Now thought our clerk—“I must not mention love:
That she at least must seem to disapprove;
But I must fear of poverty enforce,
And then consent will be a thing of course.”
“Madam!” said he, “with sorrow I relate,
That our affairs are in a dreadful state;
I call’d on all our friends, and they declared
They dared not meddle—not a creature dared;
But still our perseverance chance may aid,
And, though I’m puzzled, I am not afraid; 230