Some Pair are wed; this brings the Wife in view, And some divorced: this shows the parting too; Nor can he hear of evil word or deed,

But they to thought, and thought to sufferings lead.

Such was his life-no other changes came,
The hurrying day, the conscious night the same;
The night of horror-when he starting cried,
To the poor startled Sinner at his side;
"Is it in law? am I condemn'd to die?

"Let me escape!—I'll give-oh! let me fly-
"How ! but a Dream-no Judges! Dungeon! Chain!
"Or these grim Men!-I will not sleep again.-
"Wilt thou, dread Being! thus thy promise keep?
"Day is thy time-and wilt thou murder sleep?
"Sorrow and Want repose, and wilt thou come,
"Nor give one hour of pure untroubled gloom?

"Oh! Conscience! Conscience! Man's most faith

ful friend,

"Him canst thou comfort, ease, relieve, defend; "But if he will thy friendly checks forego,

"Thou art, oh! woe for me, his deadliest foe!"

TALE XV.

ADVICE;

OR,

THE 'SQUIRE AND THE PRIEST.

His hours fill'd up with riots, banquets, sports-
And never noted in him any study,
Any retirement, any sequestration.

Henry V. Act I. Scene 1.

I will converse with iron-witted fools,

With unrespective boys; none are for me,
Who look into me with considerate eyes.

Richard III. Act IV. Scene 2.

You cram these words into mine ears, against

The stomach of my sense.

Tempest, Act II. Scene 1.

TALE XV.

THE 'SQUIRE AND THE PRIEST.

A WEALTHY Lord of far-extended land

Had all that pleased him placed at his command;
Widow'd of late, but finding much relief

In the world's comforts, he dismiss'd his grief;
He was by marriage of his daughters eased,
And knew his sons could marry if they pleased;
Meantime in travel he indulged the boys,
And kept no spy nor partner of his joys.

These joys, indeed, were of the grosser kind, That fed the cravings of an earthly mind; A mind that, conscious of its own excess, Felt the reproach his neighbours would express. Long at th' indulgent board he loved to sit, Where joy was laughter, and profaneness wit; And such the Guest and manners of the Hall, No wedded Lady on the 'Squire would call: Here reign'd a Favourite, and her triumph gain'd O'er other favourites who before had reign'd;

Reserved and modest seem'd the Nymph to be,
Knowing her Lord was charm'd with modesty;
For he, a sportsman keen, the more enjoy'd,
The greater value had the thing destroy'd.

Our 'Squire declared, that, from a Wife released, He would no more give trouble to a Priest; Seem'd it not, then, ungrateful and unkind, That he should trouble from the Priesthood find? The Church he honour'd, and he gave the due And full respect to every Son he knew ; But envied those who had the luck to meet A gentle Pastor, civil, and discreet; Who never bold and hostile sermon penn'd, To wound a sinner, or to shame a Friend; One whom no being either shunn'd or fear'd, Such must be loved wherever they appear'd.

Not such the stern old Rector of the time, Who soothed no culprit, and who spared no crime; Who would his fears and his contempt express, For irreligion and licentiousness;

Of him our Village Lord, his guests among,

By speech vindictive proved his feelings stung.