'Let us not abuse our trust; 'We must not be led away 'For mercy's sake, to be unjust.' Yet he'll profess no wrath to feel 'Gainst such a hapless wretch as I; No! ... but for the public weal, 'Tis expedient that I die. And this his judgment once made known, Self-love and self-conceit's so strong, He'll rather let me die than own That his opinion could be wrong. Ye who the lore of distant climes Canvass, latent truth to find; Who hail our philosophic times, And Man's emancipated mind: Oh! ye who boast the enlighten'd age, Who boast your right of thinking free ... If e'er ye learn the lessons sage, Taught in affliction's school like me, Should you e'er a Culprit stand,