Page 19 of EBB's manuscript of "The African."
Accession #: EBB MSS, D0015.1
Transcription:
But no! he came – that form drew near
It was not such as he could fear!
The watchman of the vale was he,
The staff was in his aged hand
And, flashing from his hollow eye,
No youthful fire of glory started –
But the faint glance fell heavily
As if life’s spirit had departed.
"Thou comes’t Davie, whence & where
"The hours untimely, thus to stray –
"Say. . . . . What, thou dost not surely fear
"Secluded in this lonely vale
"And here no strangers footsteps wander?
"But where yon stream rolls in meander
"My hut –. Nay [illegible] Davie tremble not –
"Rest, lean on me, thy limbs are weak
"I'll bear thee to my lowly cot,
"Be calm— . . !"
"Nay Austin, I must speak,
"And bid me not disdain to fear,
"I hear his step thro’ the lone still night –
"I see his torche’s glimmering light,
"Perhaps e’en now he may be here –
"Away—!!"
"What light! what footsteps? who
"Old man thou dreamest—"
"No! no! no!
I saw his huge gigantic form
I felt the lightening of his eye!