Page:Tale of Paraguay - Southey.djvu/47

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Different their love in kind and in degree From what their poor depraved forefathers knew, With whom degenerate instincts were left free To take their course, and blindly to pursue, Unheeding they the ills that must ensue, The bent of brute desire. No moral tie Bound the hard husband to his servile crew Of wives; and they the chance of change might try, All love destroy'd by such preposterous liberty.

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.