My friends respect on a rejoicing day,”
Replied the rector; “there is born a son,
Pride of an ancient race, who pray’d for one,
And long desponded. Would you hear the tale—
Ask, and ’tis granted—of Sir Owen Dale?” 30
“Grant,” said the Brothers, “for we humbly ask;
Ours be the gratitude, and thine the task.
Yet dine we first; then to this tale of thine,
As to thy sermon, seriously incline;
In neither case our rector shall complain