"No strong or eager wish to wake the will, "Life will appear to stagnate and be still, "As now with me it slumbers; O! rejoice "That I attend not to that pleading voice; "So will new hopes this troubled dream succeed, "And one will gladly hear my Rupert plead."

Ask you, while thus I could the youth deny
Was I unmoved?—Inexorable I,

prayer,

Fix'd and determined: thrice he made his
With looks of sadness first, and then despair;
Thrice doom'd to bear refusal, not exempt,
At the last effort, from a slight contempt.

Did his distress, his pains, your joy excite?—
No; but I fear'd his perseverance might.
Was there no danger in the moon's soft rays,
To hear the handsome stripling's earnest praise?
Was there no fear that while my words reproved
The eager youth, I might myself be moved?
Not for his sake alone I cried persist

No more, and with a frown the cause dismiss'd.

Seek you th' event?—I scarcely need reply,
Love, unreturn'd, will languish, pine, and die:

We lived awhile in friendship, and with joy
I saw depart in peace the amorous boy.

We met some ten years after, and he then
Was married, and as cool as married men;
He talk'd of war and taxes, trade and farms,
And thought no more of me, or of my charms.

We spoke; and when, alluding to the past,
Something of meaning in my look I cast,
He, who could never thought or wish disguise,
Look'd in my face with trouble and surprise;
To kill reserve, I seized his arm, and cried,
"Know me, my lord!" when laughing, he replied,
Wonder'd again, and look'd upon my face,

And seem'd unwilling marks of time to trace;
But soon I brought him fairly to confess,
That boys in love judge ill of happiness.

Love had his day-to graver subjects led,
My will is govern'd, and my mind is fed;
And to more vacant bosoms I resign

The hopes and fears that once affected mine.

TALES OF THE HALL.

BOOK XII.

The Rector at the Hall-Why absent-He relates the Story of Sir Owen-His Marriage-Death of his Lady-His Mind acquires new Energy-His Passions awake-His Taste and Sensibility-Admires a Lady-Camilla-Her Purpose-Sir Owen's Disappointment-His Spirit of Revenge-How gratified—The Dilemma of Love-An Example of Forgiveness-Its Effect.