The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe with his letters and journals, and his life, by his son. In eight volumes |
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 | The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe |  |
With joy the troubled heart of Robert beat,
For life was his, and liberty was sweet;
He look'd around in freedom—in delight?
O! no—his Rachel was another's right!
“Right!—has he then preserved me in the day
“Of my distress?—He has the lovely pay!
“But I no freedom at the slave's request,
“The price I paid shall then be repossess'd!
“Alas! her virtue and the law prevent,
“Force cannot be, and she will not consent;
“But were that brother gone!—A brother? No!
“A circumventor!—and the wretch shall go!
“Yet not this hand—How shifts about my mind,
“Ungovern'd, guideless, drifting in the wind,
“And I am all a tempest, whirl'd around
“By dreadful thoughts, that fright me and confound;—
“I would I saw him on the earth laid low!
“I wish the fate, but must not give the blow!”
For life was his, and liberty was sweet;
He look'd around in freedom—in delight?
O! no—his Rachel was another's right!
“Right!—has he then preserved me in the day
“Of my distress?—He has the lovely pay!
“But I no freedom at the slave's request,
“The price I paid shall then be repossess'd!
“Alas! her virtue and the law prevent,
“Force cannot be, and she will not consent;
“But were that brother gone!—A brother? No!
“A circumventor!—and the wretch shall go!
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“Ungovern'd, guideless, drifting in the wind,
“And I am all a tempest, whirl'd around
“By dreadful thoughts, that fright me and confound;—
“I would I saw him on the earth laid low!
“I wish the fate, but must not give the blow!”
| The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe | |