IV.
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was the eldest of the three,And to uphold and cheer the rest 70I ought to do--and did my best--And each did well in his degree.The youngest, whom my father loved,Because our mother's brow was givenTo him, with eyes as blue as heaven--For him my soul was sorely moved:And truly might it be distressedTo see such bird in such a nest;[9]For he was beautiful as day--(When day was beautiful to me 80As to young eagles, being free)--A polar day, which will not see[10]A sunset till its summer's gone,Its sleepless summer of long light,The snow-clad offspring of the sun:And thus he was as pure and bright,And in his natural spirit gay,With tears for nought but others' ills,And then they flowed like mountain rills,Unless he could assuage the woe 90Which he abhorred to view below.
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