Whor'd by my flave----perfidious wretch! may

hell

770

proper way!

As furely feize thee, as I faw too well.
Guard ine, good angels ! cry'd the gentle May,
Pray heav'n, this magic work the
Alas, my love! 'tis certain, could
you fee,
You ne'er had us'd these killing words to me:
So help me, fates, as 'tis no perfect sight, 775
But fome faint glimm'ring of a doubtful light.

What I have faid (quoth he) I must maintain, For by th'immortal pow'rs it feem'd too plain--By all those pow'rs, some frenzy seiz'd your mind, 779 (Reply'd the dame) are these the thanks I find? Wretch that I am, that e'er I was fo kind! She faid; a rifing figh exprefs'd her woe, The ready tears apace began to flow, And as they fell she wip'd from either eye 784 The drops (for women, when they lift, can cry.) The Knight was touch'd; and in his looks appear'd

Signs of remorfe, while thus his spouse he chear'd:

Madam, 'tis past, and my short anger o'er! Come down, and vex your tender heart no more;

Excufe me, dear, if aught amiss was faid, 790
For, on my foul, amends fhall foon be made:
Let my repentance your forgiveness draw,
By heav'n, I fwore but what I thought I saw.

Ah my lov'dlord! 'twas much unkind (fhe cry'd) On bare fufpicion thus to treat your bride. 795 But till your fight's establish'd, for a while, Imperfect objects may your sense beguile. Thus when from sleep we first our eyes display,' The balls are wounded with the piercing ray, And dufky vapours rife, and intercept the day : So juft recov'ring from the fhades of night, 801 Your fwimming eyes are drunk with fudden light, Strange phantoms dance around, and fkim before your fight.

Then, Sir, be cautious, nor too rashly deem; Heav'n knows how feldom things are what they feem! 805

Confult your reafon, and you foon fhall find
'Twas you were jealous, not your wife unkind :
Jove ne'er fpoke oracle more true than this,
None judge fo wrong as thofe who think amifs.

With that she leap'd into her Lord's embrace With well diffembled virtue in her face. 811 He hugg'd her close, and kiss'd her o'er and o'er, Disturb'd with doubts and jealoufies no more;

Both, pleas'd and blefs'd, renew'd their mutual

Vows,

A fruitful wife, and a believing spouse.

815

Thus ends our tale, whofe moral next to make,
Let all wife husbands hence example take;
And pray, to crown the pleasure of their lives,
To be fo well deluded by their wives.

1