Page:Livingstone in Africa.djvu/76

54 With one intolerable rift of light Vibrating in the immeasurable waste Of massy, torn, wan water that ascends, To meet confusion of the hurrying cloud, Releasing misty momentary rays; While in this shifting gulf of utter light, A snowy sail shows black as ebony.

"Spell-bound we pause: we had follow'd this our Father, Him of the honest heart, our wise white friend, Through weal and woe, a weary, weary way, From our own homes; in face of all the people Spake, while we journey'd through their several lands, That never white man brought an African Here to the coast, save only to enslave; But we would trust our father; we had proved Him well, and he had promised; yea, we know The English have good hearts for Africa! And yet we pause at the sublime surprise. For we had faith in what our Ancients told,