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HUMANITY.
PRICE FIVE SHILLINGS.
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HUMANITY, OR THE RIGHTS OF NATURE, A POEM; IN TWO BOOKS. BY THE AUTHOR OF SYMPATHY.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, STRAND.
1788.
PREFACE.
[]THE Reader is requeſted to conſider this Performance as a GENERAL OUTLINE, with here and there ſome ſketched features, of a Work, the nature of which, is frequently alluded to in different parts of the Poem, and the Title is ſpecified on a ſeparate leaf at the end.
What I ventured abroad ſome years ſince under the title of SYMPATHY—a poem, which on account of the intereſts created in the Heart, by the ſubject itſelf, was received by the Public with ſo much generous warmth—was intended to ſerve as a Preliminary to what I had farther to obſerve on SOCIETY, or a Proſpect of the HUMAN RACE, under the combined in⯑fluences of CLIME and GOVERNMENT, RELIGIONS, LAWS and LIBERTIES—From theſe, the tranſition to TYRANNY was natu⯑ral and ſtrongly in connexion; and from TYRANNY, I felt my⯑ſelf called upon by all the awakened emotions of HUMANITY, to conſider SLAVERY; but not only that ſpecies of it which conſiſts in buying and ſelling our Fellow-Creatures in Africa—BUT EVERY OTHER KIND, in EVERY OTHER PLACE. Views, therefore, of FREEDOM and BONDAGE, throughout the different parts of the globe, have been taken, as well from experience, as the beſt hiſtorical evidence.
[ii]In the order of my Poem on SOCIETY, perhaps the part which relates to the Inhuman Treatment of Negroes (for the Treat⯑ment appears to me more criminal than the Traffic) might not have taken the lead; not from any idea that theſe unhappy Be⯑ings are leſs entitled to the Rights of Nature, or the Regulations of Society, then any other parts of the HUMAN SPECIES; but, becauſe, according to the ſeries I meant to obſerve, the Proſpect of the quarter of the Globe where this Trade principally ſubſiſts, would have been out of time and place. This objection being done away by the emulative Benevolence which is now excited in the Empire on this ſubject, it affords me the greateſt pleaſure that, by an anticipation of ſo much of what I had to remark on AFRICA as is confined to the Slave Trade (which, however, by no means exhauſts what remains yet to be ſaid in that diviſion of my future work) I have a fair opportunity, and at a ſeaſonable moment, to enforce the appeals of thoſe who have the ſtrongeſt claims on HUMANITY, in a performance devoted to its general intereſts.
How far the entire Abolition, ſo warmly contended for by the ſupporters of this meaſure, may be conſiſtent with human policy, it is not my purpoſe particularly to enquire. It is not the name of Slave in itſelf, which produces the great miſ⯑chief. An hired ſervant in Eu [...]ope may be as little at his own command, and deſtined to as hard labour as a purchaſed Negro in Africa; but the eſſential difference conſiſts in the one being guarded by the laws of the land, which ſpread before his perſon and his property a ſhield that defends him from every abuſe of power; and the other is left naked and defenceleſ to the "inſo⯑lence of office."
[iii]HUMANITY requires that the RIGHTS OF NATURE ſhould be enjoyed by every Human Being. It is therefore againſt the ſhock⯑ing barbarity, * the unqueſtionable cruelty, and the too well-atteſt⯑ed horror, growing out of theſe, that I contend.—An abolition of theſe enormities is abſolutely neceſſary. For the reſt, whether the commerce flouriſhes or falls, is a matter of no moment to the Philanthropiſt: without engaging in the heats of political contro⯑verſy; without attending to the pleas of intereſt on the one ſide, or the ſallies of enthuſiaſtic zeal (though generous in its exceſſes) on the other, it is ſufficient to Him that the happineſs of the ſpecies in general, is made independent on the tyranny of particu⯑lar individuals,—that the laws of ſubordination, in the different claſſes of SOCIETY, ſhould not violate the laws of humanity,—and that ſo much of liberty ſhould be allowed to every man, a [...] to feel a conſciouſneſs of his being a link in the great chain of the community; and that till by ſome act of his own it is neceſſary for the good of the whole that he ſhould be conſidered as an outcaſt of ſociety, he is, by the Rights of nature and of Rea⯑ſon, entitled to protection from inſult, miſery and death.—So far as the wealth, can be reconciled to the happineſs, of nations, and the Eſtabliſhments of Civil Society to the Rights of Nature, [iv]every lover of his country muſt ſubſcribe: at the fame time, as the wealth of worlds cannot juſtify the leaſt wanton infraction of the laws of Humanity, whoever vainly attempts to ſupport an argu⯑ment for the one, at the expence of the other, erects a building which hath its foundation in the ſands, and which muſt tumble into ruins at the ſlighteſt touch of Reaſon and of Truth.
Under this plain Conviction, I have felt and written, and ſhall continue to feel and write, upon Liberty and Slavery, Humanity and Nature; and I now ſubmit my Sentiments to the candid, conſider⯑ation of the Public, without any undue conſidence of ſucceſs, or unmanly dread of miſcarriage.—I have not thruſt upon the world, what I wiſh it to honour with notice, without the pre⯑vious approbation of ſome great, and good minds; but (very contrary to the caſe with which in earlier life I uſed to reconcile myſelf to haſty publication) were I not now to go to preſs till I was ſatisfied with my own performance, thoſe whoſe partiality diſpoſes them to praiſe, would blame me for unreaſonable delay; and thoſe, who are more prone to cenſure, would no more be indebted to me for furniſhing them with ſubject for the exerciſe of their favourite talent. On every great and national occaſion, however, our country has a claim on the beſt ſervices we have to offer; and wherever they fall ſhort of our wiſhes, or even of our own conceptions, the proverbial apology, that the ‘Intention ſanctifies the Deed,’ ought to operate in our favour. Should the deed, in any meaſure, do juſtice to the intentions, in the preſent inſtance, applauſe will not be withheld, but it will only ſerve to animate my future exertions, to prove more deſerving of it.
[FOR THE ERATTA SEE LAST PAGE.]
HUMANITY.
BOOK I.
[]FROM vernal blooms and many a fragrant bow'r,
The red'ning bloſſom and unfolding flower,
From breezy mountains and the covert vale,
The gliding water and the whiſpering gale,
From gayer ſcenes where careleſs Fancy ſtray'd,
Baſk'd in the ſun, or frolick'd in the ſhade,
Ambitious grown, and touch'd by generous praiſe,
Now turns the MUSE to more advent'rous lays;
No more ſhe paints the tints of bluſhing morn,
Nor hangs the dew-drop on the trembling thorn;
[2] No more the brook runs murmuring in her line,
No more fair Spring, her florid verſe is thine;
Farewell, a long farewell, to founts and flow'rs,
Far loftier themes demand her thoughtful powers.
Where'er, ſublime SOCIETY expands,
By art or nature form'd, thy potent bands,
Thro' realms of heat, where faints th' expiring breeze,
Or piercing climes, where the ſun ſeems to freeze;
In darkſome caverns, on tremendous ſteeps,
Th' embow'ring foreſt, or the billowy deeps;
Where roars the gulph, or where the ſtreamlets flow,
Or dazzling mountains riſe of endleſs ſnow,
Soon ſhall ſhe dare to wing the vaſt domain,
THY awful power the ſubject of her ſtrain.
But, ah! firſt kneeling at Compaſſion's ſhrine,
Her opening lay, HUMANITY, be thine!
For thou her guardian, patroneſs, and guide,
She owns with rapture, and obeys with pride!
[3] Thee ſhe invokes, oh! ſoother of diſtreſs,
Who with our kindneſs wove our happineſs;
For as thy circling virtues round us move,
From their beſt deeds thy brighteſt joys we prove;
Oft as our neighbour ſinks in ſudden grief,
Thou wak'ſt as ſudden to afford relief.
Oft as the ſtranger's boſom heaves with ſighs,
The ſoft reſponſes in our boſoms riſe:
The cries of terror and the throes of care,
The groan of miſery, and diſtraction's glare,
Sickneſs that droops, diſeaſe that gaſps for breath,
The howl of madneſs, and the ſhrieks of death,
Deep ſounds of agony that moſt affright,
Dread views of horror that moſt blaſt the ſight,
Dire as they are, like wond'rous magnets draw,
And own, HUMANITY, thy ſacred law.
And oh! 'tis THINE, when vital breath ſeems fled,
To ſeek the awful confines of the dead;
[4] Drag the pale victim from the whelming wave,
And ſnatch the body from the floating grave;
Beneath the billow, tho' entomb'd it lies,
Thy dauntleſs zeal the roaring main defies;
Inſpir'd by HIM, whoſe hallow'd touch reſtor'd
The darling babe the widow's ſoul deplor'd,
Her matron boſom eas'd of dire alarms,
And gave the child to her deſpairing arms,
'Tis THINE to plunge into the bloating flood,
Claſp the ſwol'n frame and thaw the frozen blood;
Breathe in the lips reanimating fire,
Till warm'd to SECOND LIFE, the DROWN'D reſpire.
Hark! as thoſe lips once more begin to move,
What ſounds aſcend of gratitude and love!
Now with the GREAT REDEEMER's praiſe they glow,
Then bleſs the * agents of his power below;
New ſprung to life, the renovated band,
Joyful before their ſecond Saviours ſtand;
[5] And oh far ſweeter than the breathing ſpring,
Fairer than Paradiſe, the wreaths they bring!
The bliſsful homage reſcu'd friends impart;
Th' enraptur'd incenſe of a parent's heart,
Oe'r-aw'd, and wond'ring at themſelves, they ſee
And feel the power of ſoft HUMANITY!
When ſovereign Reaſon from her throne is hurl'd,
And with her all the ſubject ſenſes whirl'd,
From ſweet HUMANITY, the nurſe of grief,
Even thy deep woes, O PHRENZY! find relief;
For tho' the treſſes looſe and boſom bare,
And maniac glance thy hapleſs ſtate declare,
With gentle hand ſhe ſtill ſupports thy head,
Beguiles thy wand'ring wit, and ſmoothes thy bed;
Aſſiſts thy roving fancy in its flight,
To crown thy airy ſallies with delight;
An healing balm to thy warp'd ſenſe ſhe brings,
Till from her ſoftneſs magic comfort ſprings,
[6] And joys which reaſon with a frown denies,
Her tender pity with a ſmile ſupplies;
Ev'n in thy priſon-houſe ſhe bids thee draw
From the ruſh ſceptre, and the crown of ſtraw,
The mimic truncheon, and the love-knot true,
Full many a tranſport Reaſon never knew;
And at thy grated cell ſhe oft appears,
She culls thee flowers, and bathes them with her tears;
The perfum'd violet and the blooming roſe,
On thy hurt mind a tranſient bliſs beſtows;
Into a thouſand ſhapes the garlands change,
As fairy fancy takes its antic range;
Then as thy brows the fragrant wreaths adorn,
The roſes ſeem to bloom without a thorn.
Yet not to woes confin'd, for pleaſure's ſong,
The reckleſs frolics of the village throng;
Ev'n as we paſs them by in diſtant lands,
THOU mak'ſt our own, and oft we join the bands;
[7] The ſudden ſounds of happineſs we hail,
And ſwell the chorus echoing in the gale;
Gladly we pauſe, then blythe purſue our way,
While brighter ſunſhine ſeems to gild the day;
For from the jovial groupe as we depart,
THY richer ſunſhine beams upon the heart;
Thus bliſs is doubled, and thus pain can warm,
From thee, HUMANITY, both boaſt a charm;
We chear, are chear'd, now grant and now receive,
And need, in turn, the comfort which we give.
Thus thy fair ſtreams ſpread plenty where they run,
Yet bleſs the fountains whence thoſe ſtreams begun;
Like the rich NILE thy ſources ne'er are dry,
Although a thouſand channels they ſupply.
But Thou from whom theſe boſom'd comforts flow,
HUMANITY! thou friend to joy and woe,
Haſt ſtill ordain'd, that grief to crimes belong,
And that keen anguiſh ſhall attend on wrong;
[8] Pride, hate, revenge, and tyranny, and ſtrife,
As they mix poiſons in the bowl of life,
Daſh their own cup, and impotently try
To break, unpuniſh'd, nature's ſocial tie:
Good, is of good productive, ill, of ill,
Conſcience o'er both exerts her empire ſtill,
And this great truth ſhall ev'ry tyrant know,
THE WOE HE GIVES, SHALL BE REPAID BY WOE.
