The blood that flows in bounding veins, The blood that ebbs with lingering pains, Springs living from the self-same heart: Courage and patience act one part. Doers and sufferers of God's will Tread in each other's footprints still; Soldier or saint hath equal mind, When vows of truth the spirit bind. Two portraits light my chamber-wall, Hero and martyr to recall; Lines of a single face they keep, To make beholders glow or weep. With gleaming hilt, girt for the fray Freedom demands, he cannot stay: Forward his motion, keen his glance: 'Tis victory painted in a trance. But, lo! he turns, he folds his hands; With farther, softening gaze he stands; His sword is hidden from his eyes; His head is bent for sacrifice. Through looks that match each varied thought Of holy work or offering brought, Upon the sunbeam's shifting scroll Shines out alike the steady soul. Young leader! quick to win a name Coeval with thy country's fame, For either fortune thou wast born,-- The crown of laurel or of thorn. THE HORRORS OF SAN DOMINGO. CHAPTER III. CARIB SLAVES--INTRODUCTION OF NEGROES--LAS CASAS--DECAY OF SAN DOMINGO. Among the natives captured by the Spaniards in the neighboring islands and upon the Terra Firma, as the South-American coast was called,--were numerous representatives of Carib tribes, who had been released by Papal dispensation from the difficulties and anxieties of freedom in consequence of their reputation for cannibalism. This vicious taste was held to absolve the Spaniards from all the considerations of policy and mercy which the Dominicans pressed upon them in the case of the more graceful and amiable Haitians. But we do not find that Las Casas himself made any exception of them in his pleadings for the Indians;[1] for, though he does not mention cannibalism in the list of imputed crimes which the Spaniards held as justification in making war upon the natives to enslave them, he vindicates them from other charges, such as that of sacrificing infants to their idols. The Spaniards were touched with compassion at seeing so many innocent beings perish before arriving at years of discretion, and without having received baptism. They argued that such a practice, which was worse than a crime, because it was a theological blunder, could not be carried on in a state of slavery. "This style of reasoning," says Las Casas, "proves absolutely nothing; for God knows better than men what ought to be the future destiny of children who die in the immense countries where the Christian religion is unknown. His mercy is infinitely greater than the collective charity of mankind; and in the interim He permits things to follow their ordinary course, without charging anybody to interfere and prevent their consequences by means of war."[2]