<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:
 def _connect(self):
 """Connect to FreeSWITCH ESL Interface."""

        try:
            self._eslconn = ESL.ESLconnection(self._eslhost, 
                                              str(self._eslport), 
                                              self._eslpass)
        except:
            pass
        if not self._eslconn.connected():
            raise Exception(
                "Connection to FreeSWITCH ESL Interface on host %s and port %d failed."
                % (self._eslhost, self._eslport)
                )