66. Superstition

O lord and Christ, Thy Children of the South So shudder, when they see
The two-edged sword sharp-issuing from Thy
mouth,
As to fall back from Thee,
And cling to charms of man, or heathen rite
To aid them against Thee, Thou Fount of love and light!

But I before Thine awful eyes will go And firmly fix me there,
In my fall shame; not bent my doom to know,
Not fainting with despair;
Not fearing less than they, but deeming sure,
If e'en Thy Name shall fail, nought my base heart can cure.

Lazaret, Malta.
January 21, 1833.