My heart was galled with bitter wrong,
Revengeful feelings fired my blood;
I cherished hate with passion strong,
While round my couch dark demons stood.
Kind slumber wooed my eyes in vain,
My burning brain conceived a plan—
'Revenge!' I cried in frantic strain;
But Conscience whispered, 'Be a man!'

'Forgive,' a gentle spirit cried;
I yielded to my nobler part,
Uprose, and to my foeman hied,
And then forgave him from my heart.
The big tears from their fountains rose,
He melted—vowed my friend to be;
That night I sank in sweet repose,
And dreamed that angels smiled on me.