VI "Then do not fear, my boy! for thee Bold as a lion will I be; [2] And I will always be thy guide, Through hollow snows and rivers wide. I'll build an Indian bower; I know 55 The leaves that make the softest bed: And, if from me thou wilt not go, But still be true till I am dead, My pretty thing! then thou shall sing As merry as the birds in spring. 60 VII "Thy father cares not for my breast, 'Tis thine, sweet baby, there to rest; 'Tis all thine own!--and, if its hue Be changed, that was so fair to view, 'Tis fair enough for thee, my dove! 65 My beauty, little child, is flown, But thou wilt live with me in love; And what if my poor cheek be brown? 'Tis well for me, thou canst not see How pale and wan it else would be. 70 VIII "Dread not their taunts, my little Life; I am thy father's wedded wife; And underneath the spreading tree We two will live in honesty. If his sweet boy he could forsake, 75 With me he never would have stayed: From him no harm my babe can take; But he, poor man! is wretched made; And every day we two will pray For him that's gone and far away. 80 IX "I'll teach my boy the sweetest things: I'll teach him how the owlet sings. My little babe! thy lips are still, And thou hast almost sucked thy fill. --Where art thou gone, my own dear child? 85 What wicked looks are those I see? Alas! alas! that look so wild, It never, never came from me: If thou art mad, my pretty lad, Then I must be for ever sad. 90 X "Oh! smile on me, my little lamb! For I thy own dear mother am: My love for thee has well been tried: I've sought thy father far and wide. I know the poisons of the shade; 95 I know the earth-nuts fit for food: Then, pretty dear, be not afraid: We'll find thy father in the wood. Now laugh and be gay, to the woods away! And there, my babe, we'll live for aye." [A] 100 * * * * * VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1. 1820. ... breasts ... 1798.] [Variant 2. 1832. ... I will be; 1798.] * * * * * FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: