University of Virginia Library

“As parents of the maiden, mighty king,
No just power have we now her course to rule,
Or even lead. That which hath once been given,
'Twere robbery to take back. To this just youth,
Our daughter have we given, to be his wife:
To our loved daughter, him as husband given:
Hand into hand we have put; and binding words
Have spoken: and the act hath witnessed been
By honored friends of old. Such bonds to break,
Were sinful violence: and, for profit's sake,
Not more to be excused, than robbery
Of noon-day thief; who profit, too, could plead,
To justify his crime. Accurs'd were we
Of man and God, so doing. Nor, by words
Of soft persuasion, nor by looks, or signs,
Could we, uprightly, either of them lure
Such contract to make void. That lustrous crown,
Should loving mother place upon the brow
Of loving, duteous daughter,—what were that
But silent invitation, so to act,
That hers it might become? Mute prayer 'twould seem
That, for world's glory, she should do a sin
Which the lips dare not utter. From such crime,
Our God preserve us ever! Frown not then,
Great king, upon a mother, who but shrinks
From doing, and from tempting unto, wrong.
To us impossible, thus, save with great guilt,
Our child to enforce, or lead, to set at nought
Contract, God-sanctioned,—with herself alone
Decision rests. Thy words, all eloquent
In threatening, as in promise, hath she heard;
And hers should be the answer. Whatsoe'er
She say, alike say we. If of the youth
Thou first wouldst question, first let him reply.
If he my daughter yield unto thy son,
No breach of contract ours. The bond thus loosed,—
All of that power parental which we gave,
To us would come again: and we were free
To guide her as before; but, as before,
To herself should we entrust her; fully sure,
As of the ground beneath us, that, in all,
So will she act as, in the sight of God,
Well pleasing she doth deem.”

While humbly thus,
Yet firmly, Kohath spake,—across the brow
Of the great Phantom swept a thundercloud:
But, when he ceased, quick sunbeams played again
O'er all the countenance; on the lips a smile
Seductive hovered; the rough brow grew smooth;
The eyes beamed love, and hope; nay confidence;
And the soft voice, tender, mellifluous;
But yet invincible seeming, strongest will
Of mortal, with kind witchery, to subdue,—
Like gentlest music, the short silence broke.