When Jesse saw, nor could with coldness see,
Such fond respect, such tried sincerity;
Grateful for favours to her father dealt,
She more than grateful for his passion felt;
Nor could she frown on one so good and kind,
Yet fear’d to smile, and was unfix’d in mind;
But prudence placed the Female Friend in view —
What might not one so rich and grateful do? 
So lately, too, the good old Vicar died,
His faithful daughter must not cast aside
The signs of filial grief, and be a ready bride. 
   Thus, led by prudence, to the Lady’s seat
The Village-Beauty purposed to retreat;
But, as in hard-fought fields the victor knows
What to the vanquish’d he in honour owes,
So, in this conquest over powerful love,
Prudence resolved a generous foe to prove,
And Jesse felt a mingled fear and pain
In her dismission of a faithful swain,
Gave her kind thanks, and when she saw his woe,
Kindly betray’d that she was loth to go;
“But would she promise, if abroad she met
A frowning world, she would remember yet
Where dwelt a friend?”—­“That could she not forget.” 
And thus they parted; but each faithful heart
Felt the compulsion, and refused to part. 
   Now, by the morning mail the timid Maid
Was to that kind and wealthy Dame conveyed;
Whose invitation, when her father died,
Jesse as comfort to her heart applied;
She knew the days her generous Friend had seen —
As wife and widow, evil days had been;
She married early, and for half her life
Was an insulted and forsaken wife;
Widow’d and poor, her angry father gave,
Mix’d with reproach, the pittance of a slave;
Forgetful brothers pass’d her, but she knew
Her humbler friends, and to their home withdrew: 
The good old Vicar to her sire applied
For help, and help’d her when her sire denied. 
When in few years Death stalk’d through bower and hall,
Sires, sons, and sons of sons, were buried all,
She then abounded, and had wealth to spare
For softening grief she once was doom’d to share;
Thus train’d in misery’s school, and taught to feel,
She would rejoice an orphan’s woes to heal:  —
So Jesse thought, who look’d within her breast,
And thence conceived how bounteous minds are bless’d. 
   From her vast mansion look’d the Lady down
On humbler buildings of a busy town;
Thence came her friends of either sex, and all
With whom she lived on terms reciprocal: 
They pass’d the hours with their accustom’d ease,
As guests inclined, but not compelled, to please;
But there were others in the mansion found,
For office chosen, and by duties bound;
Three female rivals, each of power possess’d,
Th’ attendant Maid, poor Friend, and kindred Guest. 
   To these came Jesse, as a seaman thrown
By the rude storm upon a coast unknown: 
The view was flattering, civil seem’d the race,
But all unknown the dangers of the place.