Seite:Marsh Wolfe of the knoll.djvu/279

Detdiar sidj as efterluket wurden.
283

AXEL.

And heaven and earth are all his own.
But woman — hers a different lot !
Man's mere appendage to the last ;
A bandage for his wounds ; forgot
Soon as the fretting pain is past !
She is the offering, he the fire
That glorious heavenward doth aspire !−
My sire in Peter's wars did fall,
My mother's face I scarce recall.
The desert's daughter grew up wild
Within these walls, an idol child
Honored by slaves, who meek endure
Each vain caprice of tyrant power.
A noble spirit feels its shame,
Dwelling with souls so basely tame !
Hast ever on our boundless plain
Seen the wild steed of noble strain ?
Fiery as hero, fleet as hind,
He scorns to own a master's care ;
With ears erect, turned to the wind,