Last on my List appears a Match of Love,
And one of Virtue;—happy may it prove!—
Sir Edward Archer is an amorous Knight,
And Maidens chaste and lovely shun his sight;
His Bailiff’s Daughter suited much his taste,
For Fanny Price was lovely and was chaste;
To her the Knight with gentle looks drew near,
And timid voice, assum’d to banish Fear.—
“Hope of my Life, dear Sovereign of my Breast,
“Which, since I knew thee, knows not Joy nor Rest;
“Know thou art all that my delighted Eyes,
“My fondest Thoughts, my proudest Wishes prize;
“And is that Bosom—(what on earth so fair?)
“To cradle some coarse Peasant’s sprawling Heir?
“To be that Pillow which some surly Swain,
“May treat with scorn and agonize with pain?
“Art thou, sweet Maid, a Ploughman’s Wants to share,
“To dread his Insult, to support his Care;
“To hear his Follies, his Contempt to prove,
“And (oh! the torment!) to endure his Love;
“Till Want and deep Regret, those Charms destroy,
“That Time would spare, if Time were pass’d in joy?
“With him in varied Pains from morn till night,
“Your Hours shall pass; yourself a Ruffian’s right;
“Your softest Bed shall be the knotted Wool;
“Your purest Drink, the Waters of the Pool!
“Your sweetest Food will but your Life sustain;
“And your best Pleasure be a Rest from Pain;
“While thro’ each Year, as Health and Strength abate,
“You’ll weep your Woes and wonder at your Fate;
“And cry, ‘Behold, as Life’s last Cares come on,
“‘My Burthens growing when my Strength is gone.’
“Now turn with me and all the Young desire,
“That Taste can form, that Fancy can require;
“All that excites Enjoyment or procures,
“Wealth, Health, Respect, Delight, and Love are yours:
“Sparkling, in Cups of Gold, your Wines shall flow,
“Grace that fair Hand, in that clear Bosom glow;
“Fruits of each Clime and Flowers through all the Year,
“Shall on your Walls and in your Walks appear:
“Where all beholding, shall your Praise repeat,
“No Fruit so tempting and no Flower so sweet;—
“The softest Carpets in your Rooms shall lie,
“Pictures of happiest Loves shall meet your Eye,
“And tallest Mirrors reaching to the Floor,
“Shall shew you all the Object I adore;
“Who, by the Hands of Wealth and Fashion drest,
“By Slaves attended and by Friends carest,
“Shall move, a Wonder, through the public ways,
“And hear the Whispers of adoring Praise.
“Your Female Friends, though gayest of the Gay,
“Shall see you happy and shall, sighing, say,
“While smother’d Envy rises in the Breast,—
“‘Oh! that we liv’d so beauteous and so blest!’
“Come then, my Mistress and my Wife; for she
“Who trusts my Honour is the Wife for me;
“Your Slave, your Husband, and your Friend employ,
“In search of Pleasures we may both enjoy.”—
To this the Damsel, meekly firm, replied:
‘My Mother lov’d, was married, toil’d and died;
‘With Joys, she’d Griefs, had Troubles in her course,
‘But not one Grief was pointed by Remorse;
‘My Mind is fix’d, to Heav’n I resign,
‘And be her Love, her Life, her Comforts mine.’
Tyrants have wept; and those with hearts of steel,
Who caus’d the Anguish they disdain’d to heal,
Have at some time, the Power of Virtue known,
And found the Joy they gave promote their own.
Our Knight relenting, now befriends the Youth,
Who took the Maid, with Innocence and Truth;
And finds in that fair deed a sacred Joy,
That will not perish and that cannot cloy;—
A living Joy, that shall its vigour keep,
When Beauty all decays, and all the Passions sleep.
PART III.
BURIALS.
ARGUMENT.
True Christian Resignation not frequently to be seen.—The Register a melancholy Record.—A dying Man, who at length sends for a Priest: for what Purpose? answered.—Old Collett, of the Inn, an instance of Dr. Young’s slow-sudden Death: his Character and Conduct.—The Manners and Management of the Widow Goe: her successful Attention to Business: her Decease unexpected.—The Infant-Boy of Gerard Ablett dies: Reflections on his Death, and the Survivor his Sister-Twin.—The Funeral of the Deceased Lady of the Manor described: her neglected Mansion: Undertaker and Train: the Character which her Monument will hereafter display.—Burial of an antient Maiden: some former Drawback on her Virgin-fame: Description of her House and Household: Her Manners, Apprehensions, Death.—Isaac Ashford, a virtuous Peasant, dies: his manly Character: Reluctance to enter the Poor-House; and why.—Misfortune and Derangement of Intellect in Robin Dingley: whence they proceeded: He is not restrained by Misery from a wandering Life: his various Returns to his Parish: his final Return.—Wife of Farmer Frankford, dies in prime of Life: Affliction in consequence of such Death: melancholy View of her House, &c. on her Family’s Return from her Funeral: Address to Sorrow.—Leah Cousins, a Midwife: her Character; and successful Practice: at length opposed by Doctor Glib: Opposition in the Parish: Argument of the Doctor; of Leah; her Failure and Decease.—Burial of Roger Cuff, a Sailor: his Enmity to his Family; how it originated: his Experiment, and its consequence.—The Register terminates.—A Bell heard: Inquiry for whom? The Sexton.—Character of Old Dibble, and the five Rectors whom he served.—Reflections.—Conclusion.
THE
PARISH REGISTER.
PART III.
Burials.