University of Virginia Library

It seems there are but very few
Themselves from Cupid can rescue:
For he's suppos'd to shoot at random;
And sometimes hits by chance the grandame,
As well's the grandchild; all is one:
His arrows force resist can none,
Save eunuchs only; yea, a nun
The pow'r of love she cannot shun;
Nay, grief herself in vain must strive
The force of Cupid to deprive;
As witness here Miss Jenny fair,
Dejected with dishevel'd hair.
Young Secret sees a thousand charms
Inviting him into her arms;
Like to the sun, when he is shrouded,
When by a summer show'r o'erclouded;
His rays obliquely may encline,
Yet will they with great lustre shine;
So beauteous charms more sweet appears,
When they're bedew'd with tender tears.

Now Secret was a man reserv'd,
And honest Caution long had serv'd;
Yet must he feel the wounding dart
Of Cupid piercing to his heart,
That made him sigh and wry his brow,
And think, “What shall I say or do?
Can I attempt, in my low station,
A maid of birth and education?
Yet she's reduc'd, as well as me,
To an inferior degree.
I'll speak my mind, be as it will;
Perhaps with her I may prevail:
A proverb I have heard declare,
A faint heart wins no lady fair;
Wherefore I'll try my art to gain her,
For never would a lover fainer.”
So by degrees the lover drew
To have a private interview.

At last he found her all alone,
Fetching many a sigh and groan;
But like a lover he drew near,
Possess'd at once with hope and fear:
At last his courage won the day,
And to love's passion he gave way.
Said he—
—“Dear Mistress, why in tears?
Pray, cast aside your useless fears;
Learn with all ills to be content,
You can't foresee nor yet prevent.
You gave your brother good advice,
Take part thereof, if you are wise;
Submit to fate, slight worldly honour,
And never grudge at heaven's Donor.

And if you please to condescend
Your future life with me to spend,
Perhaps you may be happy more
Than what you ever was before:
For tho' I'd been a lord or earl
And you but a poor country girl,
I could have lov'd none else but you,
Tho' I'd sought all the world thro'.

It is presumption to be sure,
For me to think I should procure
Your love, that you might live with me,
Who am but poor of low degree:
Yet I must needs my passion vent,
Which doth my breast so much torment;
If you disdain to pity me.
No pleasure more on earth I'll see.

Yet let me tell you, tho' I'm now
In equal circumstance with you,
Indeed I was as highly born;
Therefore torment me not with scorn:
For Jove of mortals doth dispose
(For reasons that himself best knows)
According as he hath a-mind,
The consequence we only find.”

Miss Jenny fetch'd a sigh, and said,
“Dear Sir, respect for you I had
Before you spake; but much more now,
Believing what you say is true.

But, tell me, Sir, e'er I consent,
How you resolve our settlement;
What business you mean to drive,
By which we may both live and thrive.”

“You need not fear, my dear, (said he)
Each year I wan a certain fee,
Most part whereof I have in store,
And Providence will send us more:
And my good master Caution will
I'm sure befriend us ever still;
From him we'll get a little house,
Till fortune more for us produce:
Therefore, my dear, give your consent,
And learn with me to be content.”

Said she, “It seems 'tis fate's decree
That you and I should wedded be:
And since that I am brought so low,
Great thanks I to my mother owe,
That taught me how to work, and gain
My daily bread, life to maintain.

But, Sir, your birth you seem'd to hint
Was unto me no detriment:
Please tell me out the story clear;
For fondly I the same would hear.”

