TOAFRIENDONHISMARRIAGE

toafriendonhismarriage

(1833)

whatmakesahappywedlock?whathasfate

notgiventotheeinthywell-chosenmate?

goodsense—goodhumour;—thesearetrivialthings,

dearm——,thateachtriteencomiastsings.

butshehaththese,andmore.amindexempt

fromeverylow-bredpassion,wherecontempt,

norenvy,nordetraction,everfound

aharbouryet;anunderstandingsound;

justviewsofrightandwrong;perceptionfull

ofthedeformed,andofthebeautiful,

inlifeandmanners;witabovehersex,

which,asagem,hersprightlyconversedecks;

exuberantfancies,prodigalofmirth,

togladdenwoodlandwalk,orwinterhearth;

anoblenature,conquerorinthestrife

ofconflictwithaharddiscouraginglife,

strengtheningtheveinsofvirtue,pastthepower

ofthosewhosedayshavebeenonesilkenhour,

spoil'dfortune'spamper'doffspring;akeensense

alikeofbenefit,andofoffence,

withreconcilementquick,thatinstantsprings

fromthechargedheartwithnimbleangelwings;

whilegratefulfeelings,likeasignetsign'd

byastronghand,seemburntintohermind.

ifthese,dearfriend,adowrycanconfer

richerthanland,thouhastthemallinher;

andbeauty,whichsomeholdthechiefestboon,

isinthybargainforamake-weightthrown.