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OF TEMPER.
29


Her quick eyes sparkle with surprise, to see
The glories of a golden vis-à-vis:
Its glittering tablet gleam'd with mimic pearl,
And the rich coronet announced an earl.
The good old knight grew somewhat proud to hear
Of this new visit from the early peer:
Serena recollects the vision's truth,
And, fluttering, hopes it is the promis'd youth:
Penelope from her high chamber peeps;
There her unfinish'd charms she coyly keeps;
With sage reserve her modesty abhorr'd
To shew her morning face before a lord.
The peer alights: the well rang'd vassals bawl
His sounding title thro' the spacious hall,
Till in the deep faloon's extremest bound
Th'ear-tickling words, "Lord Filigree" resound
As when great Hector, setting war apart,
Advanc'd to parley, with his spear atwhart,
The Greeks beheld him with a still delight,
And silent reverence stopt the rising fight;