Is there a land where echoing Fame extends,
From her proud cliff to earth's remoteſt ends,
Where gently ſlop'd the teeming vales are ſeen,
Adorn'd like Eden's with eternal green,
Where ev'ry village glows with every wealth,
The ſhowers are riches, and the breezes health;
Where the ſun gives ſerene his temper'd ray,
But never ſcourges with exceſſive day;
Where female beauty ſheds her faireſt blooms,
And lovlieſt feature, lovelieſt grace aſſumes;
[9] Darts ſtrongeſt magic from the potent eye,
Breaks in the bluſh, and ſhoots along the ſigh;
Where ev'ry ſcene is prodigal of charms,
True courage kindles, and true glory warms,
Where brave reſiſtance lifts the conquering arm,
And ſocial bleſſings lend their ſofteſt charm;
Where rear'd to Virtue, Chriſtian temples tow'r,
And melting Charity chaſtiſes pow'r,
Conducts the naked ſtranger to her dome,
And grants the houſeleſs wanderer an home,
Where equal laws ſuch genial mildneſs ſhew,
They beam ſweet mercy on a captive foe?
O native Britons! here aſſert your claim,
Boaſt of your ISLE and juſtify her fame!
Tell, how her youth by ſacred ſcience led,
To all the ſoft'ning charities are bred;
How ſecond childhood, like the firſt, receives,
From her the cradle which compaſſion gives!
[10] Tell, how her palaces of mercy riſe,
Large tho' the wants ſtill larger the ſupplies;
How, her kind * GILBERT frames protective laws,
A faithful champion in the poor man's cauſe;
How, even now, intent on god-like deeds,
Thy wants and woes, O! POVERTY, he pleads:
Earneſt thy oft-invaded rights to ſpare,
From the hard hand that would thy pittance tear,
E'en from thy lip, nor heed thy tear-dimm'd eye,
Thy ſpectre form, and pity-moving cry:
Tell how her † BIRCH, whoſe heart is form'd to bleſs,
The ſad to ſuccour, and the wrong'd redreſs;
The raviſh'd morſel of the poor to ſave,
The work to crown her warm aſſiſtance gave.
Tell how her ‡ POTTER aids the generous plan,
As bard her pride, her nobler boaſt as man:
[11] Tell, how her HOWARD's ſympathizing ſoul,
Extends the Saviour-arm from pole to pole:
Crutch to the lame, and viſion to the blind,
Tell, how ſhe ſooths the ills that ſcourge mankind:
All this proclaim, till nations bleſs the zone,
And happy Albion marks it for her own!
Juſt is the boaſt! yet why to home confin'd
Are the ſoft mercies of thy Albion's mind?
Why, at her bidding, rolls the crimſon flood,
To deluge AFRIC in her children's blood?
Why torn from Sire, from children, and from wife,
Dragg'd at her wheels, are captives chain'd for life;
And why do hecatombs each day expire,
Smote by her mangling whip and murderous fire?
Thoſe ſtripes, thoſe yielding ſhrieks that rend the air,
Ill fated AFRICA, thy wrongs declare?
Bluſh, Britain bluſh, for thou, 'tis thou haſt ſold
A richer gem than India's mines can hold;
[12] Traffic'd thy ſoft HUMANITY away,
And turn'd her ſtrongeſt objects into prey!
Thy generous ſons upon that fatal ſhore,
Their nature loſe, and harden into ore:
There greedy avarice, rears his venal throne,
'Midſt ſeas of blood that float the ſultry zone;
With wiry laſh and iron rod he ſways,
The tyrant orders, and the ſlave obeys;
Havoc and horror rage at his command,
And diſſolution covers all the land!
O! that my Muſe could mount on Nature's wing,
Soar like her "darling," her lov'd Shakeſpeare, ſing!
Then ev'ry word ſhould "harrow up the ſoul"
And Afric's wrongs reſound from pole to pole!
Thrice humble HOWARD, ah! do thou inſpire
And breath thy Godlike ſpirit in my lyre,
For, all accuſtom'd as thou art, to ſee
The direſt ſcenes of human miſery,
[13] To go where nature ſcourges with diſeaſe,
"* And ſpotted deaths load ev'ry tainted breeze;
Where ev'n the ſtrong Antipathies aſſail,
Haunts of the filth-fed toad, and ſlimy ſnail,
The noxious caverns, and abhorrent caves,
Where wretches pace alive around their graves:
While hollow echoes ring their endleſs knells
Thro' deep-ſcoop'd vaults and ſlow-conſuming cells;"
Ne'er did thy eyes ſuch marks of horror trace,
As hourly agonize the Negro race!
Prove then the priſoner and the mourner's friend,
And once again thy virtuous influence lend;
"So raptur'd notes, as if by Angles giv'n,
Once more ſhall peal the harmonies of Heaven:"
Again the virtues that revere thy name,
Wide o'er the realm, ſhall ſpread th' ingenuous flame,
[14] Pity's high prieſt the righteous cauſe ſhall plead,
And ſhouts of joy to cries of blood ſucced;
HOWARDS unnumber'd ſhall the truth embrace,
"And feel a-kin to all the human race:
Again, ſhall Avarice ſuſpend his art
And feel again, ſubdu'd, his rugged heart;
His boſom looſen'd from the ſullen ore,
The rock ſhall guſh in bleſſings to the poor.
Wouldſt thou the map of ſlavery ſurvey,
And the dire circuit of the trade diſplay,
Dart thy aſtoniſh'd eye o'er diſtant lands,
From Senegal to Gambia's burning ſands,
Purſue the bluſhing lines to Congo's ſhore,
Then traverſe many a league, Benguela o'er,
Career immenſe! o'er which the merchant reigns,
And drags reluctant MILLIONS in his chains!
COMMERCE! thou ſaileſt on a ſanguine flood,
On a red ſea of Man's devoted blood;
[15] Thy pompous robe, tho' gemm'd as India's ſtore,
Proud, tho' it flows, is dy'd in human gore.
The tears of millions bathe thy fatal cane,
And half thy treaſure ſprings from human pain,
And not an idol on thy altars ſhine
But human victims ſtain the crimſon ſhrine!
And thou, O INT'REST! dark, inſidious power,
Whoſe ſanction'd arts waſte nations in an hour;
Whoſe mining frauds, more fatal ſtill, deſtroy
Hope's tender bloſſom, and the fruits of joy;
Thou, to whom all the coward ſlights belong,
Thy heart too cruel for a generous wrong,
For fierce Revenge, that fever of the ſoul,
Hate that defies, and Love that ſpurns controul,
Or mad'ning Jealouſy when Reaſon bends,
Or Zeal, extravagant to liberal ends,
Thou, who, for noble faults like theſe, too cold,
Whoſe vices n'er aſpire, but ſtoop to gold,
[16] That groveling paſſion of the ſordid breaſt,
Like Aaron's ſerpent ſwallowing up the reſt;
Theft, rapine, plunder, fraud, and murder, ſtand,
Fell miniſters! to wait thy dire command.
Yes thou, the founder of this impious trade,
Mad'ſt him a ſlave, that nature never made,
Tore the poor Indian from his native ſoil,
And chain'd him down to never-ending toil.
Ah! luſcious miſchief, ſlave-creating CANE,
Of ev'ry ſoft HUMANITY the bane:
Thy venom'd ſweet, whoſe ſoul-polluting art
Like ſome maſk'd poiſon, eats into the heart,
Sweet tho' thou art, an aſpic ſting is thine,
And into ſhambles, Chriſtians turn thy ſhrine:
Thou, like vile Gold, from the embowel'd earth,
By avarice dragg'd reluctantly to birth,
To taſte thy charm are groaning nations bound,
And half mankind in kindred blood are drown'd!
[17]
Say, MUSE, from whence th' unnatural mart began,
The ſordid merchandiſe, and ſale of man?
From Egypt firſt the Ethiop traffic came,
But dawn'd ſo mild, that ſlavery was not ſhame;
While nature yet preſerv'd ſome generous right,
The yoke was eaſy and the burthen light;
And here the patriarch law each wrong reſtrain'd,
And "eye for eye, and tooth for tooth" ordain'd.
Soon o'er th' Aegean waves the trade was brought,
Travell'd to GREEce, till ROME th' infection caught;
Yet temperate ſtill, no tyranny aroſe,
Till baneful LUXURY marſhall'd all her woes;
Conquerors, their captives, with a ſmile receiv'd,
And whom the brave embrac'd they ne'er deceiv'd;
The battle o'er, they bade contention ceaſe,
And foes in war were humble friends in peace,
The pledge was ſolemn, and the vow ſincere,
The union ſacred, and the compact dear.
[18]
But oh! fair ATHENS, when the commerce drew
To thy lov'd ſhore, the bonds yet gentler grew,
The ſlave could boaſt a guardian in thy laws,
And ſummon juſtice to ſupport his cauſe,
Ev'n to thy holy altars might repair,
Aſſert his claims and find them honour'd there:
In roſy fetters were thy pris'ners bound,
And in captivity with freedom crown'd;
Wiſdom in peace, or valour in the war,
The faithful counſel or the glorious ſcar,
Attachment prov'd, and ſervitude ſuſtain'd
With manly zeal, their liberty regain'd;
With his own hand the maſter loos'd the yoke,
But the ſlave ſcarce perceiv'd the bonds were broke,
So ſoft the texture, he ne'er felt their weight,
Nor chang'd his maſter tho' he chang'd his ſtate:
Captive no more, he ſtill purſu'd his toil,
And grateful vow'd allegiance to the ſoil.
[19] Yes, claſſic ATHENS, nurſe of generous arts,
Thine was the throb HUMANITY imparts;
To freemen roſe thy ſlaves, and then aſpir'd,
To all thy ſons, to all thy ſtate requir'd;
Ev'n to Athenian loyalty they grew,
Till ſcarce thy citizens a difference knew;
While ſhameleſs SPARTA butcher'd half her ſlaves,
Convulſive ſhook, and dug untimely graves.
Deſpis'd, abhor'd, and dreaded was their ſway,
To all a tyrant's guilt and fears a prey:
Thou too, loſt ROME, how galling was thy chain
In thoſe dire times, when mercy ſu'd in vain;
When cut to atoms was the debtor's heart,
That each hard creditor might claim his part!
And oh! degraded GREECE, how fall'n thy ſtate,
Once like thy ſplendid rival wiſe and great;
Nor leſs her rival in thy vices found,
Both ſoaring now, now ſinking to the ground;
How dimm'd thy orb, when Sages could ordain,
The ſanguine whip, and vindicate the chain:
[20] When thy grave PLUTARCH, wiſe, diſcreet, and brave,
Stern in philoſophy could ſtab his ſlave;
And thy DEMOSTHENES, in thunders urge,
The ſovereign virtues of the mangling ſcourge;
O blind! to think where ſmiles and kindneſs fail
To touch the ſoul, that frowns and ſtripes prevail!
Hail tender ADRIAN, firſt on Rome's record,
Who drew diſtinct the line 'twixt ſlave and lord;
Who with ſweet mercy temper'd awful power,
While pity's angel hail'd th' auſpicious hour!
Thou Chriſtian emperor in whoſe generous breaſt
The light of pure devotion ſhone impreſs'd,
That ſacred light deſcending from above,
An emanation of coeleſtial love;
With ſpeed of light'ning ſpread the lambent ray,
Till realms of darkneſs kindled into day;
From God himſelf the ſpark etherial came,
And man ador'd the ſoul-illuming flame!
[21] Thou too, juſt CONSTANTINE, with gentle ſway,
Bade all be free and all that God obey;
The fire from Heav'n a general luſtre ſhed,
And the foul miſts of ſuperſtition fled;
Fair Faith was crown'd, her banner was diſplayed,
Sunk was the croſier and the croſs prevail'd.
But ah! once more to ſtain the bloody ſhrine
And ſell mankind, O PORTUGAL, was thine;
To thee ill-fated Afric owes her pain,
The ſcourge freſh pointed and the new forg'd chain;
Thine the baſe arts the ſons of gold applaud,
The ſmile deceptive, and the ſnare of fraud,
Th' extended hand that chaſes fear away,
Th' embrace that wins affection to betray,
The league of peace in policy devis'd,
The compact broken and the oath deſpis'd,
To lure the heart all ſmooth ſeductions try'd,
And the heart gain'd, diſguiſe's thrown aſide:
[22] The plot avow'd, the promiſe boldly broke,
By the harſh driver and the galling yoke.
Accurs'd GONZALES taught thee firſt the art,
To ſix this ſtigma on his country's heart;
The dire example ſpread with barbarous rage,
Thrift was the vice, and ſpar'd nor ſex nor age;
At length the traffic into ſyſtem came,
Th' infection flew, till Britain caught the flame;
Deteſted HAWKINS arm'd his pirate hoſt,
And wolfe-like prowl'd on Guinea's fated coaſt;
Force, brib'ry, ſtratagem, were all employ'd,
O ſhame! till twice ten millions were deſtroy'd.
The work of Chriſtians this, whoſe lawleſs rage
Taught milder ſavages foul wars to wage;
Chriſtians taught ſavages new modes of ſtrife,
And burſt aſunder all the ties of life;
Chriſtians taught ſavages to worſhip gold,
Till, for their idol, ſons and ſires were ſold:
[23] Till ſleeping tribes at midnight's hour were caught,
And ſeiz'd as prey, to public market brought;
Till from the breaſt the babe was ſtol'n away,
And children kidnapp'd in the face of day.
Next tawny SPAIN the ſhameful trade purſu'd,
Theft grew familiar, tyranny enſued;
The tawny ſlave on his oppreſſor pour'd,
And mad with ſmart, his haughty lord devour'd:
Inſidious SPAIN! ſtill vanity thy guide,
Thou mixture loath'd of penury and pride,
Slothful in dignity, ſupine in ſtate,
Active alone in cruelty and hate:
Commerce, like this, might well command thy zeal,
O! patron of the agonizing wheel!
From where wild Biſcay throws its foam around,
And aids the deaf'ning tempeſts frantic ſound;
Ev'n to the ſteeps where Pyrenees aſcend,
And like a rocky chain their links extend,
[24] The nations ſhuddered as it ſprang to birth,
And throes unwonted ſhook the lab'ring earth!
Thou, TORQUEMADA, thy aſſiſtance gave,
To fix this engine which the thoughts enſlave;
Sedately ſavage, thou could'ſt calm behold,
Men ſcatter'd piece-meal, tho' thy rage was cold:
Quaff'd the warm blood, enforc'd the torturing power,
And view'd with horrid joy the flames devour.
School'd in thy climes demoniac arts, could bear
To ſee the cord inflict, the pincers tear;
Array'd thy victims in the rich attire,
And danc'd, like Satan, round thy feaſt of fire.
Ah! well might SLAVERY thrive in ſuch a hand,
For all are ſlaves in a deſpotic land;
Precarious life is paſs'd in trembling awe,
And the proud tyrant owns the breath they draw.
POWER, like a miſer, ſpreads the greedy hand,
Still ſtepping onward, never at a ſtand,
[25] A ſubtle miner working ſtill his way,
In av'rice of accumulating ſway;
Tools would be ſtateſmen, ſtateſmen would be kings,
And they would mount upon the angels wings;
POWER firſt advances with a modeſt air,
But, born a tyrant, quickly learns to dare;
By due degrees he throws each barrier down,
Thinks ſtrength is right, and calls the world his own;
At length grown abſolute, aſſumes the God,
And proves at once a peſtilence and rod,
Till, grown incautious, ſome raſh point he tries,
And in the ruin of his project lies.
Behold where fated FLORIDA extends,
His blood-track'd courſe the fell VELASQUEZ bends,
Launches his guilty bark upon the waves,
To kidnap free-born men and make them ſlaves!
See, as he gains the chain-devoted land,
The ſable natives hurry to the ſtrand,
[26] His ſailing caſtle on the waves they view,
And gaz'd with wonder as it near them drew;
But on the deck when human forms appear'd,
And peaceful ſignals ſmil'd, no more they fear'd;
'Twas MAN they truſted, MAN who ſpoke them fair,
Cajol'd their faith, and lur'd them to the ſnare!
And now as gueſts they land, as gueſts are led,
Thro' palmy groves to every Indian ſhed;
The Spaniards there their glitt'ring ſtores unfold,
The ſhining mirrour, and the toy of gold;
Each gaudy bauble, cheats the Indian's eyes,
And tricks his paſſions into fond ſurprize,
Teaches new luxuries and wants unknown,
Till Europe's vice and folly is his own;
The uſeleſs ornaments his ſenſes fire,
And each freſh gewgaw kindles freſh deſire;
Fair in the glaſs another ſelf he ſees,
Till harmleſs wonder ſwells to vanities;
[27] From lures like theſe the baneful paſſions grow,
And what began in pleaſure ends in woe:
Frauds heap'd on frauds to purchaſe theſe were taught,
And every trinket was with blood-ſhed bought.
But ſoon as gueſts, in turn, the Indian bands
Condemn'd, alas! to quit their native lands
No fraud ſuſpecting, mount the treacherous ſhip,
Where, as in ambuſh, lie the chains and whip;
Like neſted ſnakes, whoſe poiſons are enroll'd
Mid'ſt wreaths of flowers, in many a ſhining fold;
The faithleſs Spaniard leaves the plunder'd ſhore,
His fraud ſucceeds, and freedom is no more.
Then o'er th' affrighted waves is heard the yell
Of mingled thouſands in their wat'ry Hell,
Shut from the light, unknowing yet their doom,
The veſſel proves a priſon and a tomb:
In the dark caverns of the bark they lie,
Live to freſh horrors or in bondage die;
[28] While the baſe tyrant glorying in his ſnare,
Mocks at the loud rebuke and dumb deſpair.
Soon as the veſſel bore the tribes away,
What horrors ſeiz'd upon the trembling prey!
Ah! hear the ſhrieks of kindred left behind,
Roll to the wave and gather in the wind!
Matrons with orphans, ſons with ſires appear,
But vain affection's ſhriek and nature's tear:
The Spainſh pirate ploughs the watr'y plains,
And plants his cannon at the thin remains;
The flaming balls the wailing natives reach,
And added ſlaughter ſtains the crimſon beach;
All, all is loſt; but with a generous pride,
E'en ſlaves ſpurn life, when freedom is deny'd:
"Free, ſtill be free, loud echoes to the ſky,
Dare not to live in bondage, dare to die!"
But oh! ye Chriſtian ſavages, declare
On what unknown prerogative ye dare?
[29] Peaceful and bleſt, where rich Bananas grew,
And nature freſhen'd as the ſea-breeze blew,
Where harveſts ſmil'd without the aid of toil,
And verdure gladden'd the exuberant ſoil,
Where ſummer held ſo bountiful a ſway,
Scarce claim'd their year, the culture of a day,
The plants at twilight truſted to the earth,
The following morn ſprang blooming into birth,
Grac'd with the bow, the Indians harmleſs ran,
And undiſturb'd enjoy'd the rights of man:
The rights of man by nature ſtill are due,
To men of ev'ry clime and every hue;
Their arrows ſought the monſters of the wood,
The chaſe at once their paſtime and their food,
Bower'd by th' umbrageous vine, they thought no wrong,
Now wreath'd the dance, and carol'd now the ſong;
And oft ſome ſable miſtreſs of the ſoul,
Prepar'd the banquet, and partook the bowl:
[30] Shar'd every bliſs that genuine nature gave,
And often own'd the vanquiſh'd heart a ſlave.
The willing captive, wore fair beauty's chain,
And pleas'd, ſubmitted to the tender pain.
If giant POWER confers this wanton ſway,
Subdues the ſtrong, and makes the weak obey,
Does power give RIGHT? beware that dangerous plea,
Perchance its tendency thou do'ſt not ſee.
The ſlave once ſtronger than thyſelf, ſhall ſtand,
And ſeize intripid on thy ſtern command;
Arm'd with thy iron ſceptre bid thee toil,
Scar thy white ſkin, and chain thee to the ſoil:
Thy ſpirit fainting in the glare of day,
Shall bid thee naked brave the torrid ray,
Retort thy ſcorn, retaliate all thy rage,
Wear out thy youth, and murder thee in age;
Tear from thy fetter'd arms thy child and wife,
And blaſt the budding promiſes of life;
[31] Repay, in turn, each ſtroke thy baſeneſs gave,
And make thee feel what 'tis to be a ſlave.
Ah! falſe as fatal! to the Weak and Strong,
Th'inherent rights of nature ſtill belong:
No partial principles the juſt impel
To thinking wiſely, or to acting well;
For liberty, of all mankind the cauſe,
Becomes a forfeit only to the laws,
Thoſe ſacred compacts which like links ſuſtain,
Connecting parts of the great ſocial chain:
And while, with theſe, no member is at ſtrife,
As full the right to liberty as life:
Alike the boon of heav'n, and never ends,
From ſire to ſon, from ſon to ſire deſcends;
Avaunt aſſertors of ſuperior right,
And vain diſtinctions betwixt black and white.
Firm and immovable on nature's baſe,
Stands the grand charter of the human race;
[32] For HE who gave us life bade life be free,
And, to enhance his gift, ſent Liberty!
Then, whence this wond'rous difference in our race?
Come creſted Pride, and the diſtinction trace:
Lo, from th' Equator to the northern pole,
Tho' colours change, unchangeable the ſoul!
If juſtly bought the man of deepeſt die,
By equal laws the next in ſhade we buy;
So, ſoft'ning on, till ſcarce a tint between
The haughty lord and humble ſlave is ſeen;
Springs the vain boaſt from thy ſuperior WHITE,
Vain prepoſſeſſion of thy partial ſight?
Beware, fallacious reas'ner, leſt the North
His whiter rival ſends indignant forth!
Ah! rather bluſhing hide thy ſnowy ſkin,
For know thy ſlave paints white the ſire of ſin;
And darker than himſelf he draws the POW'R,
Which, as his ſovereign good his race adore;
[33] Thy cruelty has taught him to deſpiſe,
Like hell thy hue, his own like heav'n to prize.
NATURE and HABIT, human kind controul,
The needle one, and one th' attractive pole;
And what, in Europe, we a grace may call,
Is found in Africa no grace at all;
And what abhorr'd deformity we name,
In many a climate dignifies with fame.
Survey the various globe from ſhore to ſhore,
Weigh MANNERS, CUSTOMS, and be proud no more;
Thou, who would'ſt fix her to the paleſt face,
See, how for theſe ev'n BEAUTY ſhifts her place:
All, all to nature or opinion bow,
Or fond caprices, which from habit flow;
Here BEAUTY proudly boaſts the length'ning head,
There on the ſhoulders bids it broadly ſpread:
[34] Here ſma [...]leſt gems muſt grace the fair one's ear,
And there the pendents large as logs appear;
Here ſee her aſk the locks of ſnowy white,
Yet beg the charm of teeth more dark than night,
Here muſt the broaden'd eye-brow ſhade the face,
There ſoftly curv'd muſt creſcent archings grace:
While here thoſe creſcent archings muſt depart,
Stubb'd from the root for painted brows of art:
Here, BEAUTY loves the cheek ſupremely fair,
There boaſts the gaſh and cheriſhes the ſcar.
In Britain, roſe and lilly muſt unite,
While Damian's Iſthmus, claims the milky white:
The beard muſt here e'en to the girdle flow,
There not a briſtle muſt preſume to grow;
Here the ſwoll'n body, there the ſlender waiſt,
This wrap'd in ſilk, and that in dog-ſkin grac'd;
Here BEAUTY triumphs in her wooly hair,
But waves in wreaths, her auburn treſſes there:
[35] To grace the dames of Europe, fair they flow,
Long and profuſe upon a neck of ſnow,
In ev'ry curl a Cupid ſeems to lie,
To aid the conqueſts of the ſparkling eye.
The thickeſt lip here beauty makes her care,
More ſoftly ſwell'd, like dewy roſe-buds there;
The dazzling white is in this clime admir'd,
In that the gloſſy black is more deſir'd.
Feel humbly then, nor deem all grace thy own,
Nor think that Nature charms in thee alone;
The pooreſt native of the pooreſt coaſt,
Hath ſtill his beauty, ſtill his good to boaſt;
From earth's beginning to its utmoſt ends,
Proportion'd charm, proportion'd bliſs ſhe ſends,
Exact diviſion, but adapted ſtill,
To what in different climes her children feel,
To what, when undebauch'd by man's deſires,
Or fancied wants, neceſſity requires;
[36] Nor ſparing, nor yet prodigal her plan,
With pois'd equality ſhe bleſſes man:
On the worſt ſoil ſome heartfelt joy beſtows,
Which the glad ſon, ſhe there has ſtation'd, knows,
And what from us extorts the taunting ſneer,
May to his ſenſe an happineſs appear,
As the fond gifts which we indulgent deem,
To him an aggravated curſe may ſeem.
