University of Virginia Library


22

Natural Theology

επει χαι τουτον οιομαι αθανατοισιν ευχεσθαι παντες δε θεων χατεουσ' ανθρωποι. Od. iii. 47.

Once Cagn was like a father, kind and good,
But he was spoiled by fighting many things;
He wars upon the lions in the wood,
And breaks the thunder-bird's tremendous wings;
But still we cry to him—We are thy brood
O Cagn, be merciful! and us he brings
To herds of elands, and great store of food,
And in the desert opens water-springs.’
So Qing, King Nqsha's Bushman hunter, spoke,
Beside the camp-fire, by the fountain fair,
When all were weary, and clouds of smoke
Were fading, fragrant in the twilit air;
And suddenly in each man's heart there woke
A pang, a sacred memory of prayer.