At length for Arts like these confin’d,
In Prison with a lawless Crew;
I soon perceiv’d a kindred Mind,
And there my long-lost Daughter knew.
His Father’s Child, whom Aaron gave
To wander with a distant Clan,
The Miseries of the World to brave,
And be the Slave of Vice and Man.
She knew my Name—we met in Pain,
Our parting Pangs, can I express?
She sail’d a Convict o’er the Main,
And left an Heir to her Distress.
This is that Heir to Shame and Pain,
For whom I only could descry
A World of Trouble and Disdain:
Yet, could I bear to see her die,
Or stretch her feeble Hands in vain,
And weeping, beg of me Supply?
No! though the Fate thy Mother knew,
Was shameful! shameful though thy Race
Have wander’d all, a lawless Crew,
Outcasts, despis’d in every Place;
Yet as the dark and muddy Tide,
When far from its polluted Source,
Becomes more pure, and purified,
Flows in a clear and happy Course;—
In thee, dear Infant! so may end
Our Shame, in thee our Sorrows cease!
And thy pure Course will then extend,
In Floods of Joy, o’er Vales of Peace.
Oh! by the God who loves to spare,
Deny me not the Boon I crave;
Let this lov’d Child your Mercy share,
And let me find a peaceful Grave;
Make her yet spotless Soul your Care,
And let my Sins their Portion have,
Her for a better Fate prepare,
And punish whom ’twere Sin to save!
MAGISTRATE.
Recall the Word, renounce the Thought,
Command thy Heart and bend thy Knee,
There is to all a Pardon brought,
A Ransom rich, assur’d and free;
’Tis full when found, ’tis found if sought,
Oh! seek it, till ’tis seal’d to Thee.
VAGRANT.