But female vagrants would at times express
A new-born pleasure at the mild address;
His modest wish, clothed in accent meek,
That they would comfort in religion seek. 570
“I am a sinful being!” William cried;
“Then, what am I?” the conscious heart replied;
And oft-times ponder’d in a pensive way,
“He is not happy, yet he loves to pray.”
But some would freely on his thoughts intrude,
And thrust themselves ’twixt him and solitude;