Page:The West Indies, and Other Poems.djvu/22

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Let nobler bards in loftier numbers tell iiow Cortez conquer'd, Montezuma fell ; Uow grim Pizarro's ruffian arm o'crthrew The sun's resplendent empire in Peru ; How, like a prophet, old Las Casas stood, And raised his voice against a sea of blood, Whose chilling waves recoil'd while he foretold His country's ruin by avenging gold. — Tliat gold, for which unpitied Indians fell. That gold at once the snare and scourge of hell, Thenceforth by righteous heaven was doom'd to shed Unmingled curses on the spoiler's head ; For gold the Spaniard cast his soul away, — His gold and he were every nation's prey.

But themes like these vi'ould ask an angel-lyre, Language of light and sentiment of fire; Give me to sing, in melancholy strains, Of Cliarih martyrdoms and negro chains ;

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