_E._ Well, my good sir, I shall contend no more; But, O! the vows you made, the oaths you swore— 110 _H._ To love you always—I confess it true; And do I not? If not, what can I do? Moreover think what you yourself profess’d, And then the subject may for ever rest. _E._ Yes, sir, obedience I profess’d; I know My debt, and wish to pay you all I owe— Pay without murmur; but that vow was made To you, who said it never should be paid.— Now truly tell me why you took such care To make me err? I ask’d you not to swear, 120 But rather hoped you would my mind direct, And say, when married, what you would expect. You may remember—it is not so long Since you affirm’d that I could not be wrong; I told you then—you recollect, I told The very truth—that humour would not hold; Not that I thought, or ever could suppose, } The mighty raptures were so soon to close— } Poetic flights of love all sunk in sullen prose. } Do you remember how you used to hang 130 Upon my looks? your transports when I sang? I play’d—you melted into tears; I moved— } Voice, words, and motion, how you all approved; } A time when Emma reign’d, a time when Henry loved. } You recollect? _H._ Yes, surely; and then why The needless truths? do I the facts deny? For this remonstrance I can see no need, Or this impatience—if you do, proceed. _E._ O! that is now so cool, and with a smile That sharpens insult—I detest the style; 140 And, now I talk of styles, with what delight You read my lines—I then, it seems, could write. In short, when I was present you could see But one dear object, and you lived for me; And now, sir, what your pleasure? Let me dress, Sing, speak, or write, and you your sense express Of my poor taste—my words are not correct; } In all I do is failing or defect— } Some error you will seek, some blunder will detect; } And what can such dissatisfaction prove? 150 I tell you, Henry, you have ceased to love. _H._ I own it not; but if a truth it be, It is the fault of nature, not of me. Remember you, my love, the fairy tale, Where the young pairs were spell-bound in the vale? When all around them gay or glorious seem’d, And of bright views and ceaseless joys they dream’d; Young love and infant life no more could give— They said but half, when they exclaim’d, “We live!” All was so light, so lovely, so serene, 160 And not a trouble to be heard or seen; Till, melting into truth, the vision fled, And there came miry roads and thorny ways instead. Such was our fate, my charmer! we were found A wandering pair, by roguish Cupid bound; All that I saw was gifted to inspire } Grand views of bliss, and wake intense desire } Of joys that never pall, of flights that never tire; } There was that purple light of love, that bloom,