LIV.

She told him she'd take time—that she'd consider:

At all events, he need not pine to Hades.

She thought how she should make a pretty widow, For weeds are an announcement from the ladies The wearer is for sale: the highest bidder

To be the buyer,-when the duty paid is!" An old divine once said,—and not in fun he, That matrimony is a matter o' money."

LV.

We left the lady with the Abbot's ring
Upon her finger, leaving him in doubt
Whether he had not done a foolish thing,
In thus investing property without
Security. Next time, he thought, he'd fling
His jewels to regale a fish's snout:
In Stepney church, upon a marble slab,
You'll read this wondrous story of a crab!

LVI.

The lady and the Abbot soon agreed

That old Ferando should be straightway sent Where he would all their pious masses need,

To get his Spirit out of punishment.

The Abbot swore it was a holy deed,

And that her conscience never would repent!

But added, if it came to that conclusion,
He'd ease her with a little absolution!

LVII.

Then on her queenly brow he stampt a kiss, Which sent the blood through all his body

rushing:

The lady took it as a pious bliss,

Or she had overcome her virtuous blushing.

But I repeat, dark passages like this

Are not for laymen such as me to push in; There's quite enough of mysteries as it is, Without our making new ones of a kiss.

LVIII.

I crave the pardon of my gentle readers,

That I have soiled my page with angry words. But shadows come on all :-the lofty cedars, Whose spreading branches house the tuneful

birds,

Harbour the spiders, solitary breeders:

They, like great poets, hate the common herds, And spin their flimsy lines to catch a fly,I'm tired of spinning verses none will buy.

END OF CANTO I.

THE

ABBOT OF FLORENCE.

Canto II.