All doubts gave way, all retrospective lore,
Whence cooler Reason tortur'd him before;
Comparison of times, the Lab'rer' s hire,
And many a truth Reflection might inspire,
Sunk powerless.‘ Dame, I am a fool,’ he cried;
‘ Alone I might have reason'd till I died.
‘ I caus'd those tears of Jane's:— but as they fell
‘ How much I felt none but ourselves can tell.
‘ While dastard fears withheld me from her sight;
‘ Sighs reign'd by day and hideous dreams by night;
‘'Twas then the Soldier's plume and rolling Drum
‘ Seem'd for a while to strike my sorrows dumb;
‘ To fly from Care then half resolv'd I stood,
‘ And without horror mus'd on fields of blood,
‘ But Hope prevail'd.— Be then the sword resign'd;
‘ And I'll make Shares for those that stay behind,
‘ And you, sweet Girl,’ ———
He would have added more,
Had not a glancing shadow at the door