Page:Queen Moo's talisman; the fall of the Maya empire (IA queenmoostalisma00leplrich).djvu/94

 Here crouches Aac, alone from age to age—

Absorb me now, my wretchedness assuage!

Remorse, to thee I said, 'Return no more'—

Thou shalt not stay to goad me as before!

O Light Eternal! bid this mem'ry die

While penitent upon the ground I lie.

Tho' long the years of anguish I have spent,

The worm gnaws on as if 'twould ne'er relent."

He prayed and wept. Response came from above—

A woman's voice replied with pitying love.

Up started he—"Hush! hush! thou knowest not,

But I know who thou art. O bitter lot!

To jealous frenzy I became a slave

And vilely slew my brother true and brave,

Thus casting o'er my sister's life a blight.

Still mad with rage and lost to sense of right,

I crushed my elder brother in my wrath;

Tho' Pontiff he, I swept him from my path."

"My vicious mood led many where they fell;

I lied to them that they might serve me well.

No fiery couch was lit for heroes slain;

Now I could crawl o'er moldering bones, and fain

Would lick their dust—so low my haughty head—

I, lord of all! for whom their blood was shed.

A tyrant harsh, imbittered I became;

Nor could my soul's rebuke awaken shame.