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218 
MARRIAGE. 
SAFFRON. 
Carthamus Tinctorius. 
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 slialt 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, like a dazzling metepr, 
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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