University of Virginia Library

“I was not always what I now appear;
“But Truths, thy Nobleness has challeng'd, hear.
“First I'm a Mussul-man, yet here confin'd
“Must wish thee, as thy milder Doctrines, kind.
“Oh! Love thy Faith, yet hate not me for mine,
“Which had, hadst thou been born a Turk, been thine.
“Next know, e'er fall'n to this most abject State,
“Smyrna once saw me happy, tho' not great;
“By Merchandize with sumptuous Affluence blest,
“And sweet Content, which great ones seldom taste.
“But Oh! to have been blest brings no Relief,
“But adds a stronger Bitterness to Grief;
“Forgive my Tears that utter, as they flow,
“A Son's, a Father's, and a Husband's Woe;
“To swell each Sigh these various Sorrows join,
“For all those dear Relations once were mine.
“Nor was it Hopes of adding to my Store,
“By lawless Plunder sent me from my Shore,
“To gain in bleeding Fields a cruel Name,
“Or wish on slaughter'd Heaps to build my Fame.
“'Twas Duty bid me watch the fav'ring Gale,
“And filial Love that hoisted ev'ry Sail.
“'Twas to a Father's fond Embrace I went,
“E'er yet his Lamp of Life was wholly spent;
“While still a kneeling Son might please his Eye,
“And swell his aged Heart with tender Joy.
“For Cyprus then I sail'd—what since befel
“Let these hard Chains, and this vile Habit tell;
“Which with for-ever growing Grief I bear,
“And now the fourth sad Winter sees me wear;
“And Years may roll on Years, unstopp'd my Grief,
“Till welcome Death shall bring his last Relief,
“In whose cold Arms, by some dire chance betray'd,
“My Friends may long e'er this believe me laid.
“My fond old Sire perhaps, my Fate unknown,
“Wailing my ravish'd Life, consum'd his own;
“And oh! what Pangs my orphan Children feel,
“Hast thou a tender Parent, thou canst tell.