These were his last words; for when the cell was opened in the morning, he was dead in his bed. As in life, so in death, his own evil acts clashed with his interests; for at an early hour in the morning a messenger arrived with a pardon. In consideration of the heinous nature of the provocation, which had led to the commission of Rust's crime, and of the inadequate punishment inflicted by the laws for such offences, the governor had remitted his sentence.
Behold! again I view thee, in thy majesty and might, Thy broad sheet flashing in the blaze of morning's glorious light; I mark thee maddened in thy fall, and pale with hoary rage, And fretting in thy passion, that hath boiled from age to age.
Like thunder on my startled ear, thine everlasting roar Hath broken, and reverberates from shore to echoing shore; Continuous and fearful, with dread power in its tone, That shakes the earth's foundations and rives the solid stone!
How tremulous beneath the shock the fearful earth hath grown! Reeling beneath the mighty plunge, it sighs with ceaseless moan; Now rush thy waves, with frenzy wild, in foam of dazzling white, Now, placidly they sweep along, with ever-changeful light.
O, wondrous Power! O, giant Strength! how fearful to behold, Outstretched on yon o'erhanging crag, thy mad waves downward rolled: To look adown the cavernous abyss that yawns beneath-- To see the feathery spray flash forth in many a glittering wreath!
Voluminous and ceaseless still, forever swift descend The waters in their headlong course, then turning, heavenward wend: Now, disenthralled, their essence hath its spirit-shape resumed; Bright, bodiless and pure, its fright to yon empyrean plumed!
I wonder if the magic spells That in the days of yore Bewitched so oft poor harmless folks (Unlucky wights!) are o'er?
I can't believe it, for I've felt The witchery of thy smile; I've felt thy magic arts, and yet I've loved thee all the while.
Is it the gleam of snowy teeth, Or wave of silken tress, That brings me to thy side, to gaze Upon thy loveliness?
It cannot be, for I have seen Full many a maid as fair; I've seen as ruby lips before, I've seen as glossy hair.
Some dark enchantress has bequeathed To thee her magic art, And thou hast bound me with thy spell, And stolen all my heart.