Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/525

 ���COUNTESS OF WINCHILSEA 387 �And when I would have shar'd amongst my Race �Impartial Kindness, as their Birthrights claim' d, 200 �Still to my Heart Aristor wou'd be nearest, �Still, with a Merit not to be withstood, �Wou'd press beyond my cool and equal Purpose, �And seize a double Portion of my Love : �And wilt thou lose it now, to keep thy Silence? �Aristor. My Life I rather wou'd; but Oh! my Lord! [Sighs. �Aristom. Another Sigh, another yet, my Son ! And then, let Words relieve this mighty Passion: They will, they will; the Sweetness of thy Temper Will melt before a just and warm Persuasion. 210 �Now, let me know it �Aristor. Believe that if 'twere fit, it shou'd be told: But Oh ! my Lord, 'tis what you must not know. �Aristom. Not I, Aristor! if thy Soul were bare As is thy faded Cheek now to thy Father, It were most fit �Oh! think, my Son, who 'twas that made it Noble, And train'd it in the Paths of Truth and Honour: Else, what had hinder'd, but thou might' st have been (In spite of all the Virtues with thee born, 220 �For Education is the stronger Nature) A bragging Coward, or a base Detractor, A Slave to Wealth, or false to Faith or Friendship Lull'd in the common Arms of some Seducer, And lost to all the Joys of Virtuous Love. �Aristor. Ha! Virtuous Love! �Aristom. What, dost thou start? why, so I meant thou �shou'dst. �When hastily I press' d that Word upon thee, To catch that flushing Witness in thy Face, Was all this Bait contriv'd; no more, my Son, 230 �No more dissembling of a Truth so plain: ��� �