Doubts any mortal, if a change of state Dissolves all claims and ties of earlier date?" The Rector doubted, for he came to mourn A sister dead, and with a wife return: Lucy with heart unchanged received the youth, True in herself, confiding in his truth; But own'd her mother's change; the haughty dame Pour'd strong contempt upon the youthful flame; She firmly vow'd her purpose to pursue, Judged her own cause, and bade the youth adieu! The lover begg'd, insisted, urged his pain, His brother wrote to threaten and complain; Her sister reasoning proved the promise made, Lucy appealing to a parent pray'd; But all opposed the event that she design'd, And all in vain--she never changed her mind; But coldly answer'd in her wonted way, That she "would rule, and Lucy must obey." With peevish fear, she saw her health decline, And cried, "Oh! monstrous, for a man to pine! But if your foolish heart must yield to love, Let him possess it whom I now approve; This is my pleasure."--Still the Rector came With larger offers and with bolder claim; But the stern lady would attend no more - She frown'd, and rudely pointed to the door; Whate'er he wrote, he saw unread return'd, And he, indignant, the dishonour spurn'd: Nay, fix'd suspicion where he might confide, And sacrificed his passion to his pride. Lucy, meantime, though threaten'd and distress'd, Against her marriage made a strong protest: All was domestic war; the Aunt rebell'd Against the sovereign will, and was expell'd; And every power was tried, and every art, To bend to falsehood one determined heart; Assail'd, in patience it received the shock, Soft as the wave, unshaken as the rock: But while th' unconquer'd soul endures the storm Of angry fate, it preys upon the form; With conscious virtue she resisted still, And conscious love gave vigour to her will; But Lucy's trial was at hand; with joy The Mother cried--"Behold your constant boy - Thursday--was married: --take the paper, sweet, And read the conduct of your reverend cheat; See with what pomp of coaches, in what crowd The creature married--of his falsehood proud! False, did I say?--at least no whining fool; And thus will hopeless passions ever cool: But shall his bride your single state reproach? No! give him crowd for crowd, and coach for coach. Oh! you retire; reflect then, gentle miss, And gain some spirit in a cause like this." Some spirit Lucy gain'd; a steady soul, Defying all persuasion, all control: In vain reproach, derision, threats were tried; The constant mind all outward force defied, By vengeance vainly urged, in vain assail'd by pride; Fix'd in her purpose, perfect in her part, She felt the courage of a wounded heart; The world receded from her rising view, When heaven approach'd as earthly things withdrew; Not strange before, for in the days of love, Joy, hope, and pleasure, she had thoughts above, Pious when most of worldly prospects fond, When they best pleased her she could look beyond;