"Next day, the sire my noble kinsman sought; One ruling senates must be just, he thought. What chanced, untold--what follow'd may declare: } Behold me summon'd to my uncle's chair! } See his cold eye--_I_ saw my ruin there! } I saw and shrunk not, for a sullen pride Embraced alike the kinsman and the bride: Scorn'd here, the seeming snare by cunning set; And there, coarse thraldom, with rebellion met. "Brief was my Lord-- 'An old man tells me, sir, You woo his child, to wed her you demur; Who knows, perhaps (and such his shrewd surmise), The noose is knit--you but conceal the ties! Please to inform me, ere I go to court, How stands the matter?--sir, my time is short.' "'My Lord,' I answer'd, with unquailing brow, 'Not to such ears should youth its faults avow; And grant me pardon if I boldly speak, Youth may have secrets honour shuns to seek. I own I love, proclaim that love as pure! If this be sin--its sentence I endure. All else belongs unto that solemn shrine, In the veil'd heart, which manhood holds divine. Men's hearths are sacred, so our laws decree; Are hearts less sacred? mine at least is free. Suspect, disown, forsake me, if thou wilt; I prize the freedom where thou seest the guilt.' My kinsman's hand half-shaded the keen eye, Which glanced askant;--he paused in his reply. At length, perchance, his practised wit foresaw Threats could not shake where interest fail'd to awe; And judged it wise to construe for the best The all I hid, the little I confess'd; Calmly he answer'd--