I love you!" What an ease to dignity,

What help of pride from the hard high-backed chair

Down to the carpet where the kittens bask,

All under the pretence of gratitude!

From all which, I deduce—the lady here

Was bound to proffer nothing short of love

To the priest whose service was to save her. What?

Shall she propose him lucre, dust o' the mine,

Rubbish o' the rock, some diamond, muckworms prize,

Some pearl secreted by a sickly fish?