He saw his nephew, and with kindness spoke—

66

Charles, I repent my purpose, and revoke,

"Take her—I'm taught, and would I could repay "The generous teacher; hear me, and obey:

Bring me the dear coquette, and let me vow "On lips half perjured to be passive now:

"Take her, and let me thank the powers divine "She was not stolen when her hand was mine, "Or when her heart-Her smiles I must forget, "She my revenge, and cancel either debt."

Here ends our tale, for who will doubt the bliss
Of ardent lovers in a case like this?
And if Sir Owen's was not half so strong,
It may, perchance, continue twice as long.

TALES OF THE HALL.

BOOK XIII.

Morning Excursion-Lady at Silford, who?-Reflections on Delay --Cecilia and Henry-The Lovers contracted-Visit to the Patron-Whom he finds there-Fanny described-The yielding of Vanity-Delay-Resentment-Want of Resolution-Further Entanglement-Danger-How met-Conclusion.

TALES OF THE HALL.

BOOK XIII.

DELAY HAS DANGER.

THREE weeks had pass'd, and Richard rambles now
Far as the dinners of the day allow;

He rode to Farley Grange and Finley Mere,
That house so ancient, and that lake so clear:
He rode to Ripley through that river gay,
Where in the shallow stream the loaches play,
And stony fragments stay the winding stream,
And gilded pebbles at the bottom gleam,
Giving their yellow surface to the sun,
And making proud the waters as they run:
It is a lovely place, and at the side

Rises a mountain-rock in rugged pride;

And in that rock are shapes of shells, and forms
Of creatures in old worlds, of nameless worms,