Then the excellent sensible mother answer'd with quickness "Men are precisely like rocks when they stand opposed to each other! Proud and unyielding, the one will never draw near to the other. Neither will suffer his tongue to utter the first friendly accent. Therefore I tell you, my son, a hope still exists in my bosom, If she is worthy and good, he will give his consent to your marriage, Poor though she be, and although with disdain he refused you the poor thing. For in his hot-beaded fashion he utters many expressions Which he never intends; and so will accept the Refused One. But he requires kind words, and has a right to require them, For your father he is; his anger is all after dinner, When he more eagerly speaks, and questions the reasons of others, Meaning but little thereby; the wine then excites all the vigour Of his impetuous will, and prevents him from giving due weight to Other people's opinions; he hears and he feels his own only. But when evening arrives, the tone of the many discourses Which his friends and himself hold together, is very much alter'd. Milder becomes he, as soon as his liquor's effects have passed over And he feels the injustice his eagerness did unto others. Come, we will venture at once! Success the reward is of boldness, And we have need of the friends who now have assembled around him.-- Most of all we shall want the help of our excellent pastor." Thus she eagerly spoke, and leaving the stone that she sat on, Also lifted her son from his seat. He willingly follow'd, And they descended in silence, revolving the weighty proposal. ----- V. POLYHYMNIA. THE COSMOPOLITE.