XVI.—Love between Brothers and Sisters.
1Whatever brawls disturb the street,
there should be peace at home;
Where sisters dwell and brothers meet
quarrels should never come.
2Birds in their little nests agree,
and ’tis a shameful sight
When children of one family
fall out, and chide, and fight.
3Hard names at first, & threat'ning words,
that are but noisy breath,
May grow to clubs and naked swords,
to murder and to death.
4The devil tempts one mother's son
to rage against another;
So wicked Cain was hurried on
till he had kill'd his brother.
5The wise will make their anger cool,
at least before 'tis night;
But in the bosom of a fool
it burns till morning light.
6Pardon, O Lord, our childish rage,
our little brawls remove,
That, as we grow to riper age,
our hearts may all be love.