Yet, to her native bias still inclined,
She felt her act too merciful and kind;
But when, long musing on the chilling scene
So lately past-the frost and sleet so keen-
The Man's whole misery in a single view-
Yes! she could think some pity was his due.

Thus fix'd, she heard not her Attendant glide With soft slow step-till, standing by her side, The trembling Servant gasp'd for breath, and shed Relieving tears, then utter'd-" He is dead!"

"Dead!" said the startled Lady; "Yes, he fell "Close at the door where he was wont to dwell; "There his sole friend, the Ass, was standing by, "Half dead himself, to see his Master die."

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'Expired he then, Good Heaven! for want of food?" "No! crusts and water in a corner stood;

"To have this plenty, and to wait so long,
“And to be right, too late, is doubly wrong:
"Then, every day to see him totter by,
"And to forbear-Oh! what a heart had I!”

"Blame me not, Child; I tremble at the news." ""Tis my own heart," said Susan, “I accuse:

"To have this money in my purse—to know
"What grief was his, and what to grief we owe;
"To see him often, always to conceive

"How he must pine and languish, groan and grieve; "And every day in ease and peace to dine,

"And rest in comfort!-what a heart is mine!"—

TALE XVIII.

THE WAGER.

'Tis thought your deer doth hold you at a bay. Taming the Shrew, Act V. Scene 2.

TALE XVIII.

THE WAGER.

COUNTER and CLUBB were men in trade, whose pains,
Credit, and prudence, brought them constant gains;
Partners and punctual, every friend agreed

Counter and Clubb were men who must succeed.
When they had fix'd some little time in life,
Each thought of taking to himself a wife:
As men in trade alike, as men in love
They seem'd with no according views to move;
As certain ores in outward view the same,

They show'd their difference when the magnet came.
Counter was vain: with spirit strong and high,
'Twas not in him like suppliant swain to sigh:
"His wife might o'er his men and maids preside,
"And in her province be a judge and guide;
"But what he thought, or did, or wish'd to do,
"She must not know, or censure if she knew;
"At home, abroad, by day, by night, if he
"On aught determined, so it was to be:
"How is a man," he ask'd, "for business fit,
"Who to a female can his will submit?