THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE.
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Oh, beating heart of sweet alarm,Which stays the lover’s step, when nearHis mistress and her awful charmOf grace and innocence sincere !I held the half-shut door, and heardThe voice of my betrothed wife,Who sang my verses, every wordBy music taught its latent life ;With interludes of well-touch’d notes,That flash’d, surprising and serene,As meteor after meteor floatsThe soft, autumnal stars between.There was a passion in her tone,A tremor when she touch’d the keys,Which told me she was there alone,And uttering all her soul at ease.I enter’d; for I did not chooseTo learn how in her heart I throve,By chance or stealth ; beyond her use,Her greeting flatter’d me with love. 2 With true love’s treacherous confidence, _ And ire, at last to laughter won, She spoke this speech, and mark’d its senseBy action, as her Aunt had done. *“ You, with your looks and catching air,*** To think of Vaughan! You fool! You know,‘“ You might, with ordinary care,‘« Ev'n yet be Lady Clitheroe.*“ You’re sure he'll do great things some day !‘« Nonsense, he won’t; he’s dress’d too well.‘«Dines with the Sterling Club, they say ;‘« Not commonly respectable !‘« Half Puritan, half Cavalier!‘ His curly hair I think’s a wig;*« And, for his fortune, why, my Dear,*« Tis not enough to keep a gig.*“ Rich Aunts and Uncles never die;‘« And what you bring won’t do for dress ;‘« And so you'll live on Bye-and-bye, é‘« With oaten-cake and water-cress !” : 4 *T cried, but did not let her see.‘At last she soften’d her dispraise,‘On learning you had bought for me‘A carriage and a pair of bays.‘But here she comes! You take her in‘To dinner. I impose this task:‘Make her approve my love; and win‘What thanks from me you choose to ask !’ 5 ‘My niece has told you every word‘TI said of you! What may I mean?‘Of course she has; but you’ve not heard‘ How I abused you to the Dean ;—‘Yes, I'll take wine ; he’s mad, like her ;‘And she wz// have you: there it ends ! oe THE COURSE OF TRU s And, now I’ve done my duty, Sir,‘And you’ve shown common-sense, we'refriends !’ 6 ‘Go, Child, and see him out yourself,’Aunt Maude said, after tea, ‘and show ‘The place, upon that upper shelf,‘Where Petrarch stands, lent long ago.’ y ‘ These rose-leaves to my heart be press’d,‘Honoria, while it aches for you !’ (The rose in ruin, from her breast,Fell, as I took a fond adieu.) ‘You must go now, Love!’ ‘See, the air‘Is thick with starlight !? ‘Let me tie‘This scarf on. Oh, your Petrarch! There! ‘I’m coming, Aunt!’ ‘Sweet, Sweet!‘ Good-bye !’‘Ah, Love, to me ’tis death to part,‘Yet you, my sever’d life, smile on!’‘ These ‘ Good-nights,” Felix, break my heart‘I’m only gay till you are gone !’With love’s bright arrows from her eyes,And balm on her permissive lips,She pass’d, and night was a surprise,As when the sun at Quito dips.Her beauties were like sunlit snows,Flush’d but not warm’d with my desire.Oh, how I loved her! Fiercely glowsIn the pure air of frost the fire.Who for a year is sure of fate!~ I thought, dishearten’d, as I went,Wroth with the Dean, who bade me wait,And vex’d with her, who seem’d content. ra That tyranny should thus deduct= From this fair land, which call’d me lord,A year of the sweet usufruct? ~~_ It might not and it should not be!I'd go back now, and he must own,At once, my love’s compulsive plea.I turn’d, I found the Dean alone.‘Nonsense, my friend; go back to bed!‘It’s halfpast twelve!’ ‘July, then, Sir?’‘Well, come to-morrow,’ at last he said,‘And you may talk of it with her,’A light gleam’d as I pass’d the stair.A pausing foot, a flash of dress,And a sweet voice. ‘Is Felix there ?’‘July, Love!’ ‘Says Papaso?’ ‘Yes!’ “ ; CAN TOFILEThe County Ball.
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