The youth embolden'd, yet abash'd, now told
His fondest wish, nor found the Maiden cold;
The mother smiling whisper'd-" Let him go
"And seek the licence!" Jesse answer'd, "No:"
But Colin went. I know not if they live
With all the comforts wealth and plenty give;
But with pure joy to envious souls denied,
To suppliant meanness and suspicious pride;
And village-maids of happy couples say,
"They live like Jesse Bourn and Colin Grey."

TALE XIV.

THE STRUGGLES OF CONSCIENCE.

I am a villain; yet I lie, I am not;

Fool! of thyself speak well:-Fool! do not flatter.

My Conscience hath a thousand several tongues,

And every tongue brings in a several tale.

Richard III. Act V. Scene 3.

My Conscience is but a kind of hard Conscience.... The fiend gives the more friendly counsel.

Merchant of Venice, Act II. Scene 2.

Thou hast it now-and I fear Thou play'dst most foully for it.

Macbeth, Act III. Scene 1.

Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Rase out the written troubles of the brain,
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the foul bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart?

Macbeth, Act V. Scene 3.

Soft! I did but dream

Oh! coward Conscience, how dost thou afflict me!

Richard III. Act V. Scene 3.

TALE XIV.,

THE STRUGGLES OF CONSCIENCE.

A SERIOUS Toyman in the City dwelt,
Who much concern for his religion felt;
Reading, he changed his tenets, read again,
And various questions could with skill maintain;
Papist and Quaker if we set aside,

He had the road of

every traveller tried;

There walk'd awhile, and on a sudden turn'd
Into some by-way he had just discern'd:
He had a nephew, Fulham-Fulham went
His Uncle's way, with every turn content;
He saw his pious kinsman's watchful care,

And thought such anxious pains his own might spare,
And he, the truth obtain'd, without the toil, might

share.

In fact, young Fulham, though he little read,
Perceived his Uncle was by fancy led ;

And smiled to see the constant care he took,
Collating creed with creed, and book with book.