regard to me[1]; for the ſmock face and downy chin are not, you know, high in their books; beſides, I have a faint heart: at times, when I have longed to caſt a ſheep’s eye at a pretty girl, my courage has failed me—I have never ventured to look a blue-eyed damſel in the face, nor has any one ever made advances, ſo as to encourage me by word, geſture, or look. So I know not that a female tear has ever been dropped on my account, except thoſe my mother and ſiſters ſhed the day I was taken for a ſoldier.’
The old hermit was glad to hear this, and then proceeded thus: ‘Thou haſt now waited on me full three years as a faithful attendant: for this thou art entitled to a recompence, which I wiſh thou mayeſt receive from the hand of love, provided fortune be kinder to thee than ſhe has proved to me.
- ↑ The taſte of the ladies has now undergone a memorable change, as is well known, in favour of the gentleman of the ſmooth chin.
