But he was taken who her soul possessed, Felt all the pangs of sorrow in her breast: And little wanted, but a woman's heart, With cries and tears, had testified her smart: But inborn worth, that fortune can controul, New-strung, and stiffer bent her softer soul; The heroine assumed the woman's place, Confirmed her mind, and fortified her face: Why should she beg, or what could she pretend, When her stern father had condemned her friend! Her life she might have had; but her despair Of saving his, had put it past her care: Resolved on fate, she would not lose her breath, But, rather than not die, solicit death. Fixed on this thought, she, not as women use, Her fault by common frailty would excuse; But boldly justified her innocence, And while the fact was owned, denied the offence: Then with dry eyes, and with an open look, She met his glance mid-way, and thus undaunted spoke:-- Tancred, I neither am disposed to make Request for life, nor offered life to take; Much less deny the deed; but least of all Beneath pretended justice weakly fall. My words to sacred truth shall be confined, My deeds shall shew the greatness of my mind. That I have loved, I own; that still I love, I call to witness all the powers above: Yet more I own; to Guiscard's love I give The small remaining time I have to live; And if beyond this life desire can be, Not fate itself shall set my passion free. This first avowed; nor folly warped my mind, Nor the frail texture of the female kind Betrayed my virtue; for, too well I knew What honour was, and honour had his due: Before the holy priest my vows were tied, So came I not a strumpet, but a bride. This for my fame, and for the public voice; Yet more, his merits justified my choice: Which had they not, the first election thine, That bond dissolved, the next is freely mine: Or grant I erred, (which yet I must deny) Had parents power even second vows to tie, Thy little care to mend my widowed nights, } Has forced me to recourse of marriage-rites, } To fill an empty side, and follow known delights. } What have I done in this, deserving blame? State-laws may alter; nature's are the same; Those are usurped on helpless womankind, Made without our consent, and wanting power to bind. Thou, Tancred, better shouldst have understood, That, as thy father gave thee flesh and blood, So gavest thou me: not from the quarry hewed, But of a softer mould, with sense endued; Even softer than thy own, of suppler kind, More exquisite of taste, and more than man refined. Nor need'st thou by thy daughter to be told, Though now thy spritely blood with age be cold, Thou hast been young; and canst remember still, That when thou hadst the power, thou hadst the will; And from the past experience of thy fires, } Canst tell with what a tide our strong desires }