All that the stinted heart demands, Enough for nature's primal debt, Nor more- The happy may have many wants, Or heard within that happy shore, A haunt no more! Hear me !-all earth-all earthly life It glows upon you with the light; From whence-to which--the mighty flood What is this spirit ?--what this rife Thou canst not mar it in the flower! But o'er it, in the human breast, Thou hast a power! Yet use that fearful power, and see What fruit will spring from love supprest! The Nature thou hast wronged, will be In evil and in wrath redrest! Love checked-comes thought congealed and sour; Bar love---and bann the light and air ! Love shut from out the unwholesome mind, And the mind stagnates into night! All savage climes confess this truth! If o'er that face a cloud hath come-- If only when you touch one string, THEN tremble your own work to see! Hold such overwhelming destiny! Go-fall upon thy daughter's neck, Rejoice, that yet 'tis thine to make Her life as lovely as it seemed, The heart, that thou alone canst bless, To make thy daughter's happiness! And that what Sternness marred before, 'Tis given to Mercy to restore! I know in your--a severy-clime, Ere thrice it wanes, their bridal see Reject or grasp it, still it rules, If woo'd by knaves, or spurned by fools! Dim mist with which its shadows blind Which ye---sweet Europe's dupes--call wise, Might make these lovers rather choose Hope, peace, life, soul itself to lose-- Than bow the stiff-necked pride to take Out on your bow'd and narrow souls! |