Nor knew they when that passion to reprove,

Now idle fondness, now resistless love.

So while the waters rise, the children tread

On the broad estuary’s sandy bed;

But soon the channel fills, from side to side

Comes danger rolling with the deep’ning tide;

Yet none who saw the rapid current flow

Could the first instant of that danger know.

The lovers waited till the time should come

When they together could possess a home: