 | Ouâbi : or the virtues of nature |  |
OUÂBI.
In freedom born, to glory bred,Yet like a dastard captive led,
When sunk in blest oblivious night,
Rais'd to the sorrows of the light,
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And dar'd to claim me as a slave,
To threat me with the darts of pain,
Tho born o'er glorious chiefs to reign;
But, taught Ouâbi's soul to know,
They sought to bend that soul with woe,
By vari'd tortures vainly strove
This heav'n-directed eye to move,
When like a God Celario came,
And snatch'd me from the piercing flame.
From thee this arm its strength receives,
By thee this form in freedom lives;
By thee was bright Azâkia's breath,
Twice rescu'd from the blast of death;
Each time a greater blessing gave
Than twice Ouâbi's life to save;
As he alone her love deserves,
Whose pow'r her matchless charms preserves,
That love, those charms, I now resign,
With ev'ry bliss, that once was mine.
Since all her mind thy worth approves,
And all thy soul her beauty loves,
This grateful heart that hand bestows,
Which not to shun a life of woes,
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To save me from the Hurons' flame,
Would this fond bleeding breast resign,
Or yield to any worth but thine.
Ouâbi does not simply mean to compliment Azâkia in this expression, but alludes to a custom of his country, which in most cases admits the payment of a fine, as an expiation for murder. If the deceased be a woman, the fine is double; and the reason they give for this partiality for that sex, is, that they are capable of bringing warriors to the nation.
See Wm. Penn's Letters.This law of expiating murder by pecuniary compensation has, I believe, been observed by every uncivilized nation upon earth.
| Ouâbi : or the virtues of nature | |