for as, when list'ning half an hour before,

he twice or thrice tapp'd gently at the door; But, all decorum cast in wrath aside,

́ I think the devil's in the man!” she cried; A huge tall sailor, with his tawny cheek, And pitted face, will with my lady speak; " He grinn'd an ugly smile, and said he knew, "Please you, my lady, 't would be joy to you: ‹‹ What must I answer?"— Trembling and distress'd Sank the pale Dinah by her fears oppress'd; When thus alarm'd, and brooking no delay, Swift to her room the stranger made his way.

"Revive, my love!" said he, "I've done thee harm,

"Give me thy pardon," and he look'd alarm: Meantime the prudent Dinah had contrived Her soul to question, and she then revived.

"See! my good friend," and then she raised her head,

"The bloom of life, the strength of youth is fled; Living we die; to us the world is dead;

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"We parted bless'd with health, and I am now

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Age-struck and feeble

"Thine eye is sunken, furrow'd is thy face, [race; "And downward look'st thou

So we run our

"And happier they whose race is nearly run,

"Their troubles over, and their duties done."

"True, lady, true

we are not girl and boy;

"But time has left us something to enjoy."

VOL. IV.

"What! thou hast learn'd my fortune? —yes, I

live

"To feel how poor the comforts wealth can give : "Thou too perhaps art wealthy; but our fate "Still mocks our wishes, wealth is come too late."

"To me nor late nor early; I am come "Poor as I left thee to my native home: "Nor yet," said Rupert, "will I grieve; 't is mine "To share thy comforts, and the glory thine; "For thou wilt gladly take that generous part "That both exalts and gratifies the heart; "While mine rejoices"-"Heavens!" return'd the maid,

"This talk to one so wither'd and decay'd? "No! all my care is now to fit my mind "For other spousal, and to die resign'd: "As friend and neighbour, I shall hope to see "These noble views, this pious love in thee; "That we together may the change await, "Guides and spectators in each other's fate; "When, fellow-pilgrims, we shall daily crave "The mutual prayer that arms us for the grave."

Half angry, half in doubt, the lover gazed On the meek maiden, by her speech amazed; "Dinah," said he, " dost thou respect thy vows? "What spousal mean'st thou ?-thou art Rupert's

spouse;

"The chance is mine to take, and thine to give; "But, trifling this, if we together live:

"Can I believe, that, after all the past,

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"Our vows, our loves, thou wilt be false at last? Something thou hast - I know not what-in view;

"I find thee pious-let me find thee true."

"Ah! cruel this; but do, my friend, depart; "And to its feelings leave my wounded heart."

"Nay, speak at once; and Dinah, let me know, "Mean'st thou to take me, now I'm wreck'd, in tow?

"Be fair; nor longer keep me in the dark; "Am I forsaken for a trimmer spark?

"Heaven's spouse thou art not; nor can I believe "That God accepts her who will man deceive : "True I am shatter'd, I have service seen, "And service done, and have in trouble been; "My cheek (it shames me not) has lost its red, "And the brown buff is o'er my features spread; "Perchance my speech is rude; for I among

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"Th' untamed have been, in temper and in tongue; "Have been trepann'd, have lived in toil and care, "And wrought for wealth I was not doom'd to share ; "It touch'd me deeply, for I felt a pride "In gaining riches for my destined bride: Speak then my fate; for these my sorrows past, "Time lost, youth fled, hope wearied, and at last "This doubt of thee—a childish thing to tell, "But certain truth-my very throat they swell; They stop the breath, and but for shame could I "Give way to weakness, and with passion cry;

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"These are unmanly struggles, but I feel "This hour must end them, and perhaps will heal."

Here Dinah sigh'd, as if afraid to speak– And then repeated- "They were frail and weak; "His soul she lov'd, and hoped he had the grace "To fix his thoughts upon a better place."

She ceased; -with steady glance, as if to see
The very root of this hypocrisy,—

He her small fingers moulded in his hard
And bronzed broad hand; then told her his regard,
His best respect were gone, but love had still
Hold in his heart, and govern'd yet the will—
Or he would curse her:-saying this, he threw
The hand in scorn away, and bade adieu

To every lingering hope, with every care in view.

Proud and indignant, suffering, sick, and poor, He grieved unseen; and spoke of love no more— Till all he felt in indignation died,

As hers had sunk in avarice and pride.

In health declining, as in mind distress'd, To some in power his troubles he confess'd, And shares a parish-gift;—at prayers he sees The pious Dinah dropp'd upon her knees; Thence as she walks the street with stately air, As chance directs, oft meet the parted pair; When he, with thickset coat of badge-man's blue, Moves near her shaded silk of changeful hue;

When his thin locks of grey approach her braid,
A costly purchase made in beauty's aid;
When his frank air, and his unstudied pace,
Are seen with her soft manner, air, and grace,
And his plain artless look with her sharp meaning

face;

It might some wonder in a stranger move,
How these together could have talk'd of love.

Behold them now!-see there a tradesman stands, And humbly hearkens to some fresh commands; He moves to speak, she interrupts him—“ Stay," Her air expresses "Hark! to what I say: Ten paces off, poor Rupert on a seat

Has taken refuge from the noon-day heat,

His eyes on her intent, as if to find

What were the movements of that subtle mind:
How still!-how earnest is he!-it appears
His thoughts are wand'ring through his earlier years;
Through years of fruitless labour, to the day
When all his earthly prospects died away:

“Had I,” he thinks, " been wealthier of the two,
"Would she have found me so unkind, untrue?
"Or knows not man when poor, what man when
rich will do?

"Yes, yes! I feel that I had faithful proved, "And should have soothed and raised her, bless'd and loved."

But Dinah moves- - she had observed before, The pensive Rupert at an humble door: