—At length the parents of the foster-child,

Noting that in despite of their commands

She still renewed and could not but renew

Those visitations, ceased to send her forth;

Or, to the garden's narrow bounds, confined.

I failed not to remind them that they erred;

For holy Nature might not thus be crossed,

Thus wronged in woman's breast: in vain I pleaded—

But the green stalk of Ellen's life was snapped,

And the flower drooped; as every eye could see,