DELAY HAS DANGER

THREE weeks had pass'd, and Richard rambles

now

Far as the dinners of the day allow;

He rode to Farley Grange and Finley Mere,
That house so ancient, and that lake so clear :
He rode to Ripley through that river gay,
Where in the shallow stream the loaches play,
And stony fragments stay the winding stream,
And gilded pebbles at the bottom gleam,
Giving their yellow surface to the sun,
And making proud the waters as they run:
It is a lovely place, and at the side

Rises a mountain rock in rugged pride;

And in that rock are shapes of shells, and forms
Of creatures in old worlds, of nameless worms,
Whose generations lived and died ere man,
A worm of other class, to crawl began.

There is a town call'd Silford, where his steed
Our traveller rested,-He the while would feed
His mind by walking to and fro, to meet,
He knew not what adventure, in the street :
A stranger there, but yet a window-view
Gave him a face that he conceived he knew ;

He saw a tall, fair, lovely lady, dress'd

As one whom taste and wealth had jointly bless'd ; He gazed, but soon a footman at the door Thundering, alarm'd her, who was seen no more.

"This was the lady whom her lover bound "In solemn contract, and then proved unsound: "Of this affair I have a clouded view,

"And should be glad to have it clear'd by you."

So Richard spake, and instant George replied, "I had the story from the injured side, "But when resentment and regret were gone, "And pity (shaded by contempt) came on.

"Frail was the hero of my tale, but still "Was rather drawn by accident than will; "Some without meaning into guilt advance, "From want of guard, from vanity, from chance; "Man's weakness flies his more immediate pain, "A little respite from his fears to gain; "And takes the part that he would gladly fly, "If he had strength and courage to deny.

"But now my tale, and let the moral say, "When hope can sleep, there's Danger in Delay.

"First be it granted all was duly said "By the fond youth to the believing maid; "Let us suppose with many a sigh there came "The declaration of the deathless flame ;—

"And so her answer-'She was happy then, "Bless'd in herself, and did not think of men; “And with such comforts in her present state, "A wish to change it was to tempt her fate: "That she would not; but yet she would confess "With him she thought her hazard would be less ; "Nay, more, she would esteem, she would regard

express:

"But to be brief-if he could wait and see "In a few years what his desires would be.'

Henry for years read months, then weeks, nor found The lady thought his judgment was unsound; "For months read weeks," she read it to his praise, And had some thoughts of changing it to days.

And here a short excursion let me make,
A lover tried, I think, for lovers' sake;
And teach the meaning in a lady's mind
When you can none in her expressions find :
Words are design'd that meaning to convey,
But often Yea is hidden in a Nay!

And what the charmer wills, some gentle hints betray.
Then, too, when ladies mean to yield at length,
They match their reasons with the lover's strength,
And, kindly cautious, will no force employ
But such as he can baffle or destroy.

A downright No! would make a man despair
Or leave for kinder nymph the cruel fair;
But "No! because I'm very happy now,
"Because I dread th' irrevocable vow,

"Because I fear papa will not approve,
"Because I love not-no, I cannot love;
"Because you men of Cupid make a jest,
"Because-in short, a single life is best."
A No! when back'd by reasons of such force,
Invites approach, and will recede of course.

Ladies, like towns besieged, for honour's sake, Will some defence or its appearance make; On first approach there's much resistance made, And conscious weakness hides in bold parade; With lofty looks, and threat'nings stern and proud, "Come, if you dare," is said in language loud, But if th' attack be made with care and skill, "Come," says the yielding party, "if you will;" Then each the other's valiant acts approve, And twine their laurels in a wreath of love.—

We now retrace our tale, and forward go,—
Thus Henry rightly read Cecilia's No!
His prudent father, who had duly weigh'd,
And well approved the fortune of the maid,

Not much resisted, just enough to show

He knew his power, and would his son should know.

"Harry, I will, while I your bargain make, "That you a journey to our patron take : "I know her guardian; care will not become "A lad when courting; as you must be dumb, "You may be absent; I for you will speak, "And ask what you are not supposed to seek."

Then came the parting hour, and what arise
When lovers part! expressive looks and eyes,
Tender and tearful,-many a fond adieu,
And many a call the sorrow to renew;
Sighs such as lovers only can explain,
And words that they might undertake in vain.

Cecilia liked it not; she had, in truth,
No mind to part with her enamour'd youth;
But thought it foolish thus themselves to cheat,
And part for nothing but again to meet.
Fear saw him hunting, leaping, falling-led,
Maim'd and disfigured, groaning to his bed ;
Saw him in perils, duels,—dying,—dead.
But Prudence answer'd, "Is not every maid
"With equal cause for him she loves afraid?”
If some fond girl express'd a tender pain
Lest some fair rival should allure her swain,
To such she answer'd, with a look severe,
"Can one you doubt be worthy of your fear?"

My lord was kind,—a month had pass'd away, And Henry stay'd, he sometimes named a day; But still my lord was kind, and Henry still must stay: His father's words to him were words of fate"Wait, 'tis your duty; 'tis my pleasure, wait!"

In all his walks, in hilly heath or wood, Cecilia's form the pensive youth pursued ; In the grey morning, in the silent noon, In the soft twilight, by the sober moon,

In those forsaken rooms, in that immense saloon;

S