Page:Poems - Southey (1799) volume 1.djvu/128

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

112

Urge to the deeds of darkness, and at lengthHere shall I rest. What tho' my hut be poor—The rains descend not thro' its humble roof:Would I were there again! the night is cold;And what if in my wanderings I should rouseThe savage from his thicket!Hark! the gun!And lo—the fire of safety! I shall reachMy little hut again! again by toilForce from the stubborn earth my sustenance,And quick-ear'd guilt will never start alarm'dAmid the well-earn'd meal. This felon's garb—Will it not shield me from the winds of Heaven?And what could purple more? Oh strengthen meEternal One in this serener state!Cleanse thou mine heart, so Penitence and FaithShall heal my soul, and my last days be peace.1794. 
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.