OF TEMPER.
93
As friendly Love had fixt a future time,
When to reveal the secret of the rhyme,
Strove till that hour her fancy to restrain,
Nor let her anxious wishes rise to pain.
As gaiety's fresh tide began to roll,
Fast in the swelling channel of her soul,
The good old knight descends, tho' eager, slow,
The gout still tingling in his tender toe;
And now, paternal salutations past,
His eyes he keenly on the paper cast,
While his sweet daughter, with attentive grace,
Before him flies his ready cup to place;
For tea and politics alternate share,
In friendly rivalship, his morning care.
Tho' smooth as oil the knight's good-humour flows,
When the mild breeze of pleasant fortune blows,
Yet, quick to catch the casual sparks of ire,
Like oil it kindles into mounting fire;
And fiercely now his flaming spirit blaz'd,
While on those galling words he wildly gaz'd,
When to reveal the secret of the rhyme,
Strove till that hour her fancy to restrain,
Nor let her anxious wishes rise to pain.
As gaiety's fresh tide began to roll,
Fast in the swelling channel of her soul,
The good old knight descends, tho' eager, slow,
The gout still tingling in his tender toe;
And now, paternal salutations past,
His eyes he keenly on the paper cast,
While his sweet daughter, with attentive grace,
Before him flies his ready cup to place;
For tea and politics alternate share,
In friendly rivalship, his morning care.
Tho' smooth as oil the knight's good-humour flows,
When the mild breeze of pleasant fortune blows,
Yet, quick to catch the casual sparks of ire,
Like oil it kindles into mounting fire;
And fiercely now his flaming spirit blaz'd,
While on those galling words he wildly gaz'd,
