To claim some notice, call’d each other friend.
While yet their offspring boys and girls appear’d,
The fathers ask’d, “What evil could be fear’d?”
Nor is it easy to assign the year,
When cautious parents should begin to fear.
The boys must leave their schools, and, by and by,
The girls are sure to grow reserved and shy; 60
And then, suppose a real love should rise,
It but unites the equal families.
Love does not always from such freedom spring;