76
The Hind and the Panther.
Her lost esteem, her truth, her loyal care,
Her faith unshaken to an exil'd Heir,
Her strength t'endure, her courage to defy;
Her choice of honourable infamy.
On these prolixly thankfull, she enlarg'd,
Then with acknowledgments herself she charg'd:
For friendship of it self, an holy tye,
Is made more sacred by adversity.
Now should they part, malicious tongues wou'd say,
They met like chance companions on the way,
Whom mutual fear of robbers had possess'd;
While danger lasted, kindness was profess'd;
But that once o'er, the short-liv'd union ends:
The road divides, and there divide the friends.
Her faith unshaken to an exil'd Heir,
Her strength t'endure, her courage to defy;
Her choice of honourable infamy.
On these prolixly thankfull, she enlarg'd,
Then with acknowledgments herself she charg'd:
For friendship of it self, an holy tye,
Is made more sacred by adversity.
Now should they part, malicious tongues wou'd say,
They met like chance companions on the way,
Whom mutual fear of robbers had possess'd;
While danger lasted, kindness was profess'd;
But that once o'er, the short-liv'd union ends:
The road divides, and there divide the friends.
The Panther nodded when her speech was done,
And thank'd her coldly in a hollow tone.
But said her gratitude had gone too far
For common offices of Christian care.
And thank'd her coldly in a hollow tone.
But said her gratitude had gone too far
For common offices of Christian care.
If
