"If all my wishes have till nov "I stood in a dream at the altar, .. "Thou, Father, gavest me to him, With thy free and full consent; And,.. why should I dissemble it?.. Methought I was content. "Months then and years were crowded "Yea, I was fruitful as a vine; Our heavenly Parent me and mine In all things seem'd to bless; Our ways were ways of peace, our paths Were paths of pleasantness. "When I taught lisping lips to pray The joy it was to me, O Father, thus to train these plants "I saw their little winning ways Their grandsire's love engage; Methought they were the pride, the joy, The crown of his old age. "When from the Vision I awoke, A waking voice, . . I heard it twice; "No human utterance so could reach "And thus in words distinct it said, So, Cyra, must it be ! The duties of a wedded life Hath Heaven ordain'd for thee."" Her cheek was like the new-blown rose, For he, too, in the dreams of night, Their offspring, courting his caress, And he had heard a waking voice, "Her shall her husband praise, and her Her children blest shall call; Many daughters have done virtuously, But thine excelleth them all!" No marvel if his heart were moved; The dream he saw was one; He kiss'd his trembling child, and said, "The will of Heaven be done!" Little did child or sire in this As little did Eleëmon think That the hand of Heaven was here. IV. FROM house to house, from street to street Incredulous ears it found, and hands And tongues through all the astonish'd town "So sudden and so strange a change! The shame,.. the scandal, . . and for what? "Had she not chosen the strait gate, Would Heaven call back its votary "To carnal wishes would it turn For this are miracles vouchsafed? "A plain collusion! a device So judged the acrid and the austere, And they whose evil heart Inclines them, in whate'er betides, To take the evil part. But others, whom a kindlier frame To better thoughts inclined, Preserved, amid their wonderment, An equitable mind. They would not of Proterius thus Injuriously misdeem, . . A grave good man, and with the wise For wisdom in esteem. No easy ear, or vain belief, Would he to falsehood lend; Nor ever might light motive him From well-weigh'd purpose bend. And surely on his pious child, For in this daughter he had been As dutiful as beautiful, Her praise was widely known, Being one who, as she grew in years, Had still in goodness grown. |