human
My heart, my breaking heart can bear no more--
gpt
Yet spare his feeble age--my vows receive, And oh, in mercy, bid my father live!
human
Wilt them be mine?
gpt
Yes, cruel! see, he dies, my father dies--
human
Save, save, my father --
gpt
Dear, angelic maid, The charm'd Alphonso cried, be swift obey'd:
human
Unbind his chains--Ah, calm each anxious Pain, 155 Aciloe's voice no more shall plead in vain;
gpt
Plac'd near his child, thy aged sire shall share Our joys still cherish'd by thy tender care
human
No more (she cried) will fate that bliss allow,
gpt
Before my lips shall breathe the nuptial vow, 160 Some faithful guide shall lead his aged feet,
human
To distant scenes that yield a safe retreat; Where some soft heart, some gentle hand, will shed
gpt
The drops of comfort on his hoary head: My Zamor, if thy spirit trembles near, 165
human
Forgive!
gpt
Ah where, dear object of these piercing pains, Where rests thy murder'd form, thy lov'd remains?
human
On what sad spot, my Zamor, flow'd the wound That purpled with thy streaming blood the ground?
gpt
Oh had Aciloe in that hour been nigh, 185 Had'st thou but fix'd on me thy closing eye;
human
Told with faint voice, 'twas death's worst pang to part, And dropp'd thy last, cold tear upon my heart!
gpt
A pang less bitter then would waste this breast, That in the grave alone shall seek its rest. 190
human
Soon as some friendly hand, in mercy leads My aged father, safe to Chili's meads;
gpt
Death shall for ever, seal the nuptial tie, The heart belov'd by thee is fix'd to die.
human
'Tis he, she cried, he moves upon the gale,
gpt
My Zamor's sigh is deep--his look is pale-- I faint
human
Thy Zamor lives, he cried: as on the ground
gpt
I senseless lay, some child of pity bound My bleeding wounds, and bore me from the plain-- 205
human
But thou art lost, and I have liv'd in vain.
gpt
Forgive, she cried, in accents of despair, Zamor forgive thy wrongs, and oh forbear
human
The mild reproach that fills thy mournful eye, The tear that wets thy cheek--I mean to die! 210
gpt
Could I behold my aged sire endure The pains his wretched child had power to cure?
human
Still, still my father, stretch'd in death, I see, His grey locks trembling, as he gaz'd on me:
gpt
My Zamor, soft--breathe not so loud a sigh-- 215 Some list'ning foe may pityless deny
human
This parting hour--hark, sure some step I hear, Zamor again is lost--for now 'tis near
gpt
Fear not, soft maid, he cry'd, nor think I come
human
To seal with deeper miseries thy doom; To bruise the breaking heart that sorrow rends,
gpt
Ah not for this Las Casas hither bends-- He comes to bid those rising sorrows cease, 225
human
To pour upon thy wounds the balm of peace. I rov'd with dire Almagro's ruthless train
gpt
Thro' scenes of death, to Chili's verdant plain; Their wish, to bathe that verdant plain in gore,
human
Then from its bosom drag the golden ore; 230 But mine, to check the stream of human blood,
gpt
Or mingle drops of anguish with the flood. When from those fair unconquer'd vales they fled,
human
This frame was stretch'd upon the languid bed Of pale disease: when helpless, and alone, 235
gpt
The Chilese spy'd their friend, the murd'rers gone, With eager fondness round my couch they drew,
human
And my cold hand with gushing tears bedew; By day, they sooth my pains with sweet delight,
gpt
And give to watchings the chill hours of night; 240 For me their tender spirits joy to prove
human
The cares of pity, and the toils of love. Soon as I heard, that o'er this gentle scene,
gpt
Where peace and virtue mingled smile serene, The foe, like clouds that fold the tempest, hung, 245
human
I hither flew, my breast with anguish wrung. A Chilese band the pathless desert trac'd,
gpt
And softly bore me o'er its dreary waste; Then parting, at my feet they bend, and clasp
human
These aged knees--my soul yet feels their grasp. 250 Now o'er the vale with painful step I stray'd,
gpt
And reach'd the shelt'ring grove: there, hapless maid, My list'ning ear has caught thy piercing wail,
human
My heart has trembled to thy moving tale. --
gpt
And art thou he! the mournful pair exclaim, 255 How dear to mis'ry's soul, Las Casas' name!
human
Spirit benign, who every grief can share, Whose pity stoops to make the wretch its care;
gpt
Weep not for us--in vain thy tear shall flow For hopeless anguish, and distracting woe
human
They ceas'd; in accents mild, the saint returns,
gpt
Yet let me sooth the pains my bosom mourns: Come, gentle suff'rers, follow to yon fane,
human
Where rests Alphonso, with his victor train; My voice shall urge his soul to gen'rous deeds, 265
gpt
And bid him hear, when truth, and nature pleads.