 | Verses (1804) |  |
64
THE FELON.
BY M. G. LEWIS, Esq.
Oh, mark his wan and hollow cheek!
And mark his eye-balls' glare!
And mark his teeth in anguish clench'd,
The anguish of despair!
Know, since three days, his penance borne,
Yon Felon left a jail,
And since three days no food has pass'd
Those lips so parch'd and pale.
And mark his eye-balls' glare!
And mark his teeth in anguish clench'd,
The anguish of despair!
Know, since three days, his penance borne,
Yon Felon left a jail,
And since three days no food has pass'd
Those lips so parch'd and pale.
“Where shall I turn?” the wretch exclaims;
“Where hide my shameful head?
“How fly from scorn? Oh! how contrive
“To earn my honest bread?
“This branded hand would gladly toil:
“But, when for work I pray,
“Who sees this mark, ‘A Felon!’ cries,
“And loathing turns away.
“Where hide my shameful head?
“How fly from scorn? Oh! how contrive
“To earn my honest bread?
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“But, when for work I pray,
“Who sees this mark, ‘A Felon!’ cries,
“And loathing turns away.
“This heart has greatly err'd, but now
“Would fain revert to good:
“This hand has deeply sinn'd, but yet
“Has ne'er been stain'd with blood:
“For work, or alms, in vain I sue;
“The scorners both deny:
“I starve; I starve—Then what remains?—
“This choice; to sin, or die!
“Would fain revert to good:
“This hand has deeply sinn'd, but yet
“Has ne'er been stain'd with blood:
“For work, or alms, in vain I sue;
“The scorners both deny:
“I starve; I starve—Then what remains?—
“This choice; to sin, or die!
“Here Virtue spurns me with disdain;
“There Pleasure spreads her snare:
“Strong habit drags me back to vice;
“And, urg'd by fierce Despair,
“I strive, while Hunger gnaws my heart,
“To fly from shame in vain!—
“World, 'tis thy cruel will! I yield,
“And plunge in guilt again.
“There Pleasure spreads her snare:
“Strong habit drags me back to vice;
“And, urg'd by fierce Despair,
“I strive, while Hunger gnaws my heart,
“To fly from shame in vain!—
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“And plunge in guilt again.
“There's Mercy in each ray of light
“That mortal eyes e'er saw;
“There's Mercy in each breath of air
“That mortal lips e'er draw;
“There's Mercy both for bird and beast
“In God's indulgent plan;
“There's Mercy for each creeping thing;—
“But Man has none for Man!
“That mortal eyes e'er saw;
“There's Mercy in each breath of air
“That mortal lips e'er draw;
“There's Mercy both for bird and beast
“In God's indulgent plan;
“There's Mercy for each creeping thing;—
“But Man has none for Man!
“Ye proudly honest! when ye heard
“My wounded conscience groan,
“Had generous hand, or feeling heart,
“One glimpse of Mercy shown,—
“That act had made, from burning eyes,
“Sweet tears of virtue roll,
“Had fix'd my heart, assur'd my faith,
“And Heav'n had gain'd a Soul!
“My wounded conscience groan,
“Had generous hand, or feeling heart,
“One glimpse of Mercy shown,—
“That act had made, from burning eyes,
“Sweet tears of virtue roll,
“Had fix'd my heart, assur'd my faith,
“And Heav'n had gain'd a Soul!
| Verses (1804) | |