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Madeline

With other poems and parables: By Thomas Gordon Hake

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 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
XXIII. ON THE NUPTIALS.
 XXIV. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
 XXVIII. 
 XXIX. 
 XXX. 
 XXXI. 
 XXXII. 
 XXXIII. 
 XXXIV. 
 XXXV. 
 XXXVI. 
 XXXVII. 
 XXXVIII. 
 XXXIX. 
 XL. 
 XLI. 
 XLII. 
 XLIII. 
 XLIV. 
 XLV. 
 XLVI. 
 XLVII. 
 XLVIII. 
 XLIX. 
 L. 
 LI. 
 LII. 
 LIII. 
 LIV. 
 LV. 
 LVI. 
 LVII. 
 LVIII. 
 LIX. 
 LX. 
 LXI. 
 LXII. 
 LXIII. 
 LXIV. 
 LXV. 


208

XXIII. ON THE NUPTIALS.

Thrice-happy, now, in silken cords
The flowing knot is tied:
A promise in the dream of words
By scripture sanctified,
The lovers in each other's sight
Feel not as yet the cord drawn tight.
All hearts have burst their icy shell
And cast it like a skin,
To revel in affection's spell
And feel to love akin.
Though not for them the torch was brought,
The flame of love a thaw has wrought.
Not to return, that day has shone
A lifetime to bestow:
Yet how unlike to pleasures gone
Its yearly ebb and flow!
Balm for all ills that day should prove:
Keep then the wedding gift of love!

209

EPODE.

The great intent, the beautiful decree
A woman's love, is law divine to thee,
To rule perhaps while wistful eyes express
In full intensity the first caress.
But let the bloom of youth be brushed aside
And slower lips the languid passion guide,
Can she the charm that once encircled her
With power, to fickle man still minister?