The Vicar Holmes appear'd: he heard it said That ancient men best pleased the prudent maid, And true it was her ancient friends she loved, Servants when old she favour'd and approved, Age in her pious parents she revered,

And neighbours were by length of days endear'd;
But, if her husband too must ancient be,
The good old vicar found it was not he.

On Captain Bligh her mind in balance hungThough valiant, modest; and reserved, though young:

Against these merits must defects be setThough poor, imprudent; and though proud, in debt:

In vain the captain close attention paid;

She found him wanting, whom she fairly weigh'd.

Then came a youth, and all their friends agreed, That Edward Huntly was the man indeed; Respectful duty he had paid awhile,

Then ask'd her hand, and had a gracious smile:
A lover now declared, he led the fair

To woods and fields, to visits, and to pray'r;
Then whisper'd softly-"Will you name the day?"
She softly whisper'd-" If you love me, stay:"
"Oh! try me not beyond my strength," he cried:
"Oh! be not weak," the prudent Maid replied;
"But by some trial your affection prove―
"Respect and not impatience argues love:
"And love no more is by impatience known,

"He whom a weak and fond impatience sways, "But for himself with all his fervour prays, "And not the maid he woos, but his own will obeys; "And will she love the being who prefers,

"With so much ardour, his desire to hers?"

Young Edward grieved, but let not grief be seen; He knew obedience pleased his fancy's queen: Awhile he waited, and then cried- "Behold! "The year advancing, be no longer cold!"

For she had promised-" Let the flowers appear,
"And I will pass with thee the smiling year:"
Then pressing grew the youth; the more he press'd,
The less inclined the maid to his request:
"Let June arrive."-Alas! when April came,
It brought a stranger, and the stranger, shame;
Nor could the Lover from his house persuade
A stubborn lass whom he had mournful made;
Angry and weak, by thoughtless vengeance moved,
She told her story to the Fair beloved;

In strongest words th' unwelcome truth was shown,
To blight his prospects, careless of her own.

Our heroine grieved, but had too firm a heart
For him to soften, when she swore to part;
In vain his seeming penitence and pray'r,
His vows, his tears; she left him in despair:
His mother fondly laid her grief aside,
And to the reason of the nymph applied—

"It well becomes thee, lady, to appear, "But not to be, in very truth, severe;

Although the crime be odious in thy sight, "That daring sex is taught such things to slight: "His heart is thine, although it once was frail; "Think of his grief, and let his love prevail!".

66

"Plead thou no more," the lofty lass return'd: Forgiving woman is deceived and spurn'd : Say that the crime is common-shall I take "A common man my wedded lord to make? "See! a weak woman by his arts betray'd, "An infant born his father to upbraid; "Shall I forgive his vileness, take his name, "Sanction his error, and partake his shame ? "No! this assent would kindred frailty prove, "A love for him would be a vicious love: "Can a chaste maiden secret counsel hold "With one whose crime by every mouth is told? "Forbid it spirit, prudence, virtuous pride; "He must despise me, were he not denied: "The way from vice the erring mind to win "Is with presuming sinners to begin, "And show, by scorning them, a just contempt for

[sin."

The youth repulsed, to one more mild convey'd His heart, and smiled on the remorseless maid ; The maid, remorseless in her pride, the while Despised the insult, and return'd the smile.

First to admire, to praise her, and defend, Was (now in years advanced) a virgin-friend : Much she preferr'd, she cried, the single state,

And much it pleased her in the train to view
A maiden vot'ress, wise and lovely too.

Time to the yielding mind his change imparts,
He varies notions, and he alters hearts;
"Tis right, 'tis just to feel contempt for vice,
But he that shows it may be over-nice:

There are who feel, when young, the false sublime,
And proudly love to show disdain for crime;
To whom the future will new thoughts supply,
The pride will soften, and the scorn will die;
Nay, where they still the vice itself condemn,
They bear the vicious, and consort with them:
Young Captain Grove, when one had changed his
side,

Despised the venal turn-coat, and defied;

Old Colonel Grove now shakes him by the hand,
Though he who bribes may still his vote command:
Why would not Ellen to Belinda speak,
When she had flown to London for a week;
And then return'd, to every friend's surprise,
With twice the spirit, and with half the size?
She spoke not then-but, after years had flown,
A better friend had Ellen never known:
Was it the lady her mistake had seen?
Or had she also such a journey been?

No: 'twas the gradual change in human hearts,
That time, in commerce with the world, imparts;
That on the roughest temper throws disguise,
And steals from virtue her asperities.

The young and ardent, who with glowing zeal
Felt wrath for trifles, and were proud to feel,

Now find those trifles all the mind engage,

To soothe dull hours, and cheat the cares of age;
As young Zelinda, in her quaker-dress,
Disdain'd each varying fashion's vile excess,
And now her friends on old Zelinda gaze,
Pleased in rich silks and orient gems to blaze :
Changes like these 'tis folly to condemn,

So virtue yields not, nor is changed with them.

Let us proceed:- Twelve brilliant years were past,

Yet each with less of glory than the last;
Whether these years to this fair virgin gave
A softer mind- effect they often have;
Whether the virgin-state was not so bless'd
As that good maiden in her zeal profess'd;
Or whether lovers falling from her train,
Gave greater price to those she could retain,
Is all unknown; - but Arabella now
Was kindly listening to a Merchant's vow;
Who offer'd terms so fair, against his love
To strive was folly, so she never strove.
Man in his earlier days we often find
With a too easy and unguarded mind;
But by increasing years and prudence taught,
He grows reserved, and locks up every thought:
Not thus the maiden, for in blooming youth
She hides her thought and guards the tender truth :
This, when no longer young, no more she hides,
But frankly in the favour'd swain confides:
Man, stubborn man, is like the growing tree,