Before Alphonso now the lovers stand; The aged suff'rer join'd the mournful band; While with the look that guardian seraphs wear, 275 When sent to calm the throbs of mortal care, The story of their woes Las Casas told, Then cry'd, "the wretched Zamor here behold-- "Hop'st thou, fond man, a passion to controul "Fix'd in the breast, and woven in the soul? 280 "But know, mistaken youth, thy power in vain "Would bind thy victim in the nuptial chain: "That faithful heart will rend the galling tie, "That heart will break, that tender form will die-- "Then by each sacred name to nature dear, 285 "By her strong shriek, her agonizing tear; "By every horror bleeding passion knows, "By the wild glance that speaks her frantic woes; "By all the wasting pangs that rend her breast, "By the deep groan that gives her spirit rest! 290 "Let mercy's pleading voice thy bosom move, "And fear to burst the bonds of plighted love"-- He paus'd--now Zamor's moan Alphonso hears, Now sees the cheek of age bedew'd with tears: Palid, and motionless, Aciloe stands, 295 Fix'd was her mournful eye, and clasp'd her hands; Her heart was chill'd--her trembling heart, for there Hope slowly sinks in cold, and dark despair. Alphonso's soul was mov'd--"No more, he cried, "My hapless flame shall hearts like yours divide. 300 "Live, tender spirit, soft Aciloe, live, "And all the wrongs of mad'ning rage forgive. "Go from this desolated region far, "These plains, where av'rice spreads the waste of war; "Go, where pure pleasures gild the peaceful scene, 305 "Go where mild virtue sheds her ray serene."
In vain th' enraptur'd maid would now impart, The rising joy that swells, that pains her heart; Las Casas' feet in floods of tears she steeps, Looks on her sire and smiles, then turns, and weeps; 310 Then smiles again, while her flush'd cheek, reveals The mingled tumult of delight she feels. So fall the crystal showers of fragrant spring, And o'er the pure, clear sky, soft shadows fling; Then paint the drooping clouds from which they flow 315 With the warm colours of the lucid bow. Now, o'er the barren desert, Zamor leads Aciloe, and her sire, to Chili's meads: There, many a wand'ring wretch, condemn'd to roam By hard oppression, found a shelt'ring home: 320 Zamor to pity, tun'd the vocal shell, Bright'ning the tear of anguish, as it fell. Did e'er the human bosom throb with pain The heav'nly muse has sought to sooth in vain? She, who can still with harmony its sighs, 325 And wake the sound, at which affliction dies; Can bid the stormy passions backward roll, And o'er their low-hung tempests lift the soul; With magic touch paint nature's various scene Wild on the mountain, in the vale serene; 330 Can tinge the breathing rose with brighter bloom, Or hang the sombrous rock in deeper gloom; Explore the gem, whose pure, reflected ray Throws o'er the central cave a paler day; Or soaring view the comet's fiery frame 335 Rush o'er the sky, and fold the sphere in flame; While the charm'd spirit, as her accents move, Is wrapt in wonder, or dissolv'd in love. 338