Coming upon the casket where it lay

Unguarded,—-what did I but toss the thing

Into a fire to make more flame therewith,

Meaning no harm? So acts man three-years-old!

I grieve now at my loss by witlessness,

But guilt was none to punish. Man mature—

Each word of his I lightly held, each look

I turned from—wish that wished in vain—nay, will

That willed and yet went all to waste—'t is these

Rankle like fire. Forgiveness? rather grant