The Windfall

I.

A Preaching brother of that clan,
Whose holiness is form ,
Had gravely cloak'd his outward man,
His inward fear'd no storm.

II.

With sanctify'd, and measur'd tread,
And conscience-strutting stalk,
His rev'rence brimm'd his solid head,
And took a lonely walk.

III.

As thro' a wood, he bent his way,
A sister of his flock,
Accosted him, and beg'd his stay ,
Her bosom to unlock.

IV.

Sure, Sir, said she, from heav'n, you came,
To this convenient place,
Where I, in private, with less shame,
May open you my case.

V.

Oft have you, from the pulpit, told,
That it should be our care,
To keep our flesh from growing bold,
By fasting , and by pray'r .

VI.

Good god, he knows, what pains I take,
To mortify, in vain;
Fasting , sometimes, makes sin's heart ake,
But eating sets all wrong again.

VII.

Alas! reply'd the holy man,
And turn'd up both his eyes!
We are to do, but what we can ,
The rest heav'n's grace supplies!

VIII.

So frail, dear lamb, our natures are,
That, in things, most forbid,
We're apt to fancy joys most rare,
Most worth our taste, are hid!

IX.

Thou, pretty worldling! I dare say,
Art, yet, an untouch'd maid?
O dear, said she, I hope so, pray;
You think not , I'm afraid?

X.

Why dost thou wrong me, answer'd he,
And slyly look'd about;
To judge if any eye might see,
Ere, thus, he solv'd her doubt.

XI.

Pure innocence! thy pray'rs are heard,
The spirit swells within ;
Means offer, how thou may'st be clear'd,
From this desire to sin.

XII.

Inspir'd with sudden pow'r and will,
In this alluring place;
I'll give thy erring wish its fill,
To prove 'tis frail and base .

XIII.

When thou shalt taste this fancy'd joy,
Which, now, thou dream'st so great;
Thou'lt find it but a transient toy,
And grace gain future weight.

XIV.

Come closer, child! but hold, 'tis fit,
That what's intended well,
Should have some form, to differ it,
From wishes, where sins dwell.

XV.

I will not, therefore, throw thee down,
Nor shalt thou, willing, fall:
Let's see — ay, thus, I'll blow thee down,
And, then, thou hast a call.

XVI.

So done, so said, the brother blew,
And down the sister fell:
Such bliss, unhop'd, and lawful, too!
She thought, 'twas mighty well!

XVII.

But mark the chance — a wood-man , nigh,
Had heard, and ponder'd all:
He saw the damsel, passive, lie,
And bless'd the well-tim'd fall.

XVIII.

Old Reverence , not too well prepar'd,
Stoop'd low, to seize his prey;
When out the wood-man jump'd, and star'd,
And push'd him, bluff, away,

XIX.

Begone, said he, thou form-drest thief!
All Wind-falls , here, are mine:
So, on he fell, and, to be brief,
Made good the holy man's design.
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