a man would build a house, and found a place

as fair as any on the earth’s fair face:

soft hills, dark woods, smooth meadows richly green,

and cool tree-shaded lakes the hills between.

he built his house within this pleasant land,

a stately white-porched house, long years to stand;

but, rising from his paradise so fair,

came fever in the night and killed him there.

“o lovely land!” he cried, “how could i know

that death was lurking under this fair show?”

and answered nature, merciful and stern,

“i teach by killing; let the others learn!”