Art thou content?”—

If Richard had replied,

“I am,” his manner had his words belied.

Even from his Brother’s cheerfulness he drew

Something to vex him—what, he scarcely knew;

So he evading said, “My evil fate 340

Upon my comforts throws a gloom of late:

Matilda writes not; and, when last she wrote,

I read no letter—’twas a trader’s note—

‘Yours I received,’ and all that formal prate