Another and a different kind of love,
Whose power will be a wild idolatry—
A worship stronger than the wildest strength
The majesty of nature can inspire.
It would be well couldst thou forever keep
Thy pure and innocent guilelessness of thought;
But the world hath it otherwise; and none
May pass its confines without having felt
Its cold and chilling bitterness. But go;
Thy father will await thee, wondering
At thy long tarrying away from him.
And see! where late the sunset hues were bright,
A sullen, heavy, inky-colored mass
Is darkening the horizon. We shall see
The tempest in its might, and hear the sound
Of awful music, such as sea, and sky,
And winds, and creaking earth commingled,
Making one terrible chorus, can produce!
Haste then; but ere thou goest, let me pray
Heaven's blessings on thee and thy innocence.
God bless thee, and farewell!
Azlea. I thank thee, holy father. Azlea
Will keep thy blessing in remembrance.[Exit Azlea.
Her. (Soliloquizing.)
Earth hath some Eden-spirits yet—though few.
O how may man, in his dark sinfulness,
Stand silenced and rebuked before a child!
Who, knowing not of reason, hath yet learned
To call life's mockeries by their real name;
And being herself all love, yet how to keep
Her spirit all unsullied from earth's lusts;
While he, with his threat, godlike attributes,
Still keeps within his bosom ceaseless streams
Of every evil passion, till his heart
