One sultry morning Lady Prew[169] grew faint:
So, to the cot, young Arnold[170] ran t’acquaint
His uncle; for, as usual ’bout that hour,
He’d ta’en his pleasurable cottage tour:
Surprised, indeed, was he to see the youth!
“There’s something wrong,” he said; “come, tell me truth!”
So then the boy drew forth, and ’gan to say—
“Dear aunt is taken ill; but uncle, pray
Don’t be alarm’d:” when lo! he ’spied (between
The quaint old settle, and a kind of screen,
Which hid a bed,) the lovely cottage queen:
Who, when she saw the gentle youth advance,
Had thither fled, and sought t’avoid his glance:
Her dark-blue eyes shone in that sombre light
Like glow-worms spangling in the depth of night:
He saw!—he felt a smart impulsive move!—
And from that hour he sought t’improve his love.
The old man call’d the “lassie” forth and said
“There, Arnold, is she not a pretty maid?—
She has the work of all the house to do,
Yet always clean: come, Arnold, we must go.”
The uncle dreamt not that his nephew’s heart
Was smitten, wounded with love’s keenest dart:
He little thought it—that henceforth this girl,
Of humble birth, would be so rich a pearl
To his “dear boy:” it never cross’d his brain
The youth so soon would wander there again;
And there to press her tiny hand in his,
(The while implanting on her cheek a kiss,)
And leaving in that hand a valued ring,—
That when she saw ’t she might, remembering
Some future day the giver, say—“Ah me!
How oft I’ve thought, and still shall think, of thee!
Thou art a treasure—O, thou beauteous gem!
I’ll kiss thee now and think I’m kissing him:
Perhaps it’s but a dream, yet shall mine eyes
For e’er behold him in this pretty prize.”
[169] At Westonbury Hall, the “squire’s” mansion.
[170] Arnold Mountjoy.