Page:The black man.djvu/238

234 Silence! bush! nor dare one word to mutter!

If it were e'er so gentle,

(I speak in tone parental,)

Do not thy very softest whisper utter.

I know that startled trembling all a hoax,

Thou pert and saucy thing!

I'll make thy fine ears ring;

I'll pretermit thy silly, taunting jokes.

"Whip thee?" Ay, that I will, and whip thee well;

Thy chattering tongue now hold!

There, there; I will no further scold.

How down those lovely cheeks the hot tears fell!

How quickly changed! Nay, nay; come hither, child.

'Tis with kindness I would rule;

Severity's the erring fool,

Who harms the tender or excites the wild.

What! trembling yet, and shy? Nay, do not fear;

Sure, sure I'll harm thee not;

My gentlest, thine's a better lot;

So raise those azure eyes with radiant cheer.

Cheer up, then; there, now thou canst go. Retain,

I pray, within thy heart,

Not the unpleasant part

That's past. The other let remain.

To possess genius, the offspring of which ennobles the sentiments, enlarges the affections, kindles the imagination, and gives to us a view of the past, the present, and the future, is one of the highest gifts