When thus enriched, he chose at home to stop, And fleece his neighbours in a new-built shop; Then woo'd a spinster blithe, and hoped, when wed, For love's fair favours and a fruitful bed. Not so his Friend;--on widow fair and staid He fix'd his eye, but he was much afraid; Yet woo'd; while she his hair of silver hue Demurely noticed, and her eye withdrew: Doubtful he paused--"Ah! were I sure," he cried, No craving children would my gains divide; Fair as she is, I would my widow take, And live more largely for my partner's sake." With such their views some thoughtful years they pass'd, And hoping, dreading, they were bound at last. And what their fate? Observe them as they go, Comparing fear with fear and woe with woe. "Humphrey!" said Dawkins, "envy in my breast Sickens to see thee in thy children blest: They are thy joys, while I go grieving home To a sad spouse, and our eternal gloom: We look despondency; no infant near, To bless the eye or win the parent's ear; Our sudden heats and quarrels to allay, And soothe the petty sufferings of the day: Alike our want, yet both the want reprove; Where are, I cry, these pledges of our love? When she, like Jacob's wife, makes fierce reply, Yet fond--Oh! give me children, or I die: And I return--still childless doom'd to live, Like the vex'd patriarch--Are they mine to give? Ah! much I envy thee thy boys, who ride On poplar branch, and canter at thy side; And girls, whose cheeks thy chin's fierce fondness know, And with fresh beauty at the contact glow." "Oh! simple friend," said Ditchem, "wouldst thou gain A father's pleasure by a husband's pain? Alas! what pleasure--when some vig'rous boy Should swell thy pride, some rosy girl thy joy; Is it to doubt who grafted this sweet flower, Or whence arose that spirit and that power? "Four years I've wed; not one has passed in vain; Behold the fifth! behold a babe again! My wife's gay friends th' unwelcome imp admire, And fill the room with gratulation dire: While I in silence sate, revolving all That influence ancient men, or that befall; A gay pert guest--Heav'n knows his business--came; A glorious boy! he cried, and what the name? Angry I growl'd,--My spirit cease to tease, Name it yourselves,--Cain, Judas, if you please; His father's give him,--should you that explore, The devil's or yours: --I said, and sought the door. My tender partner not a word or sigh Gives to my wrath, nor to my speech reply; But takes her comforts, triumphs in my pain, And looks undaunted for a birth again." Heirs thus denied afflict the pining heart, And thus afforded, jealous pangs impart; Let, therefore, none avoid, and none demand These arrows number'd for the giant's hand. Then with their infants three, the parents came, And each assign'd--'twas all they had--a name; Names of no mark or price; of them not one Shall court our view on the sepulchral stone, Or stop the clerk, th' engraven scrolls to spell, Or keep the sexton from the sermon bell.