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218 MARRIAGE. 
SAFFRON. 
Carthamus Tindorius. 
Language MARRIAGE. 
Art thou beloved, and dost thou love him truly, 
By whom with whom thy lot in life is cast ? 
Or hast thou rashly, weakly, or unduly, 
In wrath, or scorn, or grief, thus sealed the past ? 
If, stung by memories, thou must dissemble, 
Of one who left thee, fickle and unkind. 
Thy pride thus seeks to wound the inconstant, tremble ! 
Back to thy heart that shaft its way shall find. 
Will he, thy mate, be true to vows of duty ? 
Or shalt thou weep, with eyelids veiled and dim, 
The lost advantage of thy powerless beauty. 
Which, praised by others, kept no hold on him ? 
Shall some fair temptress, hke a dazzling meteor. 
Teach him thy more familiar charms to slight, 
Thy deep love weighed against each novel feature, 
A balance stated custom renders light ? 
Who shall decide ? The bridal day ! O, make it 
A day of sacrament and fervent prayer. 
Though every circumstance conspires to make it 
Out of the common perplexity of care ! 
Let not vain merriment and giddy laughter 
Be the last sound in thy departing ear ; 
For God alone can tell what cometh after. 
What store of sorrow, or what cause for fear ! 
Mrs. Norton. 
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