Page:Tale of Paraguay - Southey.djvu/72

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O happy time, when ingress thus was given To the upper world, and at their pleasure they Whose hearts were strong might pass from earth to heaven By their own act and choice! In evil day Mishap had fatally cut off that way, And none may now the Land of Spirits gain, Till from its dear-loved tenement of clay, Violence or age, infirmity and pain Divorce the soul which there full gladly would remain.

Such grievous loss had by their own misdeed Upon the unworthy race of men been brought. An aged woman there who could not speed In fishing, earnestly one day besought Her countrymen, that they of what they caught A portion would upon her wants bestow. They set her hunger and her age at nought, And still to her entreaties answered no, And mock'd her, till they made her heart with rage o'erflow.