Pompilia scorns to have the old year end

Without a present shall ring in the new—

Bestows on her too-parsimonious lord

An infant for the apple of his eye,

Core of his heart, and crown completing life,

True summum bonum of the earthly lot!

"We," saith ingeniously the sage, "are born

Solely that others may be born of us."

So, father, take thy child, for thine that child,

Oh nothing doubt! In wedlock born, law holds