This was the bribe ; the threat was shame.
The taint of slander's foulest breath,
A curse attached to Izram's name

Among his race, and lingering death*

'^ I know not how my scorn mi^ht blaase ;
He quailed and shook beneath l£e gaze : f
And when, in proud indignant strain,
I hurled the treason back on Spain,
His lurking blood-hounds seized their prey,
And bore me from the light of day.
Chained with the felon crew, who pine
Condemned within the deadliest mine.
Robber and murderer, side by side.
In groans and blood their labour plied—
Seest thou the scar those fetters wrought 1
His look shall wither on the spot.
" Nor yet the crafty fox resigned
That dream of his besotted mmd ;
Still came the lui^, the menace, «^
He tbougbt to bend my steadSaai '^tnSILv



m VaUMy A UEXlCAXf TALK.
He blighted my fair fame, and she,

Chord of my heart, its vital tide,
Compelled to wed a vile Mestee,

Became the motley mongrel's bride.
Anselmo's self the tale conveyed,
And well his generous zeal I paid :
Too weak the cowl to guard his brain
From the fierce dash of severed chain ;
And while they thronged around the dead,
Gk>aded by maddening thought, I sped
Until the distant glimmenng ray
Pointed to liberty and day.
I found a faithful few ; — ^the rest
Is doubly ^sealed within my breast ;
I doubt not thee, but oaths confine
Those secrets to our ancient line :
Yet if thy British nerve can brave
The horrors of an outlaw's cave,
And if thy strength in peril tried,
Can boldly breast a swelling tide.
Soon shall thy gladdened sight survey

Grondolph, by counter-wiles betrayed,
Groaning his blackened soul away.
