Part IV

Now by his suff'ring master's bed
Some fourteen wretched days had pass'd,
Which EDWARD spent in ceaseless moan,
Nor left him till he breath'd his last.

Nor left him then, but join'd the rites
That laid him in his peaceful home,
And, bending o'er the coffin'd clay,
Shed grateful sorrows in the tomb.

But what was now his wild surprise,
On learning that his Lord's regard
Had for his faithful services
Bequeath'd an annual rich reward?

One hundred annual pounds!—how blest!
Might now this worthy couple prove,
From slav'ry ORRA might be freed,
Or bound alone to him and love.

Swift to the wonted haunt he flew,
To pour the news in ORRA's ear,
But like a statue breathless stood,
When told "Your ORRA is not here.

"Ungratefully she left the house,
"Where she had foster'd been so long."
He groan'd—he stamp'd—he rent his hair;
But mute, and motionless, his tongue.

At length, a bursting flood of tears
Gave ease to his o'erloaded breast,
And just supplied sufficient strength
Of words, to make one short request;

"Where is she gone?"—No answer came;
To silence all the train were sworn,
To keep close-lock'd from EDWARD's ear,
When, how, or whither she was borne.

But ANNA, who lamented sore
Her ORRA, thus by craft betray'd,
Wrote "Carolina" on a card,
And to his hands by stealth convey'd.

He sought, and soon a passage gain'd,
He saw with joy the streamers spread,
And daily chid the loit'ring waves,
That all so slow the vessel sped.

At length the wish'd-for port is gain'd,
He searches each plantation round,
Nor, till some eight long days are pass'd,
Can ORRA's sad resort be found.

His eyes discover her at last,
Beneath the toil of noontide suns,
He folds her in one short embrace,
Then to the Planter eager runs:

Prostrate upon the ground he falls,
Now at his feet submissive kneels,
In plaintive terms, and broken sighs,
His own and ORRA's tale reveals.

Then thus, "O give my ORRA back,
"Give me my first, my only love!
"All, all the treasure I command
"Would little for her ransom prove.

"Or, if, inhuman, you refuse
"This my fond bosom's ardent pray'r,
"Receive me in your fields at least,
"And let me ORRA'S slav'ry share.

"Again to bondage will I bend,
"Again embrace the galling chain,
"Let me but toil by ORRA'S side,
"I will not murmur or complain."

This Planter own'd a noble heart,
He rais'd the suppliant with a tear,
Then made a kind inviting sign
To ORRA, who stood weeping near:

"The long-lov'd fav'rite of thy breast
"From this, a stranger's hand, receive,
"A greater pleasure is not thine,
"Than mine in having pow'r to give:

"Unransom'd, take her to thy arms,
"Nor offer me thy treasur'd ore,
"This transport is more wealth to me
"Than either Indies' boasted store."