30. But seldom may such thoughts of mingled joy A father's agitated breast dilate, As when he first beheld that infant boy. Who hath not proved it, ill can estimate The feeling of that stirring hour,... the weight Of that new sense, the thoughtful, pensive bliss. In all the changes of our changeful state, Even from the cradle to the grave, I wis, The heart doth undergo no change so great as this. 31. A deeper and unwonted feeling fill'd These parents, gazing on their new-born son. On this frail sand. Now let the seasons run, 32. Thus Monnema and thus Quiara thought, Though each the melancholy thought represt; They could not choose but feel, yet utter'd not The human feeling, which in hours of rest Often would rise, and fill the boding breast With a dread foretaste of that mournful day, When, at the inexorable Power's behest, The unwilling spirit, called perforce away, Must leave, for ever leave its dear connatural clay. 33. Link'd as they were, where each to each was all, When the dread Messenger should find them there, From whom is no escape, and reckless Fate, Whom it had bound so close, for ever separate. 34. ... Lighter that burthen lay upon the heart When this dear babe was born to share their lot; Arose, while gazing on the child they sought Till they almost believed, as fancy taught, 35. Such hope they felt, but felt that whatsoe'er Unwise it were to let that bootless care For they had gain'd a happiness above The state which in their native horde was known: No outward causes were there here to move Discord and alien thoughts; being thus alone From all mankind, their hearts and their desires were one. 36. Different their love in kind and in degree From what their poor depraved forefathers knew, Of wives; and they the chance of change might try, All love destroy'd by such preposterous liberty. 37. Far other tie this solitary pair Indissolubly bound; true helpmates they, In joy or grief, in weal or woe to share, In sickness or in health, thro' life's long day; And reassuming in their hearts her sway Benignant Nature made the burthen light. It was the Woman's pleasure to obey, The Man's to ease her toil in all he might, So each in serving each obtain'd the best delight. 38. And as connubial, so parental love Obey'd unerring Nature's order here, For now no force of impious custom strove Against her law; ... such as was wont to sear The unhappy heart with usages severe, Till harden'd mothers in the grave could lay Their living babes with no compunctious tear; So monstrous men become, when from the way Of primal light they turn thro' heathen paths astray. 39. Deliver'd from this yoke, in them henceforth 40.. Oh! bliss for them when in that infant face The quiet smile which in the innocent cheek 41. For him, if born among their native tribe, The beast that prowls abroad in search of blood, Or reptile that within the treacherous brake Waits for the prey, upcoil'd, its hunger to aslake. 42. Now soften'd as their spirits were by love, Abhorrent from such thoughts they turn'd away; And with a happier feeling, from the dove, They named the child Yeruti. On a day When smiling at his mother's breast in play, They in his tones of murmuring pleasure heard A sweet resemblance of the stock-dove's lay, Fondly they named him from that gentle bird, And soon such happy use endear'd the fitting word. 43. Days pass, and moons have wax'd and waned, and still This dovelet nestled in their leafy bower Obtains increase of sense, and strength and will, As in due order many a latent power Expands,... humanity's exalted dower: And they while thus the days serenely fled Beheld him flourish like a vigorous flower, Which lifting from a genial soil its head By seasonable suns and kindly showers is fed. 44. Ere long the cares of helpless babyhood and ear, Their words, observant both with eye |