Thus kind is nature in her zone ſerene,
But not more kind than in her torrid ſcene;
Not leſs a parent where the frozen Power
Reſides for centuries in his icy tower,
Where the hoar monarch in his veſt of ſnow,
Aſcends the hills where ſuns refuſe to glow.
Vain all diſpute of colour, form or ſize,
* In pride, in pride alone the difference lies;
Whence, then, preſumpt'ous man, proceeds thy right,
And by what law does olive yield to white?
[37] Why has not brown, black, copper, equal claim,
Their nature, origin, and end, the ſame?
All of one ſpecies, all of equal birth,
Tho' ſhifting colours like their parent earth.
If not in colour then, perchance in ſenſe,
In the ſoul's power, may lie the proud pretence,
Ah no! from Nature's hand all equal came,
Thro' ev'ry clime an helpleſs babe's the ſame,
The ſame frail emblem of our ſtate appears,
A weak and helpleſs being born in tears!
If cultur'd climes refine on nature's plan,
They change the mode, but never change the man.
The human paſſions ſtrongly are impreſs'd,
In the untutor'd, as the poliſh'd breaſt;
In the ſwarth African that's bought and ſold,
As the fair plunderer that ſteals his gold,
Heav'n form'd his eyes to love his native hue,
And pointed all his appetites as true,
[38] Thoſe ſable tints, at which with fear we ſtart,
Are the lov'd colours that attract his heart:
Our poliſh'd arts, refinement may beſtow,
But oft enfeeble nature's genuine glow.
In poliſh'd arts unnumber'd virtues lie,
But ah! unnumber'd vices they ſupply;
Here, if they bloom with ev'ry gentler good,
There are they ſteep'd with more than ſavage blood;
Here, with Refinement, if ſweet Pity ſtands,
There Luxury round them muſters all her bands;
'Tis not enough that daily ſlaughter feeds,
That the fiſh leaves its ſtream, the lamb its meads,
That the reluctant ox is dragg'd along,
And the bird raviſh'd from its tender ſong,
That in reward of all her muſic giv'n,
The lark is murder'd as ſhe ſoars to Heav'n.
'Tis not enough, our appetites require
That on their altars hecatombs expire;
[39] But cruel man, a ſavage in his power,
Muſt heap freſh horrors on life's parting hour:
Full many a being that beſtows its breath,
Muſt prove the pang that waits a ling'ring death,
Here, cloſe pent up, muſt gorge unwholeſome food,
There render drop by drop the ſmoaking blood;
The quiv'ring fleſh improves as ſlow it dies,
And Lux'ry ſees th' augmented whiteneſs riſe;
Some creatures gaſh'd muſt feel the torturer's art,
Writhe in their wounds, tho' ſav'd each vital part.
From the hard bruiſe the food more tender grows,
And callous Lux'ry triumphs in the blows:
Some, yet alive, to raging flames conſign'd,
By piercing ſhrieks muſt ſooth our taſte refin'd!
O power of mercy, that ſuſpends the rod!
O ſhame to man, impiety to God!
Thou poliſh'd Chriſtian, in th' untutor'd ſee,
The ſacred rights of ſweet HUMANITY.
[40] Thine is the World, thy crimſon ſpoils enjoy,
But let no wanton arts thy ſoul employ,
Live, tho' thou do'ſt on blood, ah! ſtill refrain,
To load thy victims with ſuperfluous pain;
Ev'n the gaunt tyger, tho' no life he ſaves,
In generous haſte devours what famine craves;
The beſtial paw may check thy human hands,
And teach diſpatch to what thy want demands,
Abridge thy ſacrifice, and bid thy knife,
FOR HUNGER KILL, BUT NEVER SPORT WITH LIFE.
Relief appears as the Muſe ſhifts her place,
To where pure manners bleſs the gentleſt race;
Lo, where the BRAMINS paſs their blameleſs life,
Free from proud culture, free from poliſh'd ſtrife.
To man, brute, inſect, nature's conſtant friends,
The heart embraces and the hands extends;
See the meek tribe refuſe the worm to kill,
No murder feeds them, and no blood they ſpill;
[41] But crop the living herbage as it grows,
And quaff the living water as it flows,
From the full herds, the milky banquet bear,
And the kind herds repay with paſtures fair;
From ſanguine man they drive the game away,
From ſanguine man they ſave the ſinny prey,
The copious grain they ſcatter o'er the mead,
The bird to nouriſh and the beaſt to feed,
The flowers their couch, their roof the arching trees,
And peaceful nights ſucceed to days of eaſe.
O! thou proud Chriſtian, aid fair nature's grace,
And catch compaſſion from the Bramin race:
Their kind extremes and vegetable fare,
Their tender maxims, all that breathe to ſpare:
Suit not thy cultur'd ſtate, but all ſhould know,
Like them to ſave unneceſſary woe;
Like them to give each generous feeling birth,
And prove the friends not tyrants of the earth.
[42]
O ſweet HUMANITY! might pity ſway,
All, all like Bramins would thy voice obey;
For ah! to heighten joy and ſolace woe,
All need, alas! thy tender aid below.
One leans on all, for help, not all on one,
What worm ſo feeble as proud man alone?
The verieſt giant, by himſelf is found,
Frail as the reed that every breeze can wound,
But even the pigmy with aſſociates join'd,
Strong as the oak, can brave the rudeſt wind;
The SOCIAL PASSION opens with our breath,
Purſues thro' life, and follows us to death.
See, as yon infant lull'd in ſlumber lies,
How the fond mother to its cradle flies,
Soft on her faithful breaſt reclines its head,
Her faithful breaſt its banquet and its bed:
Tho' many a ſuffering for its ſake ſhe bore,
They all but ſerve to make her love it more,
[43] For ſoon a kindred paſſion equal burns,
The parent's tenderneſs the child returns,
Runs by her ſide, or ſtruggles to her knee,
And owns the touch of fair HUMANITY:
The child arrived at man, the parent lies,
Sick'ning at life, in haſte her offspring flies,
Explores the chamber, tho' diſeaſe be there,
And hangs with catching deaths the putrid air:
And when, at length, the mother yields to fate,
Stretch'd round her breathleſs form the affections wait;
In mute diſtreſs, and with uplifted hands,
The child ſhe cradled, at her coffin ſtands,
Invokes her ſpirit to aſſuage the woe,
And teach meek patience to endure the blow;
Bleſſes the holy ſhade which gave him birth,
Moves to the grave, and views the opening earth,
A filial ſhudder thro' his frame he proves,
As the duſt falls upon the duſt he loves:
[44] Then, as the time ſteals on with thief-like power,
And brings to him the all-ſubduing hour,
Himſelf, e're this a parent, ſoon ſhall prove
The ſoft'ning offices of filial love,
For thoſe who owe him life ſhall weeping bend,
And his attracting couch as fondly tend,
Watch his dim'd eye, obſerve his changing cheek,
And drink his dying breath to hear him ſpeak,
His lateſt accents in their hearts enſhrine,
As ſainted ſounds of oracles divine;
Thus ſhall he feel the tenderneſs he gave,
And equal tears fall faſt upon his grave.
Tyrants o'er brutes with eaſe extend the plan,
And riſe in cruelty from beaſt to man;
Their ſordid policy each crime allows,
The fleſh that quivers and the blood that flows,
The furious ſtripes that murder in a day,
Or torturing arts that kill by dire delay:
[45] The fainting ſpirit, and the burſting vein,
All, all are reconcil'd to Chriſtian gain.
In cold barbarian apathy behold,
Sits the ſlave-agent bending o'er his gold;
That baſe contractor for the chain and rod,
Who buys and ſells the image of his God.
Callous to ev'ry touch that nature lends,
The bond that ties him to his kind he rends,
Robber at once and butcher of his ſlaves,
Nor grief, nor ſickneſs, age, nor ſex he ſaves,
But plung'd in traffic, coldly can debate,
The parent's deſtiny, the infant's fate;
The teeming mother of her hope deſpoil,
And poiſe the gains of child-birth or of toil.
The ſighs and groans which ſpring from both he ſpurns,
For life or death 'tis gold the balance turns.
O! Pride and Avarice of deluded fools,
Deſpotic maxims taught in foreign ſchools!
[46] Where ſtill the ſcience of a ſlave is taught,
To check the growth of every generous thought;
Where one proud mortal owns the ſubjects breath,
Whiſpers are treaſon, and a word is death.
Tenets like theſe to poliſh'd France belong,
For all ſhe licenſes, is dance and ſong!
The hands are fetter'd tho' the feet are free,
And clos'd the lips in dread of tyranny:
The poor, proud ſubject, ſtill is idly gay,
Skips off his thoughts, and hums his cares away;
As the cag'd bird tho' pris'ner till it die,
Will ſometimes ſing altho' it may not fly.
Thy tree, O LIBERTY! forbid to taſte,
A Frenchman's richeſt genius runs to waſte:
Oft are the ſeeds of freedom in his ſoul,
But none can ſpring amid ſuch hard controul:
In life's freſh morn if chance they dare to ſhoot,
The bud ſcarce peeps e'er Power deſtroys the root:
[47] Nothing can proſper in a ſlaviſh ſoil,
Save ſtinted ſhrubs unworthy of the toil,
Like pallid ſweets of ineffectual May,
That faintly bloom and wither in a day.
Not ſo the plants which LIBERTY beſtows,
That in our Albion's favor'd garden grows;
There lifts the oak its top into the ſkies,
While with glad heart the Briton ſees it riſe,
Uninjur'd there, for ages ſhall it ſtand,
Nor ever quit it but to guard the land:
Then on the deep in gallant pomp it moves,
To ſerve that freedom which its country loves.
Oh! ever ſail, fair Bark, upon thy waves,
Still guard thy England, from a realm of ſlaves:
Oh! ever flow, fair Sea, to guide our coaſt,
Still to divide us from yon abject hoſt;
And ſwell ye Cliffs that canopy our ſtrand,
To frown indignant on that ſervile land;
[48] That land of mutes, of one proud Lord the prey,
A clime where to be dumb is to obey,
Unheard, unſeen, where wretches meet their dooms,
For whom no tear muſt ever bathe their tombs,
Conceal'd the parent's pangs, the lover's ſighs,
Baſtiles for ever frown before their eyes;
Like thoſe they mourn down precipices thrown,
Are all that dare the ties of nature own;
Buried alive, from youth to age they lie,
And ev'n, at laſt, in agonies they die.
Oh! hail'd by men and angels, be the hour,
Which clipp'd ev'n Britons wing, outſtretch'd for power!
Which taught the monarch where his rights ſhould end,
And to what point the ſubjects ſhould extend:
Bade the encroacher know his proper ſphere,
Or for each wrong the meaneſt ſubject fear.
Once Kings controul'd the law, in infant times,
Plunder'd at will, nor anſwer'd for their crimes,
[49] Our juſter ſyſtem ſnaps the tyrant's chains,
Curbs his proud nature, and his rage reſtrains.
Mark by what gradual ſteps Britannia roſe,
As the ſmall acorn to a foreſt grows;
By what variety of adverſe fate,
Terrors of war, and anarchies of ſtate,
What direful griefs by foreign fury bred,
Rivers of blood, and mountains of the dead:
She, paſt advent'rous, e're her wrongs were o'er,
Complete her triumphs, and confirm'd her pow'r.
When, but to look, was treaſon to the ſtate,
And the King's nod, like thund'ring Jove's, was fate;
Not now, as in our ſcribbling James's days,
Plain truth is tortur'd in the ſtateſman's maze;
Then 'twas that thus the royal nonſenſe run,
Our word is law, who murmurs is undone.
Behold the painted natives of the iſle,
Rough as the coaſt, uncultur'd as the ſoil;
[50] Half-naked and half-cover'd ſee them go,
For ſport or war accouter'd with the bow,
The plumy helmet nodding on the head,
And the looſe ſkin acroſs the ſhoulders ſpread,
A rude SOCIETY without a plan,
Above the brute, yet ſcarce arriv'd at man;
But even here was felt the patriot flame,
And from theſe ſparks our noon-tide radiance came;
To guard the huts that ſtretch along the ſtrand,
Arm'd with the ſcythe and wicker ſhield they ſtand,
The chariot mount, or leap upon the ground,
And ſhout victorious to the trumpet's ſound.
Chains, wounds, and death, the hardy chiefs defy,
For Britain conquer, or for Britain die;
The brave CARACTACUS his ſquadrons brought,
And with inferior force undaunted fought:
Tho' rude the race, and ſavage tho' the ſcene,
Freedom call'd forth Iceni's warlike queen,
A martial band great BOADICIA led,
And ev'n a woman for her country bled.
