"All-giving POW'R! great source of life! O hear the parent! hear the wife! That life thou lendest from above, Though little, make it large in love; O bid my feeling heart expand To ev'ry claim, on ev'ry hand; To those, from whom my days I drew, To these in whom those days renew; To all my kin, however wide, In cordial warmth, as blood ally'd, To friends with steely fetters twin'd, And to the cruel, not unkind! But chief, the lord of my desire, My life, myself, my soul, my sire; Friends, children, all that wish can claim, Chaste passion clasp, and rapture name! O spare him, spare him, GRACIOUS POW'R! O give him to my latest hour! Let me my length of life employ, To give my sole enjoyment joy; His love, let mutual love excite, Turn all my cares to his delight, And ev'ry needless blessing spare, Wherein my darling wants a share. When he with graceful action woos, And sweetly bills and fondly coos, Ah! deck me to his eyes alone, With charms attractive as his own, And in my circling wings caress'd, Give all the lover to my breast. Then in our chaste, connubial bed, My bosom pillow'd for his head, His eyes with blissful slumbers close, And watch, with me, my lord's repose; Your peace around his temples twine, And love him with a love like mine. "And, for I know his gen'rous flame, Beyond whate'er my sex can claim, Me, too, to your protection take, And spare me for my husband's sake; Let one unruffled calm delight The loving and belov'd unite; One pure desire our bosoms warm, One will direct, one wish inform; Through life one mutual aid sustain, In death one peaceful grave contain." While, swelling with the darling theme, Her accents pour'd an endless stream, The well-known wings a sound impart, That reach'd her ear, and touch'd her heart; Quick dropp'd the music of her tongue, And forth, with eager joy, she sprung; As swift her ent'ring consort flew, And plum'd and kindled at the view; Their wings, their souls, embracing meet, Their hearts with answ'ring measure beat; Half lost in sacred sweets, and bless'd With raptures felt, but ne'er express'd. Straight to her humble roof she led The partner of her spotless bed; Her young, a flutt'ring pair, arise, Their welcome sparkling in their eyes, Transported, to their sire they bound, And hang with speechless action round. In pleasure wrapt, the parents stand, And see their little wings expand; The sire, his life-sustaining prize To each expecting bill applies; There fondly pours the wheaten spoil, With transport giv'n, though won with toil; While all collected at the sight, And silent, through supreme delight, The FAIR high heav'n of bliss beguiles, And on her lord and infants smiles.