Girl!  I reject thee from my sober roof.” 
   “My aunt,” said Sybil,” will with pride protect
One whom a father can for this reject;
Nor shall a formal, rigid, soul-less boy
My manners alter, or my views destroy!”
   Jonas then lifted up his hands on high,
And, utt’ring something ’twixt a groan and sigh,
Left the determined maid, her doubtful mother by. 
   “Hear me,” she said; “incline thy heart, my child,
And fix thy fancy on a man so mild: 
Thy father, Sybil, never could be moved
By one who loved him, or by one he loved. 
Union like ours is but a bargain made
By slave and tyrant—­he will be obey’d;
Then calls the quiet, comfort—­but thy Youth
Is mild by nature, and as frank as truth.” 
   “But will he love?” said Sybil; “I am told
That these mild creatures are by nature cold.” 
   “Alas!” the matron answer’d, “much I dread
That dangerous love by which the young are led! 
That love is earthy; you the creature prize,
And trust your feelings and believe your eyes: 
Can eyes and feelings inward worth descry? 
No! my fair daughter, on our choice rely! 
Your love, like that display’d upon the stage,
Indulged is folly, and opposed is rage; —
More prudent love our sober couples show,
All that to mortal beings, mortals owe;
All flesh is grass—­before you give a heart,
Remember, Sybil, that in death you part;
And should your husband die before your love,
What needless anguish must a widow prove! 
No! my fair child, let all such visions cease;
Yield but esteem, and only try for peace.” 
   “I must be loved,” said Sybil; “I must see
The man in terrors who aspires to me;
At my forbidding frown his heart must ache,
His tongue must falter, and his frame must shake: 
And if I grant him at my feet to kneel,
What trembling, fearful pleasure must he feel;
Nay, such the raptures that my smiles inspire,
That reason’s self must for a time retire.” 
   “Alas! for good Josiah,” said the dame,
“These wicked thoughts would fill his soul with shame;
He kneel and tremble at a thing of dust! 
He cannot, child:”—­the Child replied, “He must.” 
   They ceased:  the matron left her with a frown;
So Jonas met her when the Youth came down: 
“Behold,” said he, “thy future spouse attends;
Receive him, daughter, as the best of friends;
Observe, respect him—­humble be each word,
That welcomes home thy husband and thy lord.” 
   Forewarn’d, thought Sybil, with a bitter smile,
I shall prepare my manner and my style. 
   Ere yet Josiah enter’d on his task,
The father met him—­“Deign to wear a mask
A few dull days, Josiah—­but a few —
It is our duty, and the sex’s due;
I wore it once, and every grateful wife
Repays it with obedience through her life: 
Have no regard to Sybil’s dress, have none
To her pert language, to her flippant tone: 
Henceforward thou shalt rule unquestion’d and