348 LELIA. 



How in the world she had not one to love, 



How all her hopes were fix'd on God above ; 



How that her race and faith had been proscribed ; 155 



And then with trembling voice the scenes described, 



When they were driven, their life and faith to save, 



To hide midst desert rocks a living grave ; 



And how they perished, when the spoilers came, 



Burnt in their caves a prey to scorching flame. 160 



Day after day, in twilight's softening hour, 

 On Lelia' s ear these tales did Aza shower ; 

 Till Lelia's heart was melted, and she pray'd 

 That Jove would lend the Christian slave his aid, 

 And thrice invoked her household gods, to save 165 



The Christian maiden from the Christian's grave. 



Flavius, the Roman, saw with angry pride 

 The slave girl kneeling by his daughter's side ; 

 Took her to task, and ask d her if she knew 



What crime was Aza's, and what death her due ? 170 



" What, love a slave? who bends the suppliant knee 

 To him that struggled on the felon's tree ? 

 To him who died as thieves may only die ? 

 A dreaming fool, whose life had been a lie ; 



A base mechanic, and a low-bred slave, 175 



Who dared their gods' and Caesar's name to brave ; 

 Who taught the heretics, that call'd him Lord, 

 To spurn the gods their fathers had adored ? 

 Hear what befell brave Carus, whose renown 



We fondly hoped to mingle with our own. 180 



One who had sought and won my Flavia's love, 

 Hear how he sinn'd, the curse of Christ to prove ; 

 Hear what befell the youth, whose generous sire 

 Had saved my life from Parthia's vengeful ire ; 

 One whom I loved, one who had manly grace 185 



And honour's stamp engraven on his face. 



" On some far field, when slaughter's work was done, 

 A maid was brought, a prize by valour won ; 

 One Lelia like this Aza fair and meek; 



And one whose eye and lip could sweetly speak : 190 



He took her as a gift by Venus sent, 

 To soothe the hardships of the soldier's tent. 

 She was a Christian, Lelia, and he smiled 

 To think how lightly women are beguiled. 



He laugh'd when at his feet the maiden knelt, 195 



And told what holy hopes the Christian felt ; 

 Told him of one who dwelt in heaven above, 

 Whose arm was mightier far than that of Jove ; 

 Told him that Christ who fill'd a mortal grave 



Had come from heaven, man's sinful soul to save 200 



This Carus heard, and yet forbore the blow 

 That should have sent her soul to shades below, 

 Forbore the blow, because her cheek and eye 

 A language spoke, that did her words belie. 



" Oh ! would that all who bear the Christian name, 205 



In one vast pile might feed the withering flame 



