I could not say the thing I would?

XLIV.

Months pass’d.

My time drew nigh. My vows must be fulfill’d.

I told my father of it, and he wept.

Poor man, he spent his hours alternately.

At times he urged; at times he chided me;

At times he kiss’d my cheek and look’d at me;

At times he took me by the hand, and said:

“My daughter, dear, we will defer the deed”;