Still should the father hear that I regret
Our joint misfortune-Yes! I'll not forget.'
Thus they :-The father to his grave con-
vey'd

The son he loved, and his last duties paid.
'There lies my boy,' he cried, of care
bereft,

And, Heav'n be praised, I've not a genius

left:

No one among ye, sons! is doom'd to live On high-raised hopes of what the great may give;

None, with exalted views and fortunes mean,
To die in anguish, or to live in spleen :
Your pious brother soon escaped the strife
Of such contention, but it cost his life;
You then, my sons, upon yourselves depend,
And in your own exertions find the friend.'

TALE VI.

Yes, faith, it is my cousin's duty to make curtsy, and say, 'Father, as it please you'; but yet for all that, cousin, let him be a handsome fellow, or else make another curtsy, and say, Father, as it please me.

Much Ado about Nothing, Act ii, Scene 1.

truth.

He cannot flatter, he! An honest mind and plain-he must speak King Lear, Act ii, Scene 2. God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another; you jig, you amble, and you lisp and you nick-name God's creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance. Hamlet, Act iii, Scene 1. What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true? Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?

Much Ado about Nothing, Act iii, Scene 1.

GRAVE Jonas Kindred, Sybil Kindred's sire,
Was six feet bigh, and look'd six inches higher;
Erect, morose, determined, solemn, slow,
Who knew the man, could never cease to
know;

His faithful spouse, when Jonas was not by,
Had a firm presence and a steady eye;
But with her husband dropp'd her look and
tone,

And Jonas ruled unquestion'd and alone.

He read, and oft would quote the sacred words,

How pious husbands of their wives were lords;

Sarah called Abraham lord! and who could

be,

So Jonas thought, a greater man than he? Himself he view'd with undisguised respect, And never pardon'd freedom or neglect.

They had one daughter, and this favourite child

Had oft the father of his spleen beguiled; Soothed by attention from her early years, She gain'd all wishes by her smiles or tears: But Sybil then was in that playful time, When contradiction is not held a crime; When parents yield their children idle praise For faults corrected in their after days.

Peace in the sober house of Jonas dwelt, Where each his duty and his station felt: Yet not that peace some favour'd mortals find, In equal views and harmony of mind; Not the soft peace that blesses those who love, Where all with one consent in union move; But it was that which one superior will Commands, by making all inferiors still; Who bids all murmurs, all objections cease, And with imperious voice announces-Peace!

They were, to wit, a remnant of that crew, Who, as their foes maintain, their sovereign

slew;

An independent race, precise, correct,
Who ever married in the kindred sect:
A friend to England's king who lost his head;
No son or daughter of their order wed
Cromwell was still their saint, and when they
met,

They mourn'd that saints* were not our rulers yet.

Fix'd were their habits; they arose betimes, Then pray'd their hour, and sang their partyrhymes :

The trade of Jonas brought him constant gain; Their meals were plenteous, regular, and plain;

*This appellation is here not used ironically, designate a morosely devout people, with pecunor with malignity; but it is taken merely to liar austerity of manners.

Pure, pensive, simple, sad; the damsel's heart,

When Jonas praised, reproved her for the part;

For Sybil, fond of pleasure, gay and light,
Had still a secret bias to the right;
Vain as she was-and flattery made her
vain-

Her simulation gave her bosom pain.

Again return'd, the matron and the niece Found the late quiet gave their joy increase; The aunt infirm, no more her visits paid, But still with her sojourn'd the favourite maid.

Letters were sent when franks could be

procured,

And when they could not, silence was endured;
All were in health, and if they older grew,
It seem'd a fact that none among them knew;
The aunt and niece still led a pleasant life,
And quiet days had Jonas and his wife.

Near him a widow dwelt of worthy fame,
Like his her manners, and her creed the same;
The wealth her husband left, her care retain'd
For one tall youth, and widow she remain'd;
His love respectful, all her care repaid,
Her wishes watch'd, and her commands
obey'd.