[51] Revenge and liberty inſpir'd the fair,
And poiſon ſav'd her in the laſt deſpair;
This, from ignoble bondage, ſet her free,
And all the ſhame of ROMAN ſlavery.
Thus, in the earlieſt hour of Britains morn,
A Briton's haſte of tyrrany was born!
Abhorrence ſacred, to repel the hand,
That dares to wrong the charter of the land:
Our ſturdy anceſtors, tho' oft ſubdu'd,
But breath'd from war, and ſtrait the charge renew'd;
Now dreſs'd as victims, now as priſoners bound,
The blood of heroes deluging the ground.
In each extreme our brave fore-fathers prove,
Their native courage and their country's love;
Fierce for hereditary claims they fight,
And ev'n till death maintains a Briton's right.
Hence roſe our liberties, a common cauſe
To theſe, ſucceed, their beſt ſupport, the Laws;
[52] Bonds, conflicts, murders, maſſacres enſu'd,
And many a Saxon, Daniſh ſword embrued
In Engliſh blood, and many a monarch's life,
And many a Monk's, ſubmitted to the ſtrife,
Eer Laws were form'd, as now ſublime they ſtand,
The ſhield, the ſpear, and buckler of the land:
At length bloom'd forth, diffuſing all their charms,
The arts of peace more ſtrong than thoſe of arms;
Barbaric Ignorance reſin'd away,
Like miſts diſperſing at the dawn of day.
The ſword hung up, the trumpet heard no more,
The Lyre eſſay'd its humanizing power,
Religion came with meekneſs to explode,
The heathen idol and the Saxon God;
In place of Deities with frowns pourtray'd,
Mild Chriſtianity in ſmiles array'd.
Where ſtood the clay-built hut, ſee cities riſe,
Where altar's blaz'd with human ſacrifice,
[53] Where pagan ſuperſtition, horror ſpread,
And even where Piety miſguided led,
In later times, her victims to the flame,
In bloody mem'ry of our Mary's name,
Now ſee our country ſhare an happier fate,
Diſcreetly ſtrong and equitably great,
Her power ſupreme, and yet her reaſon clear,
In ſkilful balance, holding hope and fear;
Her force, law-govern'd, knows its proper fence,
Diſtinct from tyrrany and impotence.
Not fierce to puniſh, nor ſo weak to ſpare
When truth acquires, but juſtice ſtill her care;
Thus wiſe and potent, awful and humane,
JUSTICE and LAW, ſupport the guiding rein;
Like kindred powers, each ſeated at the helm,
They ſteer that ſtately bark, the ENGLISH REALM:
And for a moment, ſhould one quit the poſt,
Like ſympathizing twins, the other's loſt;
[54] But knit together in connection ſtrong,
This muſt go right, the other can't go wrong:
Proud through the waves, tho' [...]oudly roars the gale,
Amid'ſt the public ſtorm ſecure they ſail;
Unhurt, they bring the veſſel to the ſtrand,
Lords of the ſubject ocean, as the land.
Thus, in our iſle, as the proud MUSE ſhall ſing,
In ampler lays, when next ſhe ſpreads the wing;
Thus, in our iſle, her LAWS ſecurely ſtand,
A guardian fabric of the ſmiling land;
Prop of HUMANITY, and ſeen from far,
Bright as the luſtre of the morning ſtar.
All hail! thou glory of fair England's throne,
Illuſtrious Prince, this fabric is thy own!
All hail! thou hero of the Saxon line,
Britannia's LAWs, Britannia's FREEDOM thine!
Rich in the varied powers of head and heart,
In every ſcience ſkill'd, in every art,
[55] With prudence, valour, thought, with action join'd,
The circling VIRTUES temper'd and combin'd,
The reconcil'd extremes of Good and Great,
Thine, by a kind felicity of fate;
Ardent in war, in gentle peace ſerene,
Wiſe in the public, as the private ſcene;
Coolneſs to plan, and vigour to purſue,
And born to mould a rugged ſtate anew,
Whoſe fancy dazzled, yet whoſe judgment ſound,
Bade every virtue know its proper bound.
Whate'er Philoſophy has drawn ſublime,
Or poet's ſung, in all the pride of rhime;
Whatever hiſtory of good has giv'n,
The Boaſt of nature and the ſmile of Heav'n,
Adorn'd thy youth, and to complete the plan,
And give the perfect model of a man,
Worthy thy mind, Nature beſtow'd the grace,
Of princely ſtature and engaging face,
Then, in the nobleſt light her work to bring,
In times of trial, ſtamp'd thee for a King!
[56] Yes, ALFRED, thou, beheld'ſt with generous pain,
Blood-ſpotted Fury, and his demons reign.
Scarce ſhone the crown upon thy princely head,
E'er rapine paus'd, and foul diſorder fled;
Oft as th' invaders for the plunder burn'd,
Thou, warriour-ſovereign, to the charge return'd,
And when compell'd to quit the regal ſeat,
Still, like thyſelf, was ſought the ſoft retreat;
Veild by the ſhepherd cot and clown's attire,
Still glow'd within thee all the patriot's fire:
Diſmiſs'd the regal pomp, its train reſign'd,
No fate could ſink the monarch in thy mind;
The kingly glories there their ſtate maintain'd,
There, their ſit manſion, all the Virtues reign'd,
Expiring LIBERTY engag'd thy care,
For her to heav'n ſtill breath'd thy fervent prayer,
Beneath the humbleſt ſhed ſhe fill'd thy breaſt,
The humbleſt ſhed, ennobled by the gueſt,
There, while th' unconſcious neat herd toil'd and ſung,
The dart was pointed and the bow was ſtrung;
[57] Till, trimm'd for death, they twang'd againſt the foe,
And ſav'd Britannia at one powerful blow;
Like ſome young lyon chain'd for many a day,
At length let looſe, broad Conqueſt mark'd thy way,
Thou from the Dane th' enchanted ſtandard bore,
And bade fierce Hubba vex the iſle no more,
In vain the magic ſiſters were implor'd,
The charm-bound raven own'd another Lord;
'Twas thine, in new diſguiſes to aſſail,
Touch the tun'd harp and weave the mazy tale,
Then, while thy country's foes repos'd ſupine,
Again in arms confeſs'd they ſaw thee ſhine,
As with one ſoul they dar'd the martial deed,
For at thy ſide 'twas victory to bleed;
Th' invaders ſoon a Conqueror allow'd,
And every haughty tribe to ALFRED bow'd!
But, peace reſtor'd, 'twas thine to pity foes,
The arrow ſped, the guardian ſhield aroſe,
Broad o'er the vanquiſh'd multitude they ſpread
Dead the fierce war, thy enmity was dead;
[58] Now bloom'd the arts of peace, the pow'rs of trade,
And tow'ring Cities, tow'ring Fleets were made,
Neglected Science rear'd again her head,
And Erudition roſe as from the dead;
Chear'd by thy touch awak'd, the tuneful Nine,
For royal hands wove wreaths around their ſhrine,
To arts as arms thy genius led the way,
Together twin'd the olive and the bay,
At once the King, the Bard, the Patriot ſhone,
The muſes laurel flouriſh'd round the throne!
Of SOCIAL life, thine too, the faultleſs plan
Foes warm'd to friends, and the heart beat to man,
To fair HUMANITY was ſtruck the lay,
And from the tuneful charm what heart would ſtray?
'Twas then brown Induſtry began his lore,
And billow-braving Commerce brought his ore.
But chief THE LAWS, Oh! ALFRED, fir'd thy thought,
For Oh! to thoſe, what hidden truths were brought!
'Twas then ev'n monarchy was happineſs,
Power chang'd his nature, Kings began to bleſs,
[59] As thy own thoughts thou mad'ſt each Briton free,
Yet mark'd the line 'twixt vice and liberty:
Laws fallen ſtructure touch'd thy kingly ſoul,
And Phoenix-like from aſhes ſprang the whole;
From old materials, where the atoms lay,
'Twas thine to call the chaos into day,
'Twas thine, O royal architect! at length,
To give proportion, beauty, ſoftneſs, ſtrength;
The LAWS OF ALFRED like a temple ſhone,
All nations bow'd to ALFRED'S equal throne,
Truth, power, and confidence ſupport the baſe,
Beauty, and love, the ſuperſtructure grace,
King, ſubject, alien, the ſtrong arch ſuſtain,
Friends, kindred, neighbours, worſhip at the fane;
And, while the whole, connected with each part,
The laws of NATURE bleſs'd the laws of ART,
Sanction'd their ſway, ſaw all was fair and good,
A THRONE OF PEACE REAR'D IN A REALM OF BLOOD.
END OF THE FIRST BOOK.
HUMANITY.
BOOK II.
[]PROUD of the contraſt, with indignant lay,
Once more O Muſe, to Gallia bend thy way;
Explore yon Cavern, frowning on the ſight,
When one faint lamp ſends forth a ſickly light!
Through folds of darkneſs where yon wicket glooms,
Perfidious POWER has ſcoop'd the living tombs,
Along the filth that oozes from the walls
The ſlimy ſnail, with track abhorent crawls,
And oft, augmenting poiſons, from the top,
With ſullen ſound, falls ſlow the withering drop.
[62] The peſtilential toad that ſquats below
Gathers freſh venom as thoſe poiſons flow:
Here, many a fathom down, deſpotic Rage
Hung human victims in the dreadful cage;
Here the poor Captive, torn from child and wife,
From youth to age, groan'd out deteſted life;
Nor nature's ſun, nor arts ſupplying blaze,
E're ſtole one beam of comfort on his days,
Nor human form, nor human hand was nigh,
To ſooth the grief that gather'd in his eye,
Save one brief glance of man, as thro' the hole
His daily bread, the ſilent goaler ſtole,
No human voice beguil'd the endleſs night
That cruel ſhut him from creation's light!
To ſooth a miſtreſs wanton Louis gave,
To one who dar'd be juſt, this lingering grave,
To one who dare a proſtitute pourtray,
And bring his honeſt Satire into day;
How ſinks the heart to pace this gloomy round,
How pants the Muſe to leave this tyrant ground!
[63]
But ere ſhe turn, to Afric, let her fly,
Where ſlav'ry blooms beneath the faireſt ſky;
Thee, deſolated ASIA, once the bleſt
In every charm of laviſh nature dreſs'd,
Where favor'd Paradiſe, heav'n-planted, ſtood
A ſcene of wonders riſing from the flood,
The holy ſpot by all the prophets trod,
Seat of the ſaints, and ſojourn of the God,
Where FAITH her Chriſtian temples rear'd around,
And blood of Martyrs ſanctified the ground,
Where ev'n REDEMPTION like a Cherub came,
And REVELATION, ſpread th' enlight'ning flame.
But oh! thou Land, of Heav'n itſelf belov'd,
What dire events, what changes haſt thou prov'd?
How has time alter'd ev'ry charm of youth,
Since firſt thou heard'ſt the oracles of truth!
Forgot the Heavenly claims that once were thine,
Forgot the precepts breath'd from lips divine;
[64] Vain all the fathers, all a ſaviour taught,
And God expell'd for what th' Impoſter brought,
A ſenſual creed by a mock prophet prais'd,
The ſacred BIBLE ſunk, the KORAN rais'd,
Diſgrac'd the truths, which all th' Apoſtles gave,
Thy Prince a tyrant, and Thyſelf a ſlave!
Ah! what avails thy medicinal floods,
Thy citron breezes, and thy palmy woods,
What tho' the Caſſia breathes along thy ſhore,
And trickling manner adds its eſſenc'd ſtore;
Tho' gums balſamic in thy vallies grow,
And both the India's in thy region glow,
Thine, tho' Olympus, dear from claſſic fame,
And honour'd Hermon, a more holy name;
Tho' the tall Cedar decks thy fragrant ſhrine,
And lofty Lebanon himſelf be thine,
From fair Euphrates ev'n to Jordan's wave,
Tho' thy rich Coaſt the hallow'd waters lave,
[65] And tho' thy fruits, voluptuouſly, diſpenſe
A keener reliſh to th' invited ſenſe,
Tho' on thy flowers a bolder bloom prevail
And ſend more piercing odour to the gale,
And tho' thy ſkies, yet ſalient and ſerene,
Call fair Hygea to the tempting ſcene,
All, all theſe bleſſings a ſtrong balance find
In one broad curſe that ſeizes on thy kind;
Nor this the peſt that oft has thinn'd thy plains,
A plague more fatal in thy Tyrant reigns.
