The squire, himself a rare good-natured gent,

Oft at this dwelling, hours of leisure spent;

Would smoke his pipe, and not refuse to take

A crust of cottage bread, of honest[163] make:

The sweet demeanour of this youthful lass

Induced his “honour” to go there, and pass

A portion of his time in quiet talk—

In cautioning the damsel how to walk

Through life’s rough path; and whilst to him she’d listen,

Her face would crimson, and her eyes would glisten: