Why did not Love the amaranth choose, That bears no thorns, and cannot perish? Alas! no sweets its flowers diffuse, And only sweets Love’s life can cherish. But be the rose and amaranth twined, And Love, their mingled powers assuming, Shall round his brows a chaplet bind, For ever sweet, for ever blooming. ‘I am afraid,’ said Mr. Derrydown, ‘the flower of modern love is neither the rose nor the amaranth, but the _chrysanthemum_, or _gold-flower_. If Miss Danaretta and Mr. O’Scarum will accompany me, we will sing a little harmonised ballad, something in point, and rather more conformable to the truth of things.’ Mr. O’Scarum and Miss Danaretta consented, and they accordingly sang the following:— BALLAD TERZETTO—THE LADY, THE KNIGHT, AND THE FRIAR THE LADY O cavalier! what dost thou here, Thy tuneful vigils keeping; While the northern star looks cold from far, And half the world is sleeping? THE KNIGHT O lady! here, for seven long year, Have I been nightly sighing, Without the hope of a single tear To pity me were I dying. THE LADY Should I take thee to have and to hold, Who hast nor lands nor money? Alas! ’tis only in flowers of gold That married bees find honey. THE KNIGHT O lady fair! to my constant prayer Fate proves at last propitious: And bags of gold in my hand I bear, And parchment scrolls delicious. THE LADY My maid the door shall open throw, For we too long have tarried: The friar keeps watch in the cellar below, And we will at once be married. THE FRIAR My children! great is Fortune’s power; And plain this truth appears, That gold thrives more in a single hour Than love in seven long years. During this terzetto the Reverend Mr. Portpipe fell asleep, and accompanied the performance with rather a deeper bass than was generally deemed harmonious. Sir Telegraph Paxarett took Mr. Forester aside, to consult him on the subject of the journey to Onevote. ‘I have asked,’ said he, ‘my aunt and cousin, Mrs. and Miss Pinmoney, to join the party, and have requested them to exert their influence with Miss Melincourt to induce her to accompany them.’ ‘That would make it a delightful expedition, indeed,’ said Mr. Forester, ‘if Miss Melincourt could be prevailed on to comply.’ ‘_Nil desperandum_,’ said Sir Telegraph.