“And then she moved my pity; for she wept, And told her miseries till resentment slept; For when she saw she could not reason blind, She pour’d her heart’s whole sorrows on my mind, With features graven on my soul, with sighs Seen but not heard, with soft imploring eyes, And voice that needed not, but had the aid Of powerful words to soften and persuade. O! I repent me of the past; and sure 650 Grief and repentance make the bosom pure; Yet meet thee not with clean and single heart, As on the day we met--and but to part! Ere I had drank the cup that to my lip Was held, and press’d till I was forced to sip. I drank indeed, but never ceased to hate-- It poison’d, but could not intoxicate. T’ excuse my fall I plead not love’s excess, But a weak orphan’s need and loneliness. I had no parent upon earth--no door 660 Was oped to me--young, innocent, and poor, Vain, tender, and resentful--and my friend, Jealous of one who must on her depend, Making life misery--You could witness then That I was precious in the eyes of men; So, made by them a goddess, and denied Respect and notice by the women’s pride; Here scorn’d, there worshipp’d--will it strange appear, Allured and driven, that I settled here? Yet loved it not; and never have I pass’d 670 One day, and wish’d another like the last. There was a fallen angel, I have read, For whom their tears the sister-angels shed, Because, although she ventured to rebel, She was not minded like a child of hell.-- Such is my lot! and will it not be given To grief like mine, that I may think of heaven; Behold how there the glorious creatures shine, And all my soul to grief and hope resign?’” “I wonder’d, doubting--and, is this a fact, 680 I thought, or part thou art disposed to act? “‘Is it not written, He, who came to save Sinners, the sins of deepest dye forgave; That he his mercy to the sufferers dealt, And pardon’d error when the ill was felt? Yes! I would hope, there is an eye that reads What is within, and sees the heart that bleeds---- But who on earth will one so lost deplore, And who will help that lost one to restore? ‘Who will on trust the sigh of grief receive; 690 And--all things warring with belief--believe?’ “Soften’d, I said--‘Be mine the hand and heart, If with your world you will consent to part.’ She would--she tried----Alas! she did not know How deeply rooted evil habits grow: She felt the truth upon her spirits press, But wanted ease, indulgence, show, excess, Voluptuous banquets, pleasures--not refined, But such as soothe to sleep th’ opposing mind-- She look’d for idle vice, the time to kill, 700 And subtle, strong apologies for ill;