Sober he was and grave from early youth,
Mindful of forms, but more intent on truth;
In a light drab he uniformly dress'd,
And look serene th' unruffled mind express'd;
A hat with ample verge his brows o'erspread,
And his brown locks curl'd graceful on his
head;

Yet might observers in his speaking eye
Some observation, some acuteness spy;
The friendly thought it keen, the treacherous

deem'd it sly;

Yet not a crime could foe or friend detect, His actions all were, like his speech, correct; And they who jested on a mind so sound, Upon his virtues must their laughter found; Chaste, sober, solemn, and devout they named Him who was thus, and not of this ashamed. Such were the virtues Jonas found in one In whom he warmly wish'd to find a son: Three years had pass'd since he had Sybil

seen;

But she was doubtless what she once had been, Lovely and mild, obedient and discreet; The pair must love whenever they should

meet;

Then ere the widow or her son should choose Some happier maid, he would explain his views;

Now she, like him, was politic and shrewd,
With strong desire of lawful gain embued ;
To all he said, she bow'd with much respect,
Pleased to comply, yet seeming to reject;
Cool and yet eager, each admired the strength
Of the opponent, and agreed at length:
As a drawn battle shows to each a force,
Powerful as his, he honours it of course;
So in these neighbours, each the power
discern'd,

And gave the praise that was to each return'd.

Jonas now ask'd his daughter-and the aunt, Though loth to lose her, was obliged to grant:

But would not Sybil to the matron cling, And fear to leave the shelter of her wing? No! in the young there lives a love of change, And to the easy they prefer the strange! Then too the joys she once pursued with zeal, From whist and visits sprung, she ceased to feel;

When with the matrons Sybil first sat down,
To cut for partners and to stake her crown,
This to the youthful maid preferment seem'd,
Who thought what woman she was then
esteem'd ;

But in few years, when she perceived, indeed,
The real woman to the girl succeed,
No longer tricks and honours fill'd her mind,
But other feelings, not so well defined;
She then reluctant grew, and thought it hard,
To sit and ponder o'er an ugly card;
Rather the nut-tree shade the nymph
preferr'd,

Pleased with the pensive gloom and evening bird;

Thither, from company retired, she took
The silent walk, or read the fav'rite book.

The father's letter, sudden, short, and kind, Awaked her wonder, and disturb'd her mind ; She found new dreams upon her fancy seize, Wild roving thoughts and endless reveries : The parting came ;-and when the aunt perceived

The

tears of Sybil, and how much she grieved

To love for her that tender grief she laid, That various, soft, contending passions made. When Sybil rested in her father's arms, His pride exulted in a daughter's charms;

A maid accomplish'd he was pleased to find, Nor seem'd the form more lovely than the mind:

But when the fit of pride and fondness fled, He saw his judgment by his hopes misled; High were the lady's spirits, far more free Her mode of speaking than a maid's should be; Too much, as Jonas thought, she seem'd to know,

And all her knowledge was disposed to show; 'Too gay her dress, like theirs who idly dote On a young coxcomb, or a coxcomb's coat; In foolish spirits when our friends appear, And vainly grave when not a man is near.

Thus Jonas, adding to his sorrow blame, And terms disdainful to his sister's name :'The sinful wretch has by her arts defiled The ductile spirit of my darling child.'

"The maid is virtuous,' said the dameQuoth he,

Let her give proof, by acting virtuously: Is it in gaping when the elders pray? In reading nonsense half a summer's day? In those mock forms that she delights to trace, Or her loud laughs in Hezekiah's face? She-O Susannah !-to the world belongs; She loves the follies of its idle throngs, And reads soft tales of love, and sings love's soft'ning songs.

But, as our friend is yet delay'd in town, We must prepare her till the youth comes down;

You shall advise the maiden; I will threat; Her fears and hopes may yield us comfort yet.'

Now the grave father took the lass aside, Demanding sternly, 'Wilt thou be a bride ? i She answer'd, calling up an air sedate, 'I have not vow'd against the holy state.'

'No folly, Sybil,' said the parent; 'know What to their parents virtuous maidens owe: A worthy, wealthy youth, whom I approve, Must thou prepare to honour and to love. Formal to thee his air and dress may seem, But the good youth is worthy of esteem; Shouldst thou with rudeness treat him; of disdain

Should he with justice or of slight complain, Or of one taunting speech give certain proof, Girl! I reject thee from my sober roof.'

