The
CHOICE
;
or
,
DULL
HOUR
PAST
.
Heigho
!
I'm
wond'rous
dull
;
in
truth
I'm
wond'rous
sad
—
Little
amusement
,
and
the
weather
bad
;
What
shall
I
do
?
I'll
write
—
Come
,
ready
friend
—
I
mean
my
pen
—
Good
folks
,
I
pray
attend
:
Still
at
a
loss
,
I
do
not
wish
to
teaze
;
—
My
muse
,
assist
me
—
teach
me
how
to
please
—
My
thoughts
are
free
—
then
,
fancy
,
take
thy
range
—
I'll
write
my
wish
—
no
choice
—
pshaw
,
how
I
change
!
Critics
,
be
dumb
—
I
will
the
thought
impart
,
That
some
kind
youth
may
bid
for
Anna's
heart
:
He
who
aspires
this
little
heart
to
gain
,
Some
decent
share
of
merit
must
attain
;
Serene
religion
must
his
actions
guide
,
Bright
truth
,
nice
honor
,
o'er
his
mind
preside
;
Prudence
to
guide
him
thro'
life's
busy
scene
,
Never
extravagant
,
nor
ever
mean
;
Let
him
have
sense
designing
men
to
see
,
Enough
to
rule
himself
and
govern
me
;
To
feel
for
human
kind
—
a
generous
soul
,
To
me
devoted
,
but
polite
to
all
;
His
temper
kind
—
of
that
I
must
be
sure
—
A
husband's
frown
I
never
could
endure
;
To
female
weakness
mild
reproof
impart
,
But
with
indifference
never
chill
the
heart
;
No
foolish
fondness
should
he
ever
shew
,
But
love
refin'd
,
within
his
bosom
glow
;
His
manner
easy
,
gen'rous
,
void
of
art
,
Let
ev'ry
word
flow
candid
from
the
heart
;
His
person
pleasing
,
in
his
taste
refin'd
,
A
face
the
index
of
an
honest
mind
;
To
jealousy
he
never
must
give
way
,
Trust
to
my
honour
,
and
I'll
not
betray
;
No
flatt'ring
fribble
shall
my
hand
obtain
,
Where
much
is
said
,
there
little
can
remain
;
A
man
for
riches
I
can
never
prize
,
—
Let
kindness
grant
what
adverse
fate
denies
;
I
wish
not
wealth
,
nor
titles
do
I
claim
,
Only
let
goodness
mark
his
honest
name
;
To
little
errors
I
will
kindly
bend
;
His
wish
,
my
law
,
I
never
will
contend
;
And
,
should
he
stray
(
as
none
faultless
be
)
Prudence
shall
veil
it
;
for
I
will
not
see
:
A
youth
like
this
to
share
the
cares
of
life
,
Shall
find
in
me
a
kind
and
faithful
wife
.
Ambitious
females
in
their
wealth
may
glee
,
—
Love
,
worth
,
and
honor
,
form
the
heart
for
me
.
Methinks
ye
frown
—
I
hear
ye
loud
exclaim
,
"
To
hope
so
much
a
female
is
to
blame
;
"
In
modern
days
,
do
you
expect
to
find
"
Grace
,
worth
,
and
goodness
,
with
firm
honor
join'd
?
"
But
if
so
high
are
your
pretensions
,
tell
"
What
do
you
boast
?
in
what
do
you
excel
?
"
In
great
sincerity
I
now
step
forth
,
Confess
my
merit
humble
as
my
worth
;
I
boast
no
beauty
—
I
no
graces
claim
,
And
all
my
portion
is
,
a
spotless
name
;
Sincere
and
artless
—
Man
exert
your
skill
,
With
prudent
fondness
make
me
what
you
will
.
Blushing
,
methinks
,
I
hear
it
said
,
"
No
more
!
"
No
other
claim
!
—
truly
your
merit's
poor
.
"
Yet
,
in
life's
varying
maze
,
I
hope
to
meet
Some
kindred
heart
,
unpractis'd
in
deceit
.
To
prove
the
tender
friend
—
companion
—
wife
,
Will
be
the
sweetest
care
of
Anna's
life
;
With
temper
mild
,
and
innocently
gay
,
Submissive
gentleness
she'll
ever
pay
.
—
My
friends
,
adieu
!
—
my
hour
is
past
away
.