity, her Esteem, before, When he was glad—he suffer’d, and had more; Nor Groan escap’d him, but it touch’d the Maid, Who, as he did not, would herself upbraid. Advis’d, the Father, when he saw her Care, Forbore to urge her and agreed to spare; And the sick-room was made a mild retreat For rising Hope and opening Love to meet. Then Joseph told her he could yet forgive, Would Frank reform, and they in joy might live; 300 While he—“Oh! speak not!” [quickly] she replied, “Thine will I be, and that will be my pride! It was a foolish Thought, a Fancy fled, A Dream dissolv’d—the very wish is dead. I thought that all things yielded to my Youth, And follow’d Fancy till she fled from Truth; Now I behold thee virtuous, as thou art, Nor yield Esteem more freely than my Heart, And him the worthless being he appears, Taught to create our Terrors and our tears.” 310 CAPTAIN GODFREY. Musing, he said—“So rich, and so addressed, What can I hope? be, foolish heart, at rest! Here fate has brought me—now, suppose I write, If but my Name, and leave it for her sight?” That instant sank the moon, and Godfrey cried: “So perish all my Views!” and deeply sighed; Then, with heroic Motion striding far And Voice of Valour—“Let us to the War!” But, as he sighed, he heard approaching feet Behind those trees so shady and so sweet; 10 Then, dimly seen, came on with Motion slow That pair whose Hearts he most desired to know. The Lady’s Accent he remembered well; The Lover’s Name his Rival’s fears could spell. He shrank, disordered, to his hiding place; To be detected was for life disgrace. The best, the wisest, method he could take Was, undisguised, a safe retreat to make; But some mix’d Motives, not defin’d with Ease, Led [him] behind the Phalanx of the trees.— 20 But who will pardon to an act extend So full of Fear, so doubtful in the End?— Cautious he stood, this Hand upon the Sword That on his Heart, and listened to each Word. Yes, you are good, and have in this complied; Be kinder yet, and now my Fate decide! Thought I, that months, nay years, attending still Could soften that dear Heart or lead that will, Thro’ many an arduous Month and many a year I would attend, adore, and persevere; 30 But thou, tho’ gentlest of the gentle Kind, Hast with the frankest heart the firmest Mind; Tho’ with that firmness true Compassion lives, And thy Heart murmurs at the Grief it gives. Then, when I view thee so unmov’d tho’ mild,