The food denied, a beggar and a slave, To stony hearts he should with tears apply, And Pity’s self withhold the struggling sigh; Or, if relenting weakness should extend Th’ extorted scrap that justice would not lend, Let it be poison’d by the curses deep Of every wretch whom he compels to weep!’ “‘Nay, my sweet sister, if you thought such pain Were his, your pity would awake again; Your generous heart the wretch’s grief would feel, 460 And you would soothe the pangs you could not heal.’ “‘Oh! never, never,--I would still contrive To keep the slave whom I abhorr’d alive; His tortured mind with horrid fears to fill, Disturb his reason, and misguide his will; Heap coals of fire, to lie like melted lead, Heavy and hot, on his accursed head; Not coals that mercy kindles hearts to melt, But he should feel them hot as fires are felt, Corroding ever, and through life the same, 470 Strong self-contempt and ever-burning shame; Let him so wretched live that he may fly To desperate thoughts, and be resolved to die-- And then let death such frightful visions give, That he may dread th’ attempt, and beg to live!’ So spake th’ indignant maid, when Lucy sigh’d, And, waiting softer times, no more replied. “Barlow was then in town; and there he thought Of bliss to come, and bargains to be bought; And was returning homeward--when he found 480 The Bank was broken, and his venture drown’d. “‘Ah! foolish maid,’ he cried, ‘and what wilt thou Say for thy friends and their excesses now? All now is brought completely to an end; What can the spendthrift now afford to spend? Had my advice been--true, I gave consent, The thing was purposed; what could I prevent? “‘Who will her idle taste for flowers supply-- } Who send her grapes and peaches? let her try;-- } There’s none will give her, and she cannot buy. } 490 “‘Yet would she not be grateful if she knew What to my faith and generous love was due? Daily to see the man who took her hand, When she had not a sixpence at command; Could I be sure that such a quiet mind Would be for ever grateful, mild, and kind, I might comply--but how will Bloomer act, ‘When he becomes acquainted with the fact? The loss to him is trifling--but the fall From independence, that to her is all; 500 Now, should he marry, ‘twill be shame to me To hold myself from my engagement free; And should he not, it will be double grace To stand alone in such a trying case. “‘Come then, my Lucy, to thy faithful heart And humble love I will my views impart; Will see the grateful tear that softly steals Down the fair face and all thy joy reveals; And when I say it is a blow severe, Then will I add--restrain, my love, the tear, 510