And, if as fair, from vanity as free;
As firm in friendship, and as fond in love!”
Never was the glory of true female character so enshrined in language before; but this is not all! The ideal of the Christian woman is brought out in its completeness in what follows:—
“Tell them—though ’tis an awful thing to die,
——’Twas even to thee!”
Here is the tender form, and timid step, with all the heroism of the female saint, descending into the dark valley: and at the same time here is the transcendent tribute—
’Twas even to thee!
And now comes triumphant faith:—
——“Yet that dread path once trod,
Heaven lifts its everlasting portals high,