Page:Queen Moo's talisman; the fall of the Maya empire (IA queenmoostalisma00leplrich).djvu/94

Here crouches Aac, alone from age to age—
Absorb me now, my wretchedness assuage!
Remorse, to thee I said, 'Return no more'—
Thou shalt not stay to goad me as before!
O Light Eternal! bid this mem'ry die
While penitent upon the ground I lie.
Tho' long the years of anguish I have spent,
The worm gnaws on as if 'twould ne'er relent."
He prayed and wept. Response came from above—
A woman's voice replied with pitying love.

Up started he—"Hush! hush! thou knowest not,
But I know who thou art. O bitter lot!
To jealous frenzy I became a slave
And vilely slew my brother true and brave,
Thus casting o'er my sister's life a blight.
Still mad with rage and lost to sense of right,
I crushed my elder brother in my wrath;
Tho' Pontiff he, I swept him from my path."

"My vicious mood led many where they fell;
I lied to them that they might serve me well.
No fiery couch was lit for heroes slain;
Now I could crawl o'er moldering bones, and fain
Would lick their dust—so low my haughty head—
I, lord of all! for whom their blood was shed.
A tyrant harsh, imbittered I became;
Nor could my soul's rebuke awaken shame.