Page:The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.pdf/336

[ 290 ] MISCELLANEOUS VERSES;

Reflections on the State of my Mind during my first Convictions of the Necessity of believing the Truth, and of experiencing the inestimable Benefits of Christianity.

WELL may I say my life has been One scene of sorrow and of pain; From early days I griefs have known, And as I grew my griefs have grown.

Dangers were always in my path, And fear of wrath and sometimes death; While pale dejection in me reign'd I often wept, by grief constrain'd.

When taken from my native land, By an unjust and cruel band, How did uncommon dread prevail! My sighs no more I could conceal.

To ease my mind I often strove, And tried my trouble to remove: I sung and utter'd sighs between— Assay'd to stifle guilt with sin.

But