Page:Tale of Paraguay - Southey.djvu/65

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Chance from the fellowship of human kind Had cut them off, and chance might reunite. On this poor possibility her mind Reposed; she did not for herself invite The unlikely thought, and cherish with delight The dream of what such change might haply bring; Gladness with hope long since had taken flight From her; she felt that life was on the wing, And happiness like youth has here no second spring.

So were her feelings to her lot composed That to herself all change had now been pain. For Time upon her own desires had closed; But in her children as she lived again, For their dear sake she learnt to entertain A wish for human intercourse renew'd; And oftentimes, while they devour'd the strain, Would she beguile their evening solitude With stories strangely told and strangely understood.