The youth, with agitated heart,
Prepar'd directly to depart;
But, bound in honour to obey
His father, at no distant day,
He promis'd soon to hasten down,
But business call'd him now to town;
Then faintly hints a cold proposal,
But leaves it to the Knight's disposal;
Stammer'd half words of love and duty,
And mutter'd much of — worth and — beauty;
Something of passion then he dropt,
And hop'd his ardour — Here he stopt;
For some remains of native truth
Flush'd in his face, and check'd the youth;
Yet still the ambiguous suffusion
Might pass for artless love's confusion.
The doating father thought 'twas strange,
But fancied men with times might change;
Yet own'd, nor cou'd he check his tongue,
It was not so when he was young.
That was the reign of love he swore,
But now those halcyon days are o'er.