98
THE TRIUMPHS
"For me, I own, these lines, with gall replete,
Shot thro' my simple heart a sudden heat;
But happier thoughts my rising rage represt,
And turn'd the pointless insult to a jest:
And oh! should Slander full new wrath awake,
Still may my father, for his daughter's sake,
Disdain the vengeance of litigious strife,
And let Serena's answer be—her life!"
She ended with a smile, whose magic flame
Shot youthful vigour thro' her father's frame:
His age, his anger, and his gout, are fled;
"Enchanting girl!" with tears of joy, he said,
"Enchanting girl!" twice echoed from his tongue,
As, speaking, from his elbow-chair he sprung,
"Come to thy father's arms!—By Heaven, thou art
His own true offspring, and a Whig in heart."
He spoke; and his fond arms around her curl'd
With proud grasp, seeming to infold the world.
Her conscious heart she feels with triumph beat,
And joys to find that triumph is complete;
Shot thro' my simple heart a sudden heat;
But happier thoughts my rising rage represt,
And turn'd the pointless insult to a jest:
And oh! should Slander full new wrath awake,
Still may my father, for his daughter's sake,
Disdain the vengeance of litigious strife,
And let Serena's answer be—her life!"
She ended with a smile, whose magic flame
Shot youthful vigour thro' her father's frame:
His age, his anger, and his gout, are fled;
"Enchanting girl!" with tears of joy, he said,
"Enchanting girl!" twice echoed from his tongue,
As, speaking, from his elbow-chair he sprung,
"Come to thy father's arms!—By Heaven, thou art
His own true offspring, and a Whig in heart."
He spoke; and his fond arms around her curl'd
With proud grasp, seeming to infold the world.
Her conscious heart she feels with triumph beat,
And joys to find that triumph is complete;