'My aunt,' said Sybil, will with pride protect

One whom a father can for this reject;

Nor shall a formal, rigid, soul-less boy
My manners alter, or my views destroy!'
Jonas then lifted up his hands on high,
And utt'ring something 'twixt a groan and
sigh,

Left the determined maid, her doubtful mother by.

'Hear me,' she said; incline thy heart,

my child,

And fix thy fancy on a man so mild :
Thy father, Sybil, never could be moved
By one who loved him, or by one he loved.
Union like ours is but a bargain made
By slave and tyrant-he will be obey'd;
Then calls the quiet, comfort-but thy youth
Is mild by nature, and as frank as truth.'

'But will he love?' said Sybil; 'I am told That these mild creatures are by nature cold.' 'Alas!' the matron answer'd, 'much I dread That dangerous love by which the young are led!

That love is earthy; you the creature prize,
And trust your feelings and believe your eyes:
Can eyes and feelings inward worth descry?
No! my fair daughter, on our choice rely!
Your love, like that display'd upon the stage,
Indulged is folly, and opposed is rage ;-
More prudent love our sober couples show,
All that to mortal beings, mortals owe;
All flesh is grass-before you give a heart,
Remember, Sybil, that in death you part;
And should your husband die before your love,
What needless anguish must a widow prove!
No! my fair child, let all such visions cease;
Yield but esteem, and only try for peace.'

'I must be loved,' said Sybil; Imust see The man in terrors who aspires to me; At my forbidding frown, his heart must ache, His tongue must falter, and his frame must shake:

And if I grant him at my feet to kneel, What trembling, fearful pleasure must he feel; Nay, such the raptures that my smiles inspire, That reason's self must for a time retire.'

'Alas! for good Josiah,' said the dame, "These wicked thoughts would fill his soul with shame ;

He kneel and tremble at a thing of dust! He cannot, child: '-the child replied, 'He must.'

They ceased: the matron left her with a

frown;

So Jonas met her when the youth came down:

'Behold,' said he, 'thy future spouse attends; Receive him, daughter, as the best of friends; Observe, respect him-humble be each word, That welcomes home thy husband and thy lord.'

smile,

I shall prepare my manner and my style.
Ere yet Josiah enter'd on his task,
The father met him- Deign to wear a mask
A few dull days, Josiah-but a few-
It is our duty, and the sex's due;
I wore it once, and every grateful wife
Repays it with obedience through her life:
Have no regard to Sybil's dress, have none
To her pert language, to her flippant tone:
Henceforward thou shalt rule unquestioned
and alone;

And she thy pleasure in thy looks shall seekHow she shall dress, and whether she may speak.'

A sober smile return'd the youth, and said, 'Can I cause fear, who am myself afraid?' Sybil, meantime, sat thoughtful in her room, And often wonder'd-Will the creature come ?

Nothing shall tempt, shall force me to bestow My hand upon him-yet I wish to know.'

The door unclosed, and she beheld her sire Lead in the youth, then hasten to retire ; Daughter, my friend-my daughter, friend' -he cried,

And gave a meaning look, and stepp'd aside; That look contain'd a mingled threat and prayer,

'Do take him, child-offend him, if you dare.'

The couple gazed—were silent, and the maid Look'd in his face, to make the man afraid; The man, unmoved, upon the maiden cast A steady view-so salutation pass'd : But in this instant Sybil's eye had seen The tall fair person, and the still staid mien; The glow that temp'rance o'er the cheek had spread,

Where the soft down half veil'd the purest red;

And the serene deportment that proclaim'd A heart unspotted, and a life unblamed : But then with these she saw attire too plain, The pale brown coat, though worn without a stain;

The formal air, and something of the pride That indicates the wealth it seems to hide;

I do conceive, some danger must excite :' In whom?' said Sybil, with a look demure: 'In more,' said he,' than I expect to cure. I, in thy light luxuriant robe, behold Want and excess, abounding and yet cold; Here needed, there display'd, in many a wanton fold:

Both health and beauty, learned authors show,

From a just medium in our clothing flow.'

Proceed, good doctor; if so great my need, What is thy fee? Good doctor! pray proceed.'

'Large is my fee, fair lady, but I take None till some progress in my cure I make : Thou hast disease, fair maiden; thou art vain; Within that face sit insult and disdain ;