human
Deep in my faithful bosom let me hide The fatal steel, that would our souls divide,
gpt
Ah, yet forbear!--by all the sacred ties, 50
human
That bind our hearts, forbear --In vain he spoke, Friendship with frantic zeal impels the stroke:
gpt
Thyself for ever lost, thou hop'st in vain, The youth replied, my spirit to detain;
human
From thee, my soul, in childhood's earliest year, 55 Caught the light pleasure, and the starting tear;
gpt
Thy friendship then my young affections blest, The first pure passion of my infant breast;
human
That passion, which o'er life delight has shed, By reason cherish'd, and by virtue fed: 60
gpt
And still in death I feel its strong controul; Its sacred impulse wings my fleeting soul,
human
That only lingers here till thou depart, Whose image lives upon my fainting heart.
gpt
Vain man, the victim cried, to hoary years
human
Know death is mild, and virtue feels no fears: Cruel of spirit, come! let tortures prove
gpt
The Power I serv'd in life, in death I love. -- 80 He ceas'd--with rugged cords his limbs they bound, And drag the aged suff'rer on the ground; They grasp his feeble form, his tresses tear, His robe they rend, his shrivell'd bosom bare. Ah, see his uncomplaining soul sustain 85 The sting of insult, and the dart of pain; His stedfast spirit feels one pang alone; A child's despair awakes one suff'ring groan-- The mourner kneels to catch his parting breath, To sooth the agony of ling'ring death; 90 No moan she breath'd, no tear had power to flow, Still on her lip expir'd th' unutter'd woe: Yet ah, her livid cheek, her stedfast look, The desolated soul's deep anguish spoke-- Mild victim! close not yet thy languid eyes; 95 Pure spirit! claim not yet thy kindred skies; A pitying angel comes to stay thy flight, _Las Casas_[A] bids thee view returning light: Ah, let that sacred drop to virtue dear, Efface thy wrongs--receive his precious tear; 100 See his flush'd cheek with indignation glow, While from his lips the tones of pity flow.
human
Oh suff'ring Lord! he cried, whose streaming blood Was pour'd for man--Earth drank the sacred flood--
gpt
Whose mercy in the mortal pang forgave 105 The murd'rous band, thy love alone could save;
human
Forgive--thy goodness bursts each narrow bound, Which feeble thought, and human hope surround;
gpt
Forgive the guilty wretch, whose impious hand From thy pure altar flings the flaming brand, 110
human
In human blood that hallow'd altar steeps, Libation dire! while groaning nature weeps--
gpt
The limits of thy mercy dares to scan, The object of thy love, his victim,--Man;
human
While yet I linger, lo, the suff'rer dies-- 115 I see his frame convuls'd--I hear his sighs--
gpt
Whoe'er controuls the purpose of my heart First in this breast shall plunge his guilty dart:
human
There rest secure, he cried, the Christian God
gpt
Will hover near, will guard the lone abode. Oft to the gloomy cell his steps repair, 135 While night's chill breezes wave his silver'd hair; Oft in the tones of love, the words of peace, He bids the bitter tears of anguish cease; Bids drooping hope uplift her languid eyes, And points a dearer bliss beyond the skies. 140 Yet ah, in vain his pious cares would save The hoary suff'rer from the op'ning grave; For deep the pangs of torture pierc'd his frame, And sunk his wasted life's expiring flame; To his cold lip Las Casa's hand he prest, 145 He faintly clasp'd his Zilia to his breast; Then cried,
human
My heart thro' life obey'd, unknowing more;
gpt
His mild forgiveness then my soul shall prove, His mercy share--Las Casa's God, is Love!
human
Victim of impious zeal, Las Casas cries,
gpt
Accept departed shade, a Christian's sighs; And thou, soft mourner, tender, drooping form, 155
human
What power shall guard thee from the fearful storm? Weep not for me, she cried, for Zilia's breast
gpt
Soon in the shelt'ring earth shall find its rest. Hope not the victim of despair to save,
human
I ask but death--I only seek a grave-- 160 Witness thou mangled form that earth retains,
gpt
Witness a murder'd lover's cold remains. I liv'd my father's pangs to sooth, to share;
human
I bore to live, tho' life was all despair-- In vain my lover, urg'd by fond desire 165
gpt
To shield from torture, and from death my sire, Flew to the fane where stern Valverda rag'd,
human
And fearless, with unequal force engag'd; I saw him bleeding, dying press the ground,
gpt
I drew the poison from each fatal wound; 170 I bath'd those wounds with tears--he pour'd a sigh--
human
A drop hung trembling in his closing eye-- Ah, still his mournful sign I shiv'ring hear,
gpt
In every pulse I feel his parting tear-- I faint--an icy coldness chills each vein, 175
human
No more these feeble limbs their load sustain: Spirit of pity! catch my fleeting breath,
gpt
A moment stay--and close my eyes in death-- _Las Casas_, thee, thy God in mercy gave
human
To sooth my pangs--to find the wretch a grave.