Fierce thro' the Eaſt ſee Deſpotiſm run
More fell, more fatal, than the torrid ſun,
Frantic before him move a ſanguine band,
The ruthleſs agents of his murd'rous hand;
Skulking behind, in dumb allegiance wait,
Nurs'd up in blood, his various tools of fate,
To torture life, and hideous deaths deviſe
In varied ſhapes of cruelty they riſe!
[66] Dey, Sultan, Signior, Emperor and King,
Chief, Viſier, Cailif, each inferior Thing;
Some do his bidding in the noon of day,
And ſome at midnight ſeize upon their prey;
Submiſſion, terror, chaſtiſement, combine,
To ſink the abject vaſſal to the ſwine,
Reaſon below degraded inſtinct falls,
And Man is bound like herds within the ſtalls,
His ſpirit dies ſubdued by hard controul,
The uſeleſs body moves without a ſoul;
No ſpark of heav'nly fire the maſs can warm,
Nor public virtue touch, nor private charm,
But general cowardice, by horror bred
Courage unſtrung, and manly honour dead;
For oh! the dart, the gibbet, and the wheel
Are the leaſt terrors that a ſlave can feel,
Of theſe the anguiſh ſcarce can rage its hour
Ere Death appears in ſoft relief of power,
[67] Death, a kind refuge in the laſt deſpair,
But long a life of ſlavery who can bear?
LO PERSIA'S tyrant, with unnatural ſtrife
To pleaſe a minion robs a child of life,
With ſavage rage can blind the firſt-born ſon,
And partial lift a ſecond to the throne;
When the proud Sopha has conſign'd to death
'Tis treaſon but to beg a parent's breath,
The ſentence paſt, the look that aims to ſave,
Condemns to equal fate the pitying ſlave,
Senſual religion aids the tyrants will,
And blood for ever reeks along the ſteel;
In dire ſuſpence, like Damocles's ſword,
By a ſlight thread hangs life—a tyrant's word,
Impoſts and Edict vex the groaning land,
And ev'n the fountain flows but at command.
In dread MOGUL the laws muſt all be bought
Ere the caſe opens muſt a gift be brought,
[68] The greedy Emperor ope's his craving hand,
And Juſtice, driv'n by Av'rice, quits the land;
Nay, yet more brief, the Turkiſh powers decide,
For there the Judge condemns th' accus'd untried,
There turns the ſuit as wills the proud Baſhaw,
Who holds the place of deſtiny and law;
This god of earth, and brother of the Sun
Breaks up the court before the caſe be known,
Or ſtrikes the head from ſome officious ſlave,
Who at the bloody verdict dares be grave.
Yet here the tyrant's ſelf is inſecure,
For no ſucceſſion to the Crown is ſure,
A race of ſtrangled kindred pave the way,
And oft the ſcepter'd ſlave is made a prey;
O Hapleſs ASIA, whilſt ſuch horror reigns,
What BRITISH MUSE will reſt upon thy plains?
Yet ſhould ſhe ſteer again to AFRIC'S ſand
There too ſhe ſees Oppreſſion lifts his hand,
[69] Within the tropics fiercer than the blaze,
That fires the earth, with iron rod he ſways,
Ev'n from the fertile Nile to Niger's waves,
'Tis but a change of tyrants and of ſlaves.
O pride enormous! impudence of man!
But let not Britons imitate the plan,
Frame no falſe ſyſtems and then call them wiſe,
Or make diſtinctions where no difference lies,
Alas! full oft the European face
Maſks a mind darker than the darkeſt race;
The Negro's heart may be a purer ſhrine,
For thoughts devout O! haughty White, than thine,
Acceptance find more gracious from its God,
Than the proud maſter who uplifts the rod,
His prayer to holy KANNO more prevail
To the great SPIRIT whiſpering in the gale,
His pious vows to QUOJA 'midſt the trees
Or high BASSEFO walking in the breeze,
[70] Theſe may more virtue and more truth impart,
Than Chriſtian incenſe from a ſavage heart,
And his wild Tambour beat to idol ſhouts,
To heav'n aſcend before the organ's notes;
Say, what the pomps of ſcience or of prayer,
If the poor Indian's fervor glows not there?
In different forms tho' men the God adore,
Shap'd as the brute or painted as the flow'r,
As marble here, and there as feathers ſeen,
There the birds bone, and here the fiſhes fin,
Each, as it marks ſincerity ſhall riſe,
And welcome find in the recording ſkies,
Shall more be cheriſh'd by the powers of Heav'n
Than leſs true worſhip where more aids are giv'n,
Than the mock homage of th' enlighten'd train,
For whom a Saviour liv'd and died in vain.
A doctrine this too harſh for human pride,
Reſort to facts and be the doctrine try'd,
[71] With faithful hand, cull'd from th' hiſtoric page,
Proofs throng to proofs might vanquiſh Chriſtian rage;
Oh! tyrant WHITE, forget awhile thy gold,
And every virtue in thy BLACK behold,
All that is honour'd, lov'd, or priz'd in thee,
In thy ſcourg'd Negro bluſhing ſhalt thou ſee.
Lo, as the Muſe to Anticoſta ſteers,
Mid'ſt the wild waves HUMANITY appears!
Eſcap'd the wreck, although their barks were loſt,
Whole crews were daſh'd upon a ſavage coaſt;
The coaſt, tho' ſavage, there the Chriſtians find,
Each God-like feeling in an Indian mind,
For touch'd by cries that pierc'd the piny wood,
The natives ſought the margin of the flood,
Then as th' expiring Chriſtians caught their view,
To human grief the generous Indians flew,
The ſocial paſſion glowing in his face,
Thus ſpoke a Chieftain of the ſable race:
[72] "Haſte children haſte, behold where brothers lie,—
"Riſe ſtrangers riſe, the hand of help is nigh:
"Men like ourſelves throughout the globe command,
"The ſhelt'ring boſom and the aiding hand,
"All, all are kinſimen of a different hue,
"Our faces vary, but our hearts are true;
"Ye poor white wanderers on our bounty thrown,
"Your griefs are ſacred and your wants our own."
This ſaid, he gently to his Cottage led,
Smil'd on his gueſts and yielded up his bed;
Then watch'd till morn, a guardian at the door
Bleſs'd and was bleſſed—could a Chriſtian more?
To trace each VIRTUE thro' the ſultry Sands,
Next Negro HONOUR all thy praiſe demands,
In CUJOE'S generous ſoul it meets the view,
And darts a glory thro' his tawny hue.
A band of Chriſtian pirates ſought the ſhore,
And many an Indian from their foreſts bore,
[73] One ſoe, to CUJOE'S cot was ſeen to fly,
Pierc'd by a dart, he begg'd in peace to die;
But ſoon the Tribes purſue, demand their prey,
"Scalp, ſcalp that wretch, they cry, in open day!
"CUJOE conceals the Man whoſe blood is ours,
"'Tis not our rage, 'tis juſtice that devours."
Mean time th' exhauſted Chriſtian gaſp'd for breath
When Cujoe roſe, and ſtopp'd th' impending death:
"My Friends forbear, the guilty ſeek and ſlay,
"Purſue the race that ſtole our tribes away,
"May Ocean whelm them in the deepeſt wave,
"The guilty puniſh, but the blameleſs ſave!
"Of Gueſt and friend, ah! reverence the ties,
"Lo, this ſick Chriſtian on my faith relies,
"Here, in the rights of Friendſhip ſhall he reſt,
"My arm his buckler, and his ſhield my breaſt
"This Cot his Citadel, and ere he die
"Here muſt your hatchets fall, your arrows fly!"
Honour prevail'd, their paſſions dy'd away,
And ſafe in CUJOE'S hut the Chriſtian lay.
[74]
Next let us ſpeed to yonder ſainted plains,
By mountains ſcreen'd and crown'd with dulcet canes,
Where the mad Ouragan in phrenzy roars,
Affrights the Iſle, and deſolates the ſhores,
While many a rill and flow'ry vale between,
Smile in the ſtorm and reconcile the ſcene:
See, there an Hero of the Negro line,
Boaſts an high FEELING, Briton, proud as thine.
The faithful QUA-SHI with his maſter bred
The ſame their manſion and the ſame their bed,
Together us'd in infant times to play,
Their friendſhip ſtrengthen'd in life's riper day;
The ſlave was truſty and the lord was kind,
To QUA-SHI'S care the property aſſign'd,
His labours clos'd, he took the tranſient reſt,
Then chid the Sun yet loit'ring in the Eaſt;
Ere peep'd the dawn his daily toils he ſought,
And daily wealth to his lov'd lord he brought.
[75]
Envy at length a poiſon'd arrow drew,
Which wing'd with miſchief to the maſter flew,
Of dire neglect the accuſation came,
And lo, the ſentence paſt for QUA-SHI'S ſhame,
A public puniſhment was now decree'd,
And the next Morn was QUA-SHI doom'd to bleed:
The injur'd Slave with ſhudd'ring horror heard,
And at deep midnight ſought his barbarous Lord,
Then wrought to agony, theſe words addreſs'd,
The poignard trembling at his Maſter's breaſt.
"O Thou, whom no rememberance can move,
"Nor cradled tenderneſs, nor boyiſh love,
"Dare not to think that QUA-SHI'S ſoul will bear
"The public Inſults which thy hands prepare,
"Think not the bloody Morn theſe eyes ſhall view,
"Nor think for pardon that theſe lips ſhall ſue,
"No Monſter, no, my ſoul's above my fate,
"Scorns thy proud mercy as it braves thy hate;
"Thus Tyrant, thus, thy fury I defy,
"Live Thou to Shame, while I in honour die."
[76] He ſpoke—the Poignard ſluic'd the crimſon flood,
And bath'd the Maſter in the Servant's blood.
If thou would'ſt Negro TENDERNESS behold,
Seek with the Muſe the coaſt where broods the gold,
A * Briton there—immortal be his name,
By pity's Angel mark'd with endleſs fame!
A Briton there, an Indian Infant found,
For ſavage rites by ſuperſtition bound,
The Negro King amidſt the croud he ſought,
And at the Sacrifice the victim bought,
Then to the Ship his trembling Charge convey'd,
While all the ſable train with awe ſurvey'd;
But ſcarce the Babe was plac'd upon the deck,
Than loud was heard a female's piercing ſhriek,
"'Tis he! 'tis he! it is the babe I bore,
"Whom ſavage Acqua from this boſom tore,
"Ah! come my own—reſume thy couch of reſt,
"And cling once more to this maternal breaſt,
[77] "Bleſt be the hand, by EGHO form'd to ſave,
"Thrice bleſt the Hand that led me here a ſlave,
"Bleſt be the Author of theſe tranſports wild,
"And bleſt the hand which has reſtor'd my Child!"
She could no more, but ſtill the ſpeaking eye,
Own'd the rich gift of ſweet HUMANITY!
But when ſhe heard her infant had been bought,
Ev'n as the flame its tender limbs had caught,
"O Indian God, Oh! God-like White, ſhe ſaid,
While o'er her ſable cheek the crimſon ſpread,
"All that a parent, all a ſlave can give,
"O God-like White, O Indian God receive!"
Kneeling ſhe wept, then kiſs'd her reſcu'd Child,
While in her jetty arms the Infant ſmil'd;
Dances and Songs of Praiſe now ſtruck the waves,
And one ſtrong charm like magic touch'd the ſlaves,
Thro' the long voyage obedient they remain,
Nor ſounding whip was heard, nor clanking chain.
[78]
Touch'd is thy heart, O Merchant of thy kind,
Does human Softneſs ſteal into thy mind?
Rous'd is the ſpark, too long repreſs'd by Gold?
Then bend thy heart to what we next unfold:
Now, while perchance the human paſſions move,
O view the force of Friendſhip and of Love,
In Negro boſoms ſee thoſe powers at ſtrife,
Which form the bliſs and agony of life.
