But he (they knew) nor ship nor shore, Nor, cruel as it seem'd, could he Yet bitter felt it still to die He long survives who lives an hour And so long he, with unspent power, And ever as the minutes flew, That tells his name, his worth, his age, Is wet with Anson's tear: I therefore purpose not, or dream, To give the melancholy theme But misery still delights to trace 200 THE NEGRO'S COMPLAINT. No voice divine the storm allay'd, But I beneath a rougher sea, And whelm'd in deeper gulfs than he, THE NEGRO'S COMPLAINT. FORCED from home and all its pleasures, To increase a stranger's treasures, 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? 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, Are the means that duty urges, Agents of his will to use? Hark! he answers-Wild tornadoes Where his whirlwinds answer-No. By our blood in Afric wasted, Deem our nation brutes no longer, 202 PITY FOR POOR AFRICANS. Slaves of gold, whose sordid dealings PITY FOR POOR AFRICANS. Video meliora proboque, 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, His comrades had plotted an orchard to rob, He was shock'd, sir, like you, and answer'd 'Oh, no! [go; What! rob our good neighbour! I pray you don't 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 Poor man! what a pity to injure him so! [go: Poor man! I would save him his fruit if I could, But staying behind would do him no good. 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.' His scruples thus silenced, Tom felt more at ease, And went with his comrades the apples to seize; He blamed and protested, but join'd in the plan; He shared in the plunder, but pitied the man. |