"If all my wishes have till nov
Found favour in thy sight,
And ever to perform thy will
Hath been my best delight,
Why should I fear to tell thee now
The visions of this night?

"I stood in a dream at the altar, ..
But it was as an earthly Bride;
And Eleëmon thy freedman
Was the Bridegroom at my side.

"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
In the course of that busy night;
I claspt a baby to my breart,
And, oh with what delight!

"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
For immortality!

"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 voice was in my ear,

A waking voice, . . I heard it twice;
No human tongue was near;

"No human utterance so could reach
The secret soul, no human speech
So make the soul rejoice;
In hearing it I felt and knew
It was an Angel's voice!

"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,
While thus she told her tale;
Proterius listened earnestly,
And as he heard grew pale.

For he, too, in the dreams of night,
At the altar had seem'd to stand,
And to Eleëmon his freedman
Had given his daughter's hand.

Their offspring, courting his caress,
About his knees had throng'd;
A lovely progeny, in whom,
When he was in the silent tomb,
His line should be prolong'd.

And he had heard a waking voice,
Which said it so must be,
Pronouncing upon Cyra's name
A holiest eulogy:

"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
The work of sorcery fear;

As little did Eleëmon think

That the hand of Heaven was here.

IV.

FROM house to house, from street to street
The rapid rumour flies;

Incredulous ears it found, and hands
Are lifted in surprise;

And tongues through all the astonish'd town
Are busier now than eyes.

"So sudden and so strange a change!
A Freedman, too, the choice!

The shame,.. the scandal, . . and for what?
A vision and a voice!

"Had she not chosen the strait gate,
The narrow way, the holy state,
The Sanctuary's abode?

Would Heaven call back its votary
To the broad and beaten road?

"To carnal wishes would it turn
The mortified intent?

For this are miracles vouchsafed?
For this are Angels sent?

"A plain collusion! a device
Between the girl and youth!
Good easy man must the Father be,
To take such tale for truth!"

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,
The gentle Cyra, meek and mild,
Could no suspicion rest;

For in this daughter he had been
Above all fathers blest.

As dutiful as beautiful,

Her praise was widely known,

Being one who, as she grew in years, Had still in goodness grown.