ZEBRON and ZABOR of the jetty race,
Were firſt in feature and proportion'd grace,
Bright as the Antelope their radiant eyes,
As the proud Palm-tree tower'd their equal ſize,
Both wore alike the Tyger's ſpeckled ſpoil,
Brothers in dreſs, in paſtime and in toil;
Slaves tho' they were, ev'n Slav'ry had its charms,
For ZEBRON'S comfort was in ZABOR'S arms,
And ZABOR fainting on the arid ſand,
Was rear'd to Joy by gentle ZEBRON'S hand,
[79] By bliſs united much, by ſorrow more,
A Negro's Fate they ſoften'd while they bore;
But Love, at laſt, a keener pang imparts,
For ſable ZELIA triumph'd o'er their hearts;
Her ſkin of Ebony beſtow'd a grace,
That far outſhone an alabaſter face,
So thought the youths, with equal truth inſpir'd,
With all their paſſion, all their climate fir'd;
Each ſcorn'd to raviſh, each refus'd to yield,
And Love and Friendſhip both maintain'd the field,
Devouring torments ſpread the mutual flame,
But ſtill their friendſhip, ſtill their love the ſame;
When beauteous ZELIA in their view appears,
ZEBRON and ZABOR melt in mutul tears,
Oft, both embracing, to renounce her ſwear,
And Friendſhip ſeems to link them in deſpair;
At length their conflicts, big with every grief,
And ev'ry paſſion, ſought a dire relief.
At cloſe of day as ZELIA trac'd the wood,
The Lovers follow'd and before her ſtood,
[80] The wand'ring Maid too fatal in her charms,
Now ſnatch'd to ZEBRON'S now to ZABOR'S arms;
The fondeſt vows that ever Lovers ſwore,
The deepeſt groans that ever heav'd they pour,
Then, with clos'd eyes, and heads declin'd, they dart,
The mutual daggers in her bounding heart;
Speechleſs ſhe fell, her ſobs their ſhrieks confound,
They claſp the victim, and they kiſs the wound,
Then raiſe the poignards ſtreaming in her blood,
And with their own augment the crimſon flood.
Thus Negro Virtues, Negro Frailties ſhine,
Say, fairer Savage, do they yield to thine!
Their ardent virtues emulate thy own,
Their errors are the errors of their zone;
Art thou then ſtill Supreme of human race,
Still boaſts thy Nature the ſuperiour grace,
Ah no! without thy cultivating arts,
Worth, greatneſs, goodneſs, elevates their hearts,
[81] The tow'ring ſpirit in their boſoms move,
They hate with vigour, as with force they love,
Together leagu'd, till death they faithful toil,
And ſmooth the wrong that chains them to the ſoil;
Still hand in hand their direful loads they bear,
Divide each joy and mitigate deſpair:
Vivid as Thine the ſenſe of joy and pain,
Thrills in each pulſe, and vibrates in each vein;
When hope inſpires, behold, as bright a ray,
Illumes their eyes and o'er their features play;
When grief aſſails, the tears as copious flow,
To mark the ſoft or agonizing woe;
When the laſh ſcourges or the pincers rend,
A ſhriek as piercing from the heart they ſend;
Ere the brave ſpirit of the man is broke,
Ev'n with a Briton's ſcorn they ſpurn the yoke,
Love of their native Land, that magic charm,
Againſt an hoſt hath made an handful arm,
They love like Thee the ſoil that gave them birth,
And treaſure up each particle of earth
[82] Fondly emboſom'd ere they leave the ſhore,
And kiſs the ſacred relique o'er and o'er.
Muſcians, Poets, too, by nature taught,
A ſong ſpontaneous burſting from a thought,
Swift into meaſure ſubjects ſeem to fly,
As tranſient objects tranſient themes ſupply,
Nature to harmony attunes the ear,
And her nice touches o'er their limbs appear,
Each nerve extatic ſprings to the rebound,
And every motion ſeems to paint a ſound;
The ſweet enthuſiaſm ev'ry grief beguiles,
And the ſcourg'd Captive even in anguiſh ſmiles,
With thrilling paſſion ev'ry feature glows,
So ſtrong the charm it cheats awhile their woes.
Their Woes, how countleſs—ah! ill-fated race,
How ſhall I paint thy anguiſh and diſgrace,
Ah! think not, WHITE, the Muſe from fancy brings
Thoſe woes, which Hiſt'ry ſanctions what ſhe ſings,
Her bloody Annals ſtill does Truth unfold,
Stain'd with the victims of ſoul-ſpotting gold.
[83]
Yet, who the Negro's ſufferings can relate,
Or mark the varied horrors of their fate;
Where, bluſhing Truth! ſhall we their griefs begin,
Or how commence the catalogue of Sin?
Demons of torture! ye who mock at woe,
And ſmile to ſee the crimſon blood-track flow,
In horrid triumph riſe from central Hell,
Th' inventive pangs of Chriſtian growth to tell,
Oh! aid the ſhuddering Muſe to paint the grief,
Which calls on death for pity and relief;
Oh! powers of Mercy, looſe that maſſy yoke,
Oh! hold that Arm, for murder's in the ſtroke!
Behold that axe the quivering limb aſſails,
Behold that body weltering in its wails!
Ah! hear that Bludgeon fall, that laſh reſound,
Ah! ſee thoſe wretches writhing on the ground!
See yonder mangled maſs of Atoms lie,
Behold that Chriſtian's hands the flames apply,
At the bare feet is laid the ſulphurous train,
Climbs to the heart and burns into the brain,
[84]
Survey the triple horrors of their ſtate,
Doom'd in each change to be the ſport of fate,
Torn from their native land at firſt they come,
And then are thrown into the ſailing tomb,
In wat'ry dens like coupled beaſts they lie,
And beg the mournful privilege to die;
Than Man, more kind, but Death oft brings relief,
Releaſes one, while one ſurvives to grief;
The living wretch his dead aſſociate ſees,
The body claſps and drinks the putrid breeze,
Chain'd to the noxious corpſe till rudely thrown,
In the vex'd ſea, then left a ſlave alone.
Ah! wretch forlorn! thy lot the moſt ſevere,
Aſſaſſination would be mercy here!
Methinks I hear thee cry, "Ah! give me death,
"Give the laſt blow and ſtop this hated breath,
"To arm this hand were holy innocence,
"I call on ſuicide as ſelf defence,
"Oh! for a ſword to waft me to the ſhore,
"Where never Chriſtian White may torture more,
[85] "Curſe, curſe me not with Being, inſtant throw
"This loathſome body to the waves below!"
His prayer deny'd, condemn'd 'midſt ſlaves to groan,
The cruel Merchant marks him for his own,
The ſcar by Chriſtian cruelty impreſt,
Smoaks on his arm, or blackens on his breaſt,
The wattled oziers form his rugged bed,
And daily anguiſh earns his daily bread;
Short food, and ſhorter reſt, and endleſs toil,
Above the ſcourge, below the burning ſoil.
Soon with his ſable Brothers muſt he go,
"Doom'd to a ſad variety of woe,"
Like harneſs'd Mules o'er Afric's dreadful ſand,
In ſlow progreſſion moves the mournful band,
The length'ning files begin their circuit wide,
While on their limbs are galling braces ty'd;
Fraught with coarſe viands, ſee the ſtraining throng,
Drag the oppreſſive caravan along,
[86] The maſſy iron and the direful log,
Their naked bodies ev'n in ſlumber clog,
An iron collar o'er each neck is paſt,
And iron rivets hold the collar faſt;
A tighten'd chain acroſs each ſhoulder goes,
While the dark driver takes his own repoſe;
At length arriv'd, the miſerable band
Like the ſtall'd oxen paſs from hand to hand.
Ye friends of Man! whoſe ſouls with mercy glow,
Swell not your boſoms with this weight of woe?
Fires not the ſocial blood within your veins,
To make the White Man feel the Negro's pains?
Beat not your hearts the miſcreant arms to bind,
Of the proud Chriſtian with a ſavage mind?
Doſt thou not pant to ſnap the impious chain,
And ruſh to ſuccour the inſulted train?
From ſervile bondage, to free the hapleſs race,
And fix the haughty tyrants in their place?
[87] Make them the weight of Slav'ry to know,
Till their hard natures melt at ſocial woe,
Nor till they humanize to ſocial men,
Would ye reſtore them to their rights again!
But Heav'n is juſt, each tyrant in his turn
Is taught the raſhneſs of his pride to mourn,
Oft ſpreads his tortur'd Slave the ſecret ſnare,
And hurls his Maſter in the laſt deſpair,
Far from his couch the balmy ſlumber flies,
And from his ſlave unnumber'd poiſons riſe,
He knows to peſt the herd, to blaſt the ſoil,
Periſh the bloſſom, and the harveſt ſpoil;
To mix the baneful juice, the fatal flower,
This ſudden kills, that boaſts a mining power,
He knows to ſcatter unſuſpected fate,
While circling miſchiefs on his vengeance wait,
At length he makes the Tyrant's ſelf his prey,
And ruſhes on him in the face of day,
[88] Or deſperate, ſeizes on the child and wife,
Mad with his wrongs, and takes their forfeit life,
That thus the White man's progeny may groan,
The Tyrant's lot to balance with his own;
Oft from the cradle and the breaſt will tear,
Ev'n his own babes in phrenzy of deſpair,
With mingled rage and fondneſs ſtop their breath,
And give them freedom in the arms of death.
Oh! FREEDOM, ſacred Goodeſs! who inſpires
Th' untutor'd Savage with ſublimeſt fires,
He, tho' untutor'd, ruſhes to the fray,
Combats for paſſion, and ne'er fights for pay,
While the bought ſoldier bargains for his breath,
A mercenary in the trade of death,
The generous Indian from his fetters broke,
Braves ev'ry peril to eſcape the yoke,
Freedom's worſt wants prefers to Slavery's food,
And feeds from principle on Chriſtian blood;
[89] Oft have the Chiefs o'er liſted troops prevail'd,
And Nature's warriours ſped where armies fail'd;
The difference mark t'wixt thoſe who ſight for hire,
And thoſe whom Freedom's genuine paſſions ſire,
Nay more, when victors in the hardy ſight,
Reſtor'd by Conqueſt to then native right,
Their wrongs are buried when the battle's o'er,
And ſo mer injuries are heard no more:
Yet taught diſtruſt, ere they conſent again,
With try'd deceivers Commerce to ſuſtain,
Th' appointed Leader of the ſable band,
Requires a pledge ere he extends the hand,
The blood muſt flow from either warriours arm,
And Earth and Water blend to form the charm;
A Vaſe receives the mixture—who diſdains
To taſte the potion no alliance gains,
Both parties drink in ſign of mutual truſt,
And the proud tyrant's humbled to the duſt,
A ſtipulation vile is forc'd to crave,
And own, perforce, a Maſter in the Slave.
[90]
What will not FREEDOM'S Heav'n-deſcended fire,
In cultur'd, or in ſavage Souls inſpire?
The RIGHTS OF NATURE and of GOD to ſave,
Men ſcoop the rock and build upon the wave,
Explore the barren ſand, the marſhes drear,
And a free Cottage in the deſert rear,
Delight in hollow of ſome cave to dwell,
Or dig thro' Earth the independent cell.
See where MARINO lifts her craggy brow,
Half hid in clouds, and cover'd half with ſnow,
Beyond the Appenines, there Freedom reigns,
And ſcorns the thraldom of Italian plains;
There ſee untax'd the ſmall republic grow,
And ſpurn the bondage of the vales below,
Cloſe on the liberal Heav'n behold it ſtands,
And proud looks down on tributary lands,
What, tho' thoſe tributary lands diſplay
The blooming fragrance of perpetual May,
[91] Like the coy ſenſitive each lovely flower,
Still ſeems to tremble at the touch of power.
Bleſt be the good Dalmatian's generous earth,
Which boaſts, Oh! Rome, than thine a nobler birth,
Thou but the refuge of a robber band,
But there devotion rais'd the folded hand,
And many a century this little ſtate
Has ſtood the ſtorms of Fortune and of Fate,
Whilſt thy ſunk cities once the boaſt of Fame,
Have nought to mark them but an empty name:
What tho' no ſtreams here lave the ſcant domain
But melting ſnows and reſervoirs of rain;
Tho' hillocks ſcatter'd round the parent hill,
At once thy pride and penu'ry reveal,
A narrow circuit, and a labour'd ſoil
Which yields ſubſiſtance but to endleſs toil,
Dear is the grain that decks thy Mountains ſide,
Beyond the harveſt of Italia's pride.
[92]
In this ſmall ſpot is ſeen one path alone,
Where jealous freedom guides us to the town,
There, entering, arts and arms and trade we view,
For ev'ry Citizen's a ſoldier too;
There laws are form'd on patriot Wiſdom's plan,
For ev'ry Citizen's an honeſt Man;
There mines no Tyrant, there no Courtiers flock,
All good is common, all is public ſtock,
For general happineſs there all combine,
The one great aim, and all to aid it join.
