it was only what he had long expected.

From this letter it would appear that this remarkable poem was written in the
summer of 1712; whereas the title-page of the pamphlet says it was "written at
Windsor, 1713." Swift visited Windsor in both years, but he had more leisure
in 1712, and we know that Vanessa was also at Windsor in that year. In that
year, too, he was forty-four, the age mentioned in the poem. Neither Swift
nor Vanessa forgot this intercourse: years afterwards Swift wrote to her, "Go
over the scenes of Windsor. . . . Cad thinks often of these"; and again,
"Remember the indisposition at Windsor." We know that this poem was revised
in 1719, when in all probability Swift added the lines to which most exception
can be taken. Cadenus was to be Vanessa's instructor:--

"His conduct might have made him styled
A father, and the nymph his child."

He had "grown old in politics and wit," and "in every scene had kept his
heart," so that he now "understood not what was love." But he had written
much, and Vanessa admired his wit. Cadenus found that her thoughts wandered--

"Though she seemed to listen more
To all he spoke than e'er before."

When she confessed her love, he was filled with "shame, disappointment, guilt,
surprise." He had aimed only at cultivating the mind, and had hardly known
whether she was young or old. But he was flattered, and though he could not
give her love, he offered her friendship, "with gratitude, respect, esteem."
Vanessa took him at his word, and said she would now be tutor, though he was
not apt to learn:--