“Ah! lovely fair, (said he) my birth
To me is now but little worth!
Which is the cause I have conceal'd it,
And in this place yet ne'er reveal'd it:
Yet I'll do ought at your command;
Therefore, my fairest, understand,
My father was an honest man,
Descended of a noble clan;
My mother also nothing less;
But on that I need lay no stress:
His name was Honest, and had not
In all his character a blot;
But to say truth, the country round
With him was scarcely ever sound,
Because his principles were quite
Reverse to what was their delight.
The good of others still he, sought,
And ever spake just as he thought:
He lov'd his sov'reign and his nation,
And hated bribery and oppression:
Laws and religion he supported,
And the disconsolate comforted:
E'en to be short, his life and fame
Agreed exactly with his name.
But in defence of lawful right,
As he upon a time did fight,
They took away his precious life;
With grief thereat soon died his wife:
I and my brother then were left,
Of comfort and all good bereft:
My brother older was than me,
And frolicsome to that degree,
That soon he wasted pack and purse,
And died soon after with remorse;
For gaming, balling, whoring, drinking,
He never had time left for thinking,
Till he, (ah poor unhappy wretch!),
Of both our fortunes made dispatch;
Which an untimely end brought on him,
And few or, none was to bemoan him:
I, griev'd at such a dismal case,
Did wander from my native place,
Not knowing where, with tardy motion;
At last I fell on honest Caution;
With whom I hir'd, and wrought ay since,
None knowing of my circumstance.
But now, methinks, kind Heaven smiles,
And all my future fears beguiles;
My sunken sp'rit revives again,
Like to clear shining after rain;
I'll frankly bear all ills of life,
Since I'll enjoy thee for my wife.”

“What you advance (said she) appears
The greatest wonder in mine ears,
I ever heard:—two never met
So equally unfortunate.
Let us to Heav'n ourselves resign;
The will of Jove shall ay be mine:
If Jove we love, serve, and obey,
He will support us every way;
And what he sees we really need,
Doubtless by him will be supplied,
But towards Caution's house let's go,
There's my poor brother full of woe.”

“But stay, dear Jenny, I have now
Thought on somewhat I have to shew
To your dear brother, now in tears,
That may prevent his future fears:
Go therefore, bring him here to me;
The sequel you shall after see.”

“Glad would I be, if any were
Could mitigate my brother's care.
But are you bound so to conceal it,
That unto me you can't reveal it?
By ties of love, Sir, I would crave
I might the welcome secret have.”

Said he, “Dear Jenny, rest content;
'Tis partly to get his consent,
That you and I should wedded be;
What's more, soon after you shall see.”

Then unto him in haste she went;
And said, “Dear brother, be content,
Go speak with Secret; lo! he waits
For you just now without the gates:
I'll in, and hear yon gentles talk,
While you and he shall take a walk.”

When she went in, Auld-use-and-wont
Did give her knee a hearty dunt;
And cry'd, “Miss Jenny, sit by me,
There's nane mair welcomer can be.”

Laborious took her in his arms,
And cry'd, “She has a thousand charms;
Great pity 'twere one should be lost,
That can of wit and beauty boast.”

Then Burgher said, “Good Sir, 'tis true,
And may prevented be by you;
For you are rich enough, and can
E'en help the girl to get a man.”

“Well jested, Burgher, on my word:
If you give ought, I'll give a third
Above you, were it thousands more
Than what she could have had before.”

“Well then, (said Burgher), at this rate,
Although my wealth's not very great,
To manage you, I'll compliment
Miss Jenny with a whole year's rent
Of the estate I lately bought,
Or as much cash, I'll 'minish nought;
And to make good, Sir, what I said,
My obligation shall be had.”

Then Tipple said, “Reach me the cap,
I'll drink to Mistress Jane's good hap;
For beauty, wit, and honesty,
Procure good fortune certainly.”

“Na, na, (said Wont), I winna say
That Fortune favours good folk ay;
For aft the best do suffer need,
When warst are satisfied wi' bread.
I've seen a proud insulting knave,
With some few bags of cash, behave
As he had been a Lord himself;
So proud some are puff'd up with pelf:
While wit and virtue have been made
Oblig'd to beg their daily bread.”

Said Tipple, “Let her health go round;
I'm glad she has such favour found;
And wish her more and more success,
Till she exceed in happiness.”

“Come, come, (said Burgher), sign, Laborious;
This deed of ours must be notorious;
An hundred pounds I give and grant,
To ease Miss Jenny of her want;
And you shall give her two, no less,
According as you did profess.”

Laborious said, “I will be glad,
Since you for her such tidings had:
So here we both shall sign the band,
And give it freely in her hand.”