Hush ! — O Heaven! a moment more,
A breath, a step, and all is o'er;
Hark! beneath the waters wild!
Save, O mercy, save my child!

Swiftly from her heaving breast
The mother tore the snowy vest;
Her little truant saw and smiled,
Turn'd — and mercy saved the child.

Thus, the face of love can win
Where fear is weak to scare from sin,
Thus, when faith and conscience slept,
Jesus look'd — and Peter wept.