And begged for salvation from stark staring ruin; The sire urged--"The People your debts have twice paid, "And, to ask a third time, even Pitt is afraid; "But he shall if you'll marry, and lead a new life,-- "You've a cousin in Germany--make her your wife!" {033} [Illustration: 041] ACCEPTATION. From the high halls of Brunswick, all youthful and gay, From the hearth of her fathers, he lured her away: How joy'd she in coming-- how smiling the bower; flow sparkling their nuptials-- how welcome her dower. Ah! short were her pleasures--full soon came her cares-- Her husbandless bride-bed was wash'd with her tears. {034} [Illustration: 042] ALTERATION. Near a million of debts gone, all gone were her charms-- What! an Epicure have _his own_ wife in his arms? She was not to his _taste_-- what car'd _he_ for the 'form,' 'To love and to cherish' could not mean reform: 'To love' meant, of course, nothing else but neglect;-- 'To cherish' to leave her, and shew disrespect {035} [Illustration: 043] IMPUTATION. Was it manly, when widow'd, to spy at her actions; To listen to eaves-droppers, whisp'ring detractions: And, like an old Watchman, with faults to conceal, Get up a _false Charge_, as a proof of his zeal? If desertion was base, Oh base be his name, Who, having deserted, would bring her to sham? {036} [Illustration: 044] EXCULPATION. Undaunted in spirit, her courage arose, With encrease of charges, and encrease of foes. Despising the husband, who thus had abused her, She proved to his father, his son had ill used her:-- Her conduct examin'd, and sifted, shone bright, Her enemies fled, as the shadows of night {037} [Illustration: 045] EMIGRATION. Her father and king, while with reason yet blest, Protected her weakness, and shielded her rest; Infirmity seizes him, false friends draw near, Then spies gather round, and malignants appear; And cajole, wait, watch, insult, alarm, and betray, Till from home, and her daughter, they force her away. {038} [Illustration: 046] REMIGRATION. Still pursued, when a 'wanderer,' her child sleeps in death, And her best friend, in England, her king, yields his breath; This gives her new rights-- they neglect and proscribe her;