At length, her courage rising with her fear,
She said, “Our pleasures may be bought too dear!” 500
To this he answer’d—“Dearest! from thy heart
Bid every fear of evil times depart;
I ever trusted in the trying hour
To my good stars, and felt the ruling power;
When want drew nigh, his threat’ning speed was stopp’d,
Some virgin aunt, some childless uncle dropped;
In all his threats I sought expedients new,
And my last, best resource was found in you.”