Unhappy state! that, in decay of love, Permits harsh truth his errors to disprove; While he remains, to wrangle and to jar Is friendly tournament, not fatal war; Love in his play will borrow arms of hate, Anger and rage, upbraiding and debate; And by his power the desperate weapons thrown, Become as safe and pleasant as his own; But left by him, their natures they assume, And fatal, in their poisoning force, become. 90 Time fled, and now the swain compell'd to see New cause for fear--"Is this thy thrift?" quoth he. To whom the wife with cheerful voice replied:-- "Thou moody man, lay all thy fears aside, I've seen a vision;--they, from whom I came, A daughter promise, promise wealth and fame; Born with my features, with my arts, yet she } Shall patient, pliant, persevering be, } And in thy better ways resemble thee. } The fairies round shall at her birth attend; 100 The friend of all in all shall find a friend; And, save that one sad star that hour must gleam On our fair child, how glorious were my dream!" This heard the husband, and, in surly smile, Aim'd at contempt, but yet he hoped the while: For as, when sinking, wretched men are found To catch at rushes rather than be drown'd; So on a dream our peasant placed his hope, And found that rush as valid as a rope. Swift fled the days, for now in hope they fled, 110 When a fair daughter bless'd the nuptial bed; Her infant-face the mother's pains beguiled, She look'd so pleasing, and so softly smiled; Those smiles, those looks, with sweet sensations moved The gazer's soul, and, as he look'd, he loved. And now the fairies came, with gifts, to grace So mild a nature and so fair a face. They gave, with beauty, that bewitching art, That holds in easy chains the human heart; They gave her skill to win the stubborn mind, 120 To make the suffering to their sorrows blind, To bring on pensive looks the pleasing smile, And Care's stern brow of every frown beguile. These magic favours graced the infant-maid, Whose more enlivening smile the charming gifts repaid.