The trembling boy dropp'd down and strove to pray,

Received a blow, and trembling turn'd away,

Or sobb'd and hid his piteous face;—while he,

The savage master, grinn'd in horrid glee:

He'd now the power he ever loved to show,

A feeling being subject to his blow.

Thus lived the lad, in hunger, peril, pain,

90

His tears despised, his supplications vain.

Compell'd by fear to lie, by need to steal,