ABSTRACT
Verses Written at the Island of Sagur, in the Mouth of the Ganges, where Human Victims were Exposed by the Superstitious Hindus1 On sea-girt Sagur’s desert isle, Mantled with thickets dark and dun, May never moon or star light smile, Nor ever beam the summer sun! Strange deeds of blood have there been done, 5 In mercy ne’er to be forgiven; Deeds the far seeing eye of heaven Veiled his radiant orb to shun. To glut the shark and crocodile A mother brought her infant here,2 10 She saw its tender playful smile, She shed not one maternal tear; She threw it on a watery bier, With grinding teeth sea monsters tore The smiling infant which she bore, – 15 She shrunk not once its cries to hear. Ah! mark that victim wildly drest, His streaming beard is hoar and gray, Around him floats a crimson vest, Red-flowers his matted locks array: – 20 Heard you these brazen timbrels bray? His heart-blood on the lotus-flower, They offer to the evil-power, And, offering, turn their eyes away. Dark goddessa of the iron-mace,3 25 Flesh-tearer! quaffing life-blood warm, The terrors of thine awful face The pulse of mortal hearts alarm. Grim power! if human woes can charm, Look to the horrors of the flood, 30 Where crimsoned Gunga shines in blood, And man-devouring monsters swarm. Skull-chaplet wearer! whom the blood Of man delights a thousand years, Than whom no face, by land or flood, 35 More stern and pitiless appears, Thine is the cup of human tears! For pomp of human sacrifice Cannot the cruel blood suffice Of tigers, which thine island rears? 40 Not all blue Ganges’ mountain flood, That rolls so proudly round thy fane, Shall cleanse the tinge of human blood, Nor wash dark Sagur’s impious stain. The sailor, journeying on the main, 45 Shall view from far the dreary isle, And curse the ruins of the pile Where mercy ever sued in vain.
