To thought itself he strove to bid adieu,
And from devotions to diversions flew;
He took a poor domestic for a slave,

(Though avarice grieved to see the price he gave);
Upon his board, once frugal, press'd a load
Of viands rich, the appetite to goad;

powers:

The long-protracted meal, the sparkling cup,
Fought with his gloom, and kept his courage up:
Soon as the morning came, there met his eyes
Accounts of wealth, that he might reading rise;
To profit then he gave some active hours,
Till food and wine again should renovate his
Yet, spite of all defence, of every aid,
The watchful foe her close attention paid;
In every thoughtful moment, on she press'd,
And gave at once her dagger to his breast;
He waked at midnight, and the fears of sin,
As waters, through a bursten dam, broke in;
Nay, in the banquet, with his friends around,

When all their cares and half their crimes were

drown'd,

Would some chance act awake the slumbering fear, And care and crime in all their strength appear: The news is read, a guilty victim swings,

And troubled looks proclaim the bosom-stings;

Some pair are wed; this brings the wife in view,
And some divorced: this shows the parting too;
Nor can he hear of evil word or deed,

But they to thought, and thought to sufferings lead.

Such was his life-no other changes came,
The hurrying day, the conscious night the same;
The night of horror-when he starting cried,
To the poor startled sinner at his side;
"Is it in law? am I condemn'd to die?

"Let me escape!—I'll give-oh! let me fly-
"How! but a dream—no judges! dungeon! chain!
"Or these grim men!-I will not sleep again.—
"Wilt thou, dread being! thus thy promise keep?
"Day is thy time—and wilt thou murder sleep?
"Sorrow and want repose, and wilt thou come,
"Nor give one hour of pure untroubled gloom?

"Oh! Conscience! Conscience! man's most faithful friend,

"Him canst thou comfort, ease, relieve, defend; "But if he will thy friendly checks forego,

"Thou art, oh! wo for me, his deadliest foe!"

TALE XV.

ADVICE;

OR,

THE 'SQUIRE AND THE PRIEST.

His hours fill'd up with riots, banquets, sports
And never noted in him any study,
Any retirement, any sequestration.

Henry V. Act I. Scene 1.

I will converse with iron-witted fools,

With unrespective boys; none are for me,
Who look into me with considerate eyes.

Richard III. Act IV. Scene 2.

You cram these words into mine ears, against

The stomach of my sense.

Tempest, Act II. Scene 1.

TALE XV.

THE 'SQUIRE AND THE PRIEST.

A WEALTHY lord of far-extended land

Had all that pleased him placed at his command;
Widow'd of late, but finding much relief
In the world's comforts, he dismiss'd his grief;
He was by marriage of his daughters eased,
And knew his sons could marry if they pleased;
Meantime in travel he indulged the boys,
And kept no spy nor partner of his joys.

These joys, indeed, were of the grosser kind, That fed the cravings of an earthly mind; A mind that, conscious of its own excess, Felt the reproach his neighbours would express. Long at th' indulgent board he loved to sit, Where joy was laughter, and profaneness wit; And such the guest and manners of the hall, No wedded lady on the 'Squire would call : Here reign'd a favourite, and her triumph gain'd O'er other favourites who before had reign'd;

VOL. V.

H