And something every day they live And tumult, and intestine war. The love that cheers life's latest stage, Proof against sickness and old age, Preserved by virtue from declension, Becomes not weary of attention; But lives, when that exterior grace, Which first inspired the flame, decays. 'Tis gentle, delicate, and kind, To faults compassionate or blind, And will with sympathy endure Those evils it would gladly cure: But angry, coarse, and harsh expression Shows love to be a mere profession; Proves that the heart is none of his, Or soon expels him if it is. THE NEGRO'S COMPLAINT. FORCED from home and all its pleasures, Still in thought as free as ever, What are England's rights, I ask, Me from my delights to sever, Skins may differ, but affection Dwells in white and black the same. Why did all-creating nature Make the plant for which we toil? Sighs must fan it, tears must water, Sweat of ours must dress the soil. Think, ye masters iron-hearted, Lolling at your jovial boards, Think how many backs have smarted For the sweets your cane affords. Is there, as ye sometimes tell us, Is there One who reigns on high? Has He bid you buy and sell us, Speaking from his throne the sky? Ask Him, if your knotted scourges, Matches, blood-extorting screws, Hark! He answers wild tornadoes, By our blood in Afric wasted, No. Ere our necks received the chain; By the miseries that we tasted, Crossing in your barks the main ; By our sufferings, since ye brought us To the man-degrading mart; All sustain❜d by patience, taught us Only by a broken heart; Deem our nation brutes no longer, Slaves of gold, whose sordid dealings PITY FOR POOR AFRICANS. Video meliora proboque, Deteriora sequor. I OWN I am shock'd at the purchase of slaves, And fear those, who buy them and sell them, are knaves; [groans, What I hear of their hardships, their tortures, and Is almost enough to draw pity from stones. I pity them greatly, but I must be mum, What, give up our desserts, our coffee, and tea! Besides, if we do, the French, Dutch, and Danes Will heartily thank us, no doubt, for our pains: If we do not buy the poor creatures, they will, And tortures and groans will be multiplied still. If foreigners likewise would give up the trade. Much more in behalf of your wish might be said. But, while they get riches by purchasing blacks, Pray tell me why we may not also go snacks? Your scruples and arguments bring to my mind A youngster at school, more sedate than the rest, He was shock'd, sir, like you, and answer'd"Oh no! [don't go ; What! rob our good neighbour! I pray you Besides the man's poor, his orchard's his bread, Then think of his children, for they must be fed." "You speak very fine, and you look very grave, They spoke, and Tom ponder'd-"I see they will go: Poor man! what a pity to injure him so! "If the matter depended alone upon me, [tree; His apples might hang till they dropp'd from the But since they will take them, I think I'll go too, He will lose none by me, though I get a few." |