The utterance due: thus daily he became The prey of weakness, vanity, and shame. But soon a day, that was their doubts to close, On the fond maid and thoughtless youth arose. Within the park, beside the bounding brook, The social pair their usual ramble took; 510 And there the steward found them; they could trace News in his look, and gladness in his face. He was a man of riches, bluff and big, With clean brown broad-cloth, and with white cut wig: He bore a cane of price, with riband tied, And a fat spaniel waddled at his side. To every being whom he met he gave His looks expressive: civil, gay, or grave, But condescending all; and each declared How much he govern’d, and how well he fared. 520 This great man bow’d, not humbly, but his bow Appear’d familiar converse to allow. The trembling Fanny, as he came in view, Within the chestnut grove in fear withdrew; While Henry wonder’d, not without a fear, Of that which brought th’ important man so near. Doubt was dispersed by—“My esteem’d young man!” As he with condescending grace began—— “Though you with youthful frankness nobly trust Your Fanny’s friends, and doubtless think them just; 530 Though you have not, with craving soul, applied To us, and ask’d the fortune of your bride: Be it our care that you shall not lament That love has made you so improvident. “An orphan maid——Your patience! you shall have Your time to speak, I now attention crave— Fanny, dear girl! has in my spouse and me Friends of a kind we wish our friends to be, None of the poorest——nay, sir, no reply; You shall not need——and we are born to die; 540 And one yet crawls on earth, of whom I say That what he has he cannot take away— Her mother’s father, one who has a store Of this world’s good, and always looks for more; But, next his money, loves the girl at heart, And she will have it when they come to part.” “Sir,” said the youth, his terrors all awake, “Hear me, I pray, I beg—for mercy’s sake! Sir, were the secrets of my soul confess’d, Would you admit the truths that I protest 550 Are such——your pardon”—— “Pardon! good, my friend, I not alone will pardon, I commend: Think you that I have no remembrance left Of youthful love, and Cupid’s cunning theft? How nymphs will listen when their swains persuade, How hearts are gain’d, and how exchange is made?— Come, sir, your hand”—— “In mercy, hear me now!” “I cannot hear you, time will not allow. You know my station, what on me depends, For ever needed—but we part as friends; 560 And here comes one who will the whole explain, My better self—and we shall meet again.” “Sir, I entreat”—— “Then be entreaty made To her, a woman, one you may persuade; A little teasing, but she will comply, } And loves her niece too fondly to deny.” }