If thy neighbour should sin, old Christoval cried, Never never unmerciful be! For remember it is by the mercy of God At sixty and seven the hope of heaven I might not have gone there when I died. You shall have the farm, young Christoval, But a surety provide, in whom I can confide, I was poor and I had not a friend on earth, We stood by the porch of St. Andres' church, Accept for my surety St. Isidro, I ventured to make reply, The Saint in Heaven may perhaps be my friend, But friendless on earth am I. We enter'd the church and came to his grave And I fell on my bended knee; I am friendless, holy St. Isidro, I call upon thee my surety to be, I was idle, the day of payment came on, in store, And I had not the money I fear'd the wrath of St. Isidro But I fear'd Henrique more. On a dark dark night I took my flight It chanced by St. Andres' church As I pass'd the door I thought what I had swore Upon St. Isidro's day, And I seem'd to fear because he was near, And faster I hasten'd away. So all night long I hurried on I knew not his avenging hand Weary I was, and safe I thought, I had I found been running round I shook like a palsy and fell on my knees I have been idle good master! I cried, Good master and I have been wrong, And I have been running round the church In penance all night long. If thou hast been idle, Henrique said, Homeward I went a penitent, As he punish'd my fault before. When my debtor was poor, old Christoval said, I remembered Henrique was good to me When my neighbour has sinn'd, old Christoval said, I have ever forgiven his sin, For I thought of the night by St. Andres' church And remember'd what I might have been. Living without GOD in the WORLD. By CHARLES LAMB. Mystery of God! thou brave and beauteous world, But thro' Heaven's pavement rides as in despite All these thy ceaseless miracles, O world! |