The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-29
THE FIRST WOMAN.

lie claim upon the church and the lovers of
,ure literature.
THE FIRST WOMAN.
His Maker knew, as Adam strangely felt
IL is not good for man 10 be alone"
But, where his mate In what retreat OF love,
Veild her fair charms the semblance of hinself
Did Paradise indeed embower such bliss
Soon. led by that same Hand--whoss care supreme,
In after age of doom. conducted far
To Noah's ark, their wildng progeny;
Wild fierce, or fearful, then, because Of sin
In Ion. procession, gay and beautiful
The tribes OF earth and air, before their lord,
On foot, or wing. i'll various order passed:
And: as they passed the peerless genius, taught
To read the mind of God ii all his works,
Knew a; glance and rightly named them all
Sull, unroievcd, the thought Oppressed his heart,
That all he saw wete twain, and he-but one.
The mammoth's mount OF life moved massive OH
An humber mountain moving at ms side
The hon, with his shaggy name, appear'd-
a smoother neck Oft leaning on his own;
The light gazelle, on ligh,est hool, drew near
His mild eye met by mdness softer still;
And so the birds--like twin affections doves,
The peacock turn'd his glories in the noon,
While meekly peck'd along his palmer male;
And, shadowing as they came the verdant scene
Together STOPPING 10 the iopmost branch.
With slowly closing plumes and eyes OF Gre
Sat- side by side. the eagle and his queen.
But neither earth nor air reveaId grace
FIT for The fondncss of the prince of both
Lord OF a world of life, yet all alone
Not even IN heaven itself was nature found
To make his meet companion. Space was void
Nor sun, nor planet furnished male for man.
And so. all Eden; and the grander globe
And kingship over all; wisdom, that none
Hath ever since approached; knowledge, with JOY
In objects known; and holiness, unsiain'd;
And visiting angels, dropping from the sky
Like showers of stars, and lowering round his path
As ministers of truth and ecsacy
All iad 10 FL The want of one whose heart
Should pulsaie like his own; whose eyes should hold
His constant image and themselves discern
Shining in his with bliss of blended souls:
Her voice, meanwhile, in son aolian tones
Passing the open entrance of his ear
And playing OIL the trembling chords of love
In Him alone was hope who woke the want:
Want walked so soon--so well 10 be supplied
Ere long, Of viciors gentlcsi. sweetest. came.
Calmly and unobserycd, bemgnant sleep
a helpless captive, form and soul possessed.
Down lay and still, and moiiomlcss the man
A. though II Ger had bcen--ihe world was not:
As though he ne or had lived-he senseleSs lay:
Yet different from his frs, and pale repo~c,
Before the breath Divine had thrilled his frame;
For now, throughout a genial warmth prevald,
And all his surface glowed with living flame.
There too the soul unconscious. dwell serene:
Immortal mystery, akin to God,
Bat lent to earth, and longing Tor the skies
Strange jewelry! that thus diamond set,
TO which the sun itself is but a spark
Lost soon as seen. No dream avoke within:
As deep death the spell from which arose
Another life-a finer, falrer life
As from the darkest night the meek-cyed moon
Unseen and quietly. creative Power
Fulfls its last design. A starting form.
Or starting loyeness, with tmid soul
Ofpurest love, threw back her flowing hair
GaLed on the motOnless sleeper. cast glance
On her own rounded limbs and turned. aud ookd.
Wondering at every range of heaven aud earth;
Then gazed again upon that slumbering shape,
And wondered more that so nOLly wrought
Should lie 50 su-with such thoughtful brow,
>HOuIu seem SO uull III Sucn excess OF Joy.
She would have touched him; but an instinct check
The taper finger and extended arm.
There stood the beauty Of the beauieous world!
Man was the golden crown natures brow
Woman. its fron,let gem, oersparkling all.
TO him, the sun and earth, rocks, hills. and trees.
Transferred their dignity. and pornp. and power;
TO her, the gcntest Weddings gave their grace,
And all the light, ard perfumes iinis and tones
Ofstars and flowers, smooth shells and merry birds.
All rare and comely things. combined 10 make
Her volatile and glancng charms complete
Not long. or far. the fairest OF all forms
WANDERED. midst bloom and music rapt alone
Before the noJlest. new created rose.
His prospect now was dcarer than at first
All things, like groups of we-rcmcmbcrd friends.
Restored 10 love, he restored 10 lie.
But oh! what happy state of mind and heart
May prompt the word to touch the one sweet chord
That quiver'd with lis most exquisite bliss,
When, beamng from bower OF roses near,
He first beheld-and felt as soon seen,
The lovely one his own--ihe living eyes
Oftimid Eve, half bushes and half smiles
Ia body, one-the image OF himself;
She, fonnd from him his rib removd, 10 make
His heart defenceless-heart already full
Other first arrows: she, OF such curve,
From such place, contrived 10 show her task
To curl around his heart, and guard it we'll:
In soul yet separate-but soon TO be
In sympathy and thought forever one.
What words are LEFT OF early springtide hours,
Wherewith their meeting and their love 10 tell >
Eye searching eye soul flashing into soul,
The bridal and the blessing, and the JOY.
Sing all ye birds yet where the soul of birds2
Sadly though sweet, their delicate music fails.
Tell il. We angcs.-but the angels lack
The glowing softness OF the thrilling form
Sublime their speech but gloronsly cold
lie, thought and sense their own communion hold
The one, subdued by tender things OF earth;
The other, consecrating all 10 heaven.
Nature no longer now defective seem'd-
The mans defect reproaching all its sphere;
But woman gain'd, creation stood complete.
The paradise perfect--all the world
Might well have wishd its overflow of bliss
Life lost in life, love merged in love, they moved
In transport could heightcn: knew their God
Enjoy'd his works, and honored all his ways.