God saw, but would not stoop to save

The struggling wretch who dared defy

His laws, on land and wave.

O, Geraldine, I see thee fly,

Despairing, from my accursed hands:

“Better my bones should bleach,” thy cry,

“On savagest of strands

Than that my fatal charms should cause

My never—never-dying shame;

Better, O, villain, virtuous fame