THE FAMILY OF o'BOHK. 151 



Tliis contract is the sole cause 1 can fix 



Why our young hero challeng'd not the Knight, 



(As hinted supra stanza XXVI.) 



For had he brought Sir Brian out to fight, 



And given him a ticket to old Nick's 



Concert in hell, if ray poor judgment's right, 



The killing of the father of his bride 



Were tantamount to para-m-l&vf-cide. 



So they remain'd the best of friends : although 



Sir Carolan stood like an ass, or goose 

 Between three sheaves, quite at a loss, I trow, . 



Which of the ladies he had better choose ; 

 While, more to puzzle him, they vied to show 



That they were willing each to tie the noose, 

 And each determined, too, to let the man see 

 That he was just a husband to her fancy. 



But here in justice I am bound to state 



That th' elder twain surpass'd the youngest one, 



In proving their intense desire to mate, 



By more degrees than does the noontide sun 



Outshine the stars to such a shameful rate 

 Was ogling, leering, sighing carried on, 



That no one, but a fool, could doubt that each meant 



Him t' understand she "own'd the soft impeachment." 



They prais'd him to his face even to the skies, 



And quarrell'd to sit near him at the table ; 

 They told him also, with a world of sighs, 



They'd have him always with them were they able. 

 One ask'd him did he like her sort of eyes, 



The other, did he like her muff of sable : 

 They dress'd out, by-the-bye, till old Sir Brian 

 Cried " By the L ! I'll break for all they're buying." 



Poor Kathleen was more shy she seemed to know 



Her want of beauty, and intensely feel 

 The fortune that had humbled her so low ; 



Apart she shrank, and let her sorrows steal, 

 In secret and alone, their natural throe 



She could not conquer, but would fain conceal ; 

 The grief that sicklied o'er her faded cheek 

 Was of the heart and it was fain to speak ! 



She loved Sir Carolan Yet " never told 



Her love, but let concealment" feed upon 

 Her heart ! a worm within its inmost fold ! 



Alas, that heart so fond should hope have none ! 

 For hers was such as rarely we behold 



A pure, disinterested, doating one ! 

 What pity that the richest pearl should dwell 

 Too often hid within the rudest shell ! 



So thought Sir Carolan ; for, be it said 



To his discernment's credit, he perceiv'd 

 That Kathleen dearly lov'dhim, though she fled 



His presence, while he knew himself deceiv'd 

 By her step- sisters, who he rightly rede 



A net to catch his wealth in merely weav'd 

 They only wish'd to wed, and to live snugly 

 She, poor thing, lored but then she was so ugly ! 



