 | Three Hundred Sonnets |  |
84
CORNELIA.
O jewels beyond price, uncounted gold,Children, best wardens of a father's fame,
Ye joys wealth never bought, want never sold,
In you the rare unmammon'd hearts behold
The highest earthly good of mortal aim:
Yon toothless darling at the mother's breast,—
That ruddy three-year-old who joyous runs
Jealous of love, in haste to be carest,—
Those gentle daughters, and these manly sons,—
Are they not riches?—O thou worldly wise,
Go to some home of earth's despised ones
To learn where treasure—not thy gold-god—lies!
Yea, Roman mother, glory in your gems;
Such are the stars in heavenly diadems.
| Three Hundred Sonnets | |