“Tell, Thomas! no, I scorn the base design,
Give me your hand, I pledge my word with mine;
And, if I cannot do thee good, my friend,
Thou may’st at least upon that word depend.
And hark ye, lad, thy worthy name retain
To the last hour, or I shall help in vain;
And then the more severe and hard thy part, 980
Thine the more praise, and thine the happier art.
We meet again—farewell!”—and Thomas went
Forth to his tasks, half angry, half content.