Of viands rich the appetite to goad; The long protracted meal, the sparkling cup, Fought with his gloom, and kept his courage up: Soon as the morning came, there met his eyes Accounts of wealth, that he might reading rise; To profit then he gave some active hours, Till food and wine again should renovate his powers: Yet, spite of all defence, of every aid, The watchful Foe her close attention paid; In every thoughtful moment on she press'd, And gave at once her dagger to his breast; He waked at midnight, and the fears of sin, As waters through a bursten dam, broke in; Nay, in the banquet, with his friends around, When all their cares and half their crimes were drown'd, Would some chance act awake the slumbering fear, And care and crime in all their strength appear: The news is read, a guilty victim swings, And troubled looks proclaim the bosom-stings: Some pair are wed; this brings the wife in view; And some divorced; this shows the parting too: Nor can he hear of evil word or deed, But they to thought, and thought to sufferings lead. Such was his life--no other changes came, The hurrying day, the conscious night the same; The night of horror--when he starting cried To the poor startled sinner at his side, "Is it in law? am I condemned to die? Let me escape!--I'll give--oh! let me fly - How! but a dream!--no judges! dungeon! chain! Or these grim men!--I will not sleep again - Wilt thou, dread being! thus thy promise keep? Day is thy time--and wilt thou murder sleep? Sorrow and want repose, and wilt thou come, Nor give one hour of pure untroubled gloom? "Oh! Conscience! Conscience! man's most faithful friend, Him canst thou comfort, ease, relieve, defend; But if he will thy friendly checks forego, Thou art, oh? woe for me, his deadliest foe?" TALE XV. ADVICE; OR THE 'SQUIRE AND THE PRIEST. His hours fill'd up with riots, banquets, sports - And never noted in him any study, Any retirement, any sequestration. SHAKESPEARE, Henry V. I will converse with iron-witted fools, With unrespective boys: none are for me, Who look into me with considerate eyes. Richard III. You cram these words into mine ears, against The stomach of my sense. Tempest. ----------------------