From his importance, every eye was placed On his designs—How dreadful if disgraced! “O! that unknown to him the pair had flown To that same Green, the project all their own! And, should they now be guilty of the act, Am not I free from knowledge of the fact? 230 Will they not, if they will?”—’Tis thus we meet The check of conscience, and our guide defeat. This friend, this spy, this counsellor at rest, More pleasing views were to the mind address’d. The mischief done, he would be much displeased, For weeks, nay, months, and slowly be appeased— Yet of this anger if they felt the dread, Perhaps they dare not steal away to wed; And, if on hints of mercy they should go, He stood committed—it must not be so. 240 In this dilemma either horn was hard— Best to seem careless, then, and off one’s guard; And, lest their terror should their flight prevent, His wife might argue—fathers will relent On such occasions—and that she should share The guilt and censure was her proper care. “Suppose them wed,” said he, “and at my feet, I must exclaim that instant—‘Vile deceit!’ Then will my daughter, weeping while they kneel, For its own Clara beg my heart may feel: 250 At last, but slowly, I may all forgive, And their adviser and director live.” When wishes only weak the heart surprise, Heaven, in its mercy, the fond prayer denies; But when our wishes are both base and weak, Heaven, in its justice, gives us what we seek. All pass’d that was expected; all prepared To share the comfort—What the comfort shared? The married pair, on their return, agreed That they from school were now completely freed; 260 Were man and wife, and to their mansion now Should boldly drive, and their intents avow: The acting guardian in the mansion reign’d, And, thither driving, they their will explain’d. The man awhile discoursed in language high, The ward was sullen, and made brief reply; Till, when he saw th’ opposing strength decline, He bravely utter’d—“Sir, the house is mine!” And, like a lion, lash’d by self-rebuke, His own defence he bravely undertook. 270 “Well! be it right or wrong, the thing is past; You cannot hinder what is tight and fast: The church has tied us; we are hither come To our own place, and you must make us room.” The man reflected—“You deserve, I know, Foolish young man! what fortune will bestow; No punishment from me your actions need, Whose pains will shortly to your fault succeed.” James was quite angry, wondering what was meant By such expressions—Why should he repent? 280 New trial came—The wife conceived it right To see her parents; “So,” he said, “she might, If she had any fancy for a jail, But upon him no creature should prevail; No! he would never be again the fool To go and starve, or study at a school!”— “O! but to see her parents!”—“Well! the sight