Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-09-07
TO MY DAUGHTER,
on THE
MORNING OF HER BIRTH.
[By LORD BYRON.

MOhNlNG Or HEX Blk ii.
IBy LORD BYRON
Hail, n this teeming stage ofstrife;
Hail. lovely miniature Of life
Pilgrim Of many cares untoId
Lamb OF the worlds extended fold
Fountain Of hopes and doubts and fears
Sweet promise ofecstaiic wears!
Eow could family bend the knee,
And turn itloater TO thee
'Tn natures worship-ieit-confessd,
var rs the life which warns the breast
The sturdy savage, midst his clan,
The rudest portraiture ofman.
Ia fsacklcsS woods ard boundess plains,
Where everlasting wildneSs rtiyns,
Owns the stu tllrob-she secret start,
The hidden impulse Of the heart.
III.
Dear bate ere yet upon thy years,
The soil OF human vice appears-
Ere Passion hath disturbed thy cheek,
And prompted what thor har'st not speak
Ere that pale lip is banehh with Care,
Or from those eyes shoot fierce Despair,
Wouldi could wake thine untunh ear,
Ard gust IL with fathers pray'r.
IE
Bnt little recls'st thou. oh my Child
OF trayai on iiie's thosfiy Wild
OF all the dangers--all the woes
Each sbttering footstep which inclose--
All little reea' thnu of the scene
ST darkly wrought that spreads between
Thehttle all we here find.
And the dark mystic sphere behind!
y.
Little reclS'st thou, my earliest born
Ofc'cuds which gather round thy morn
OF acts to lure Thy soul aStray-
or snares that intersee, thy way
OF secret foes-ef friends untrue
OF iiends who stab the hearts they WOO
Little thoureck'st of this sad store
Would thou nights never reek them more
But thou wilt burst this transient sleep,
And ,iion wilt wake, my babe, TO weep
Ihetenart of trail abode,
Thy tears must How rs mine have fiowid--
BegIifd by follies, every day,
Sorrow must Nash the faults away
And thou mayst wake, perehance TO prove,
The pnng of unrequited love.
vi.
Unconscious bale tho on that brow,
Sohalffledg'd misery nc.tles, now
Scarce round those placid lips smile
Maternal iondness shall begue,
Ere the moist footsteps ola tear
Shall plant theirdc tracer there,
And premarurely pave the way
For sorruws of riper day.
VII.
oh could fathers pray'r rcrsi
The eyes sad grief--the hnsoin's swell
Orcould father hope tob.ar
A darling Child's allotted care
Then thou, my halle, should'st slumber still
Exempted from all human ILL.,,
A parents love, thy peace should free,
And ask its wounds again for thee.
TX.
Sleep on, my Child the slumber brief
Too soon stall melt way TO grief
Too soon the dawn of woe shall break,
And briny rills betew that cheeL-
Too soon shall sadness quench those eyes,
That breast be agoni.'d with signs
Ami anguish o'er the beams OF noon,
Lead clouds OF Care-ah much to soon
X
soon Wit thuu rcck Of cares unknown,
Otwants and sorruws all their own
Ofmary paug, and many a wo,
That Thy dear sex alone can know
OF many an III, untold. unsuDg,
That will net, may not, find a tongue
Bat Kept conceard, without controul,
Spread The fell cancers of the soul
II.
Yet he thy lot. my babe. more blest,
May Joy sill animate Try breast
Still, midst thy least proptiOus daNs,
Sli-iding irs rich Inspiring rays
A fathers heart shalt daily hear
Thy name upon It's secret pray'r-
AIhas lie seeks his last repose,
Thine image ease hfe's parting throes.
XII.
Then hail, sweet miniature OF liz,
Hail, TO this treITiIig stage Of suiie
Pilgrim of many cares untold
Lamb of the worlds EXTENDED fold
Fonnta orhopes and doubts and fears!
Sweer promise of estatic years
How couid family bend the knee,
And turn idolater TO thee