First, most, to thee, my son, I give this book + 

In which a friend’s and brother’s verses blend + 

With mine; for not son only⁠—brother, friend, + 

Art thou, through sonship which no veil can brook + 

Between the eyes that in each other look, + 

Or any shadow ’twixt the hearts that tend + 

Still nearer, with divine approach, to end + 

In love eternal that cannot be shook + 

When all the shakable shall cease to be. + 

With growing hope I greet the coming day + 

When from thy journey done I welcome thee + 

Who sharest in the names of all the three, + 

And take thee to the two, and humbly say, + 

Let this man be the fourth with us, I pray. + 