Few hours had pass’d, when, from attendants freed
The Lady utter’d, “This is kind indeed;
Believe me, love! that I for one like you
Have daily pray’d, a friend discreet and true;
Oh! wonder not that I on you depend,
You are mine own hereditary friend: 
Hearken, my Jesse, never can I trust
Beings ungrateful, selfish, and unjust;
But you are present, and my load of care
Your love will serve to lighten and to share: 
Come near me, Jesse—­let not those below
Of my reliance on your friendship know;
Look as they look, be in their freedoms free —
But all they say do you convey to me.” 
   Here Jesse’s thoughts to Colin’s cottage flew,
And with such speed she scarce their absence knew. 
   “Jane loves her mistress, and should she depart,
I lose her service, and she breaks her heart;
My ways and wishes, looks and thoughts, she knows,
And duteous care by close attention shows: 
But is she faithful? in temptation strong,
Will she not wrong me? ah!  I fear the wrong;
Your father loved me; now, in time of need,
Watch for my good, and to his place succeed. 
   “Blood doesn’t bind—­that Girl, who every day
Eats of my bread, would wish my life away;
I am her dear relation, and she thinks
To make her fortune, an ambitious minx! 
She only courts me for the prospect’s sake,
Because she knows I have a Will to make;
Yes, love! my Will delay’d, I know not how —
But you are here, and I will make it now. 
   “That idle creature, keep her in your view,
See what she does, what she desires to do;
On her young mind may artful villains prey,
And to my plate and jewels find a way: 
A pleasant humour has the girl; her smile,
And cheerful manner, tedious hours beguile: 
But well observe her, ever near her be,
Close in your thoughts, in your professions free. 
   “Again, my Jesse, hear what I advise,
And watch a woman ever in disguise;
Issop, that widow, serious, subtle, sly —
But what of this?—­I must have company: 
She markets for me, and although she makes
Profit, no doubt, of all she undertakes,
Yet she is one I can to all produce,
And all her talents are in daily use: 
Deprived of her, I may another find
As sly and selfish, with a weaker mind: 
But never trust her, she is full of art,
And worms herself into the closest heart;
Seem then, I pray you, careless in her sight,
Nor let her know, my love, how we unite. 
   “Do, my good Jesse, cast a view around,
And let no wrong within my house be found;
That Girl associates with—­I know not who
Are her companions, nor what ill they do;
’Tis then the Widow plans, ’tis then she tries
Her various arts and schemes for fresh supplies;
’Tis then, if ever, Jane her duty quits,
And, whom I know not, favours and admits: 
Oh! watch their movements all; for me ’tis hard,
Indeed is vain, but you may keep a guard;