Oh! ſainted founder of this virtuous land,
Sublimely rais'd, I ſee thy ſlatue ſtand,
Ev'n where the Virgin conſecrates the place,
It fills with holy zeal thy generous race,
With free-born men thy Mount is cover'd o'er,
While loſt CAMPANIA glooms a deſert ſhore.
Say, what but FREEDOM chear'd the Savage bands,
That once o'erſpread CANADIA's conquer'd lands?
[93] Wild as their woods behold uncheck'd they go,
For ſport or food arm'd ſimply with the bow,
Save the thin Buffalo o'er their ſhoulders croſt,
Their hardy boſoms meet unfenc'd the froſt,
The caſual chace their banquet and their toil,
They aſk'd no bounty from the ſullen ſoil,
If to their prayer to range at large was giv'n,
They thought unbounded liberty was Heav'n;
The gods invok'd, their Sylvan wars to aid,
The ſtag was ſlain, the board a captive made,
The female hunters journey'd with the men,
And fearleſs track'd the monſter to his den,
And when at eve the warm purſuit was o'er,
Nor twang'd the bow nor ſped the arrow more,
They ſprung from light repoſe ere peep of day,
And thro' the humid deſarts took their way;
Of foreſt growth their pamper'd ſloth might view,
Nature's brave Caeſars and wiſe Tullys too,
Active, ferocious, bold, unaw'd, they ſtood,
Troops of the lake and armies of the wood,
[94] Vers'd in no ſcience, leſſon'd in no art,
They breath'd the eloquence that reach'd the heart;
Unknown the claſſic pomp of pedant ſchools,
Their Oratory roſe o'er colder rules,
It beam'd defiance in the flaſhing eye,
Storm'd in the ſhout and melted in the ſigh;
In tranquil hours it gave the ſmile ſerene,
In public tumult ſhew'd th'indignant mien,
The vivid tone and vital glance expreſs'd
All the ſtrong paſſions of the warriour's breaſt.
When the rude Chief his brave harangue began,
The Savage roſe to Hero and to Man,
And when th' invader tore him from the ſoil,
Dear ſcene of all his pride, of all his ſpoil,
No artificial mockery of woe,
Or taught his cheek to change, his tears to flow;
With pious awe he kneel'd to kiſs the ground,
And fondly preſs'd his ſorrowing friends around,
[95] "Oh! weeping Brothers! this our place of birth,
"Our fathers Aſhes conſecrate the earth;
"Should the foe drag us to a foreign ſhore,
"Thoſe ſacred aſhes we can guard no more,
"The holy relicts as entomb'd they lay,
"Some wretch unhallow'd may uſurp as prey,
"Leave, leave not thus our Sires to Chriſtian rage,
"But ah! with filial wrath the conflict wage."
Thus thro' the globe in Nature's earlieſt dawn,
For FREEDOM only was the arrow drawn,
The plain rough ancient at his threſhold ſtood,
And held that freedom dearer than his blood;
Whate're the foreſt or the lakes beſtow,
Fruits of his lance, his angle and his bow,
The fur that warms him or the hut that ſhields,
The ſcanty harveſt which his culture yields,
Earn'd by his ſtrength, was by his ſtrength maintain'd,
He felt his own, what honeſt labour gain'd,
[96] Part of himſelf his liberty he thought,
And reaſon ſanctified what nature taught,
Nor force of bribes nor frauds of gold he knew,
For life and liberty the ſword he drew;
Corruption was the growth of later times,
When Avarice reconcil'd the poliſh'd crimes,
A gentle modern of the Chriſtian kind
That roſe and flouriſh'd as vice grew refin'd,
An European, which in ſearch of grain,
Taught free-born men to bear and hug the chain.
See FREEDOM ſmiling thro' the realms of froſt,
And glow on Labradore's inclement coaſt,
Tho' darkneſs ſheds deep night thro' half the year,
And ſnow inveſts the clime,—that clime is dear,
For there fair LIBERTY reſides, and there
At large the native breaſts the ſearching air,
Where blows the arctic tempeſts icy gale,
And famine ſeizes on the ſpermy whale,
[97] The bearded Eſquimaux half robb'd of ſight,
Roves uncontroul'd content with FREEDOM'S light,
His country loves, to all its ills conforms,
Endures its caverns and accepts its ſtorms;
For the huge Sea-dog ſpreads the nimble oar,
Nor ſighs for bleſſings of a ſofter ſhore,
No languid Suns unnerve his hardy race,
Which bleſs'd with Freedom range from place to place.
Such too, BRITANNIA, were THY ſavage Sons,
Thro' all thy tribes the dread of Slav'ry runs,
Th' mild heroic, honeſt without laws,
They brav'd each peril in fair Freedom's cauſe.
But ah! full many an age in Gothic night,
Was veil'd th' effulgence of their native right;
Tho' like the rocky Barrier of their coaſt,
That Freedom now is her ſublimeſt boaſt,
Full many an age diſſenſion ſhook her Fane,
From Rome's fierce Caeſar to the ſtormy Dane.
[98] In whelming tides pour'd in the Saxon clan,
And Normans finiſh'd what their rage began;
The ſavage Briton to his Mountains fled,
Alternate triumph'd and alternate bled;
War upon wars, on conqueſt conqueſts throng,
Vandal drove Goth, and Goth urg'd Gaul along;
On human fleſh the ſavage Victors eat,
And miſtic Druids ſhar'd the ſanguine treat;
Theſe to their altars, e'en while truth they taught,
The trembling ſacrifice rapacious brought;
Impoſtor-prieſts before their Idols ſtood,
And talk'd of Heav'n with hands embru'd in blood;
Before their eyes imagin'd ſpectres glare,
Spirits were heard, and fancy'd ghoſts were there,
Religion, Law, and Government their own,
Bloody their Altars, bloody was their Throne;
Thro' the vex'd Iſle the ſanguine edict ſpread
That Heav'n demanded mountains of the dead;
In the dark grove which Superſtition trod,
Prieſts hid their ſpoils, yet commun'd with their God,
[99] And muttering rights within the fearful gloom,
Stab a freſh victim and the feaſt reſume;
Unfelt as yet the ſoft'ning ties of life,
Deep in the priſoner's breaſt the ruthleſs knife
The Female plung'd—could ſavage man do more!
Then idly propheſied as flow'd the gore;
A rage of ſlaughter then that ſex poſſeſs'd,
Now with each grace of melting Pity bleſt.
But ſoon the Tyrants ſought themſelves to ſave,
For ſoon Invaders pierc'd the Druid cave;
Forth from the Baltic pour'd the deathful hoſt,
And train'd to havock, crimſon'd all the coaſt,
The Northern Hive ſwarm'd terrible around,
And every Altar ſmoak'd upon the ground,
Fire, ſword, and carnage, ſpotted every hand,
Swell'd the gorg'd tomb and delug'd all the land.
Different in mind, and manners, as in face,
The Normans came, an innovating race;
[100] Their power, their paſſions, and their pride, they brought,
Fierce, bold, and bloody, and with conqueſt fraught,
From the forc'd mixture of a foreign breed,
Unnatural cuſtoms, laws, and wars ſucceed;
The Saxon ſuperſtition, weak as dire,
In two extremes of water and of fire,
The burning ploughſhare and the cauldron hot,
To prove the Culprit innocent or not,
Were lenient mercies to the cruel ſtrife,
That then with horror hung a cloud on life,
Then, by no ties of law or nature bound,
Aſſaſſination took its deathful round;
In every grove the lurking ſtabber lay,
And human bloodſhed clotted all the way,
In every ſtreet the mangled corpſe appear'd,
And mutual hate the ſanguine ſtandard rear'd;
In ſlaviſh homage to an haughty Lord,
All ſocial joy was broken at the board,
From houſe to houſe the Tyrant's edict ran,
And the Feaſt ended ere the Mirth began,
[101] At the eighth hour toll'd out by dread command,
The dreary knell that darken'd all the land;
Wiſdom, her leſſons could no more impart,
Nor Friendſhip gladden or improve the heart,
Ere to their bliſs the genial hours invite,
Oppreſſion ſhed impenetrable night,
The friendly faggot chear'd the heart no more,
And all the ſoft'ning blooms of life were o'er;
To ruin'd Juries the dire ſword ſucceeds,
And at each pore inſulted Juſtice bleeds,
Ev'n rural paſtime in that iron age,
No more to jovial ſports the youth engage,
The ſavage beaſts, which Nature gave to all,
To glut th' inſatiate pride of one muſt fall;
No more the chace, no more the woods were free,
All, all was Hate,—for all was SLAVERY.
The Lawyer, Clergy too, and Baron proud,
Aping their Prince, ſtruck terror thro' the croud;
Next, bigot Prieſts, th' impoſing mandate bring,
And yoke the Neck of each ſucceeding King;
[102] Rome ſent her Monks, and ſuperſtition reign'd,
Freedom in bonds, and even Conſcience chain'd;
Impious as vain, the Pope his terrors laid,
Ignorance was awed and folly was afraid;
Fair Truth in fetters was like Reaſon bound,
And dread Anathema's were peal'd around,
Pomp of proceſſion, and parade of prayer,
Pardon, and curſe, dealt mercy or deſpair:
The heart was tainted, and the head confus'd,
And all the attributes of God abus'd;
People and Prince were in one chaos hurl'd,
Law, Juſtice, Order, Virtue, left the World!
Eventful BRITAIN! ſhould the Muſe diſplay,
The various blood-tracks which then mark'd thy way,
Should ſhe purſue the havoc of the ſword,
That gaſh'd thee firſt, then crouching, call'd thee Lord,
Or trace the Deluges of Foreign Gore,
That ran in purple torrents thro' thy ſhore,
[103] As conqueſt oft her crimſon pinion ſpread,
And different victors different miſchiefs bred;
Thy hardieſt Sons would tremble but to view,
The fearful picture that her pencil drew:
Then let her pauſe ere ſhe theſe deeds rehearſe
A ſubject ſacred to her future verſe.
Laſt, and what greater proofs can now remain,
Touch we the border of SURINAM'S plain,
Lo, there the purchas'd NEGROES may'ſt thou ſee,
Burſting their bonds and daring to be free,
In daring bands from caves and rocks they come,
And wrought to blood like trooping Panthers roam;
The ſwart Mulattoes to the foreſts fly,
Reſolv'd to live in freedom, or to die.
Bleſt be the man and worthy to be bleſt,
Friend of the Wretched, Guardian of th' oppreſs'd,
Bleſt be the Man—ye Negroes bow the knee,
And bleſs him, Thou, Oh! ſweet HUMANITY—
[104] Who, ſcorning intereſt, thus pourtray'd the plan,
That gave to Men the awful rights of Man:
"Awake my friends, at mercy's call awake,
"Haſte, haſte the chains of Slavery to break;
"Oh! Race diſhonour'd, whoſe ſad forms we tear,
"Nor heed our ſpecies, heed our kindred there,
"Too long on ſordid Altars have ye bled,
"From Chriſtian hearts too long has Mercy fled:
"At length return'd, the Goddeſs brings relief,
"From Heav'n ſhe comes to ſooth the Captive's grief;
"My brethren riſe, the galling chains unbind,
"And give the generous Model to mankind,
"What Avarice ſeiz'd let Juſtice now reſtore,
"Let Negroes ſerve, but ſerve as Slaves no more;
"This the new Law—Let each a ſhackle rend,
"Till Freedom reigns and Slavery ſhall end.
"Or if the NAME of Slave muſt yet remain,
"Strive not for words, ſo we remove the pain;—
"Strive not for words, ſo we the rights ſupply,
"The raviſh'd rights of ſweet HUMANTIY!"
[105]
The good Man ſpake, applauding thouſands bow'd,
The Hero triumph'd, and the Chriſtian glow'd,
Unnumber'd Hearts by great example fir'd
Bent to the Law HUMANITY requir'd
Unnumber'd Manacles that moment broke,
Unnumber'd Slaves were looſen'd from the yoke,
Unnumber'd Hands were folded up in air,
Unnumber'd Voices breath'd a grateful prayer,
Unnumber'd Eyes ſo lately bath'd in woe,
Ah bliſsful change! with tears of joy o'erflow:
From God the ſpark began, to Man it came,
Till all perceiving, all partook the flame
Heav'n's fire electric, as one touch'd the ball,
It ſtruck a ſecond till it ſpread to all.
Soon generous England, ſhalt thou catch the flame,
And added Laurels ſhall adorn thy fame,
Soon ſhall HUMANITY aſſert her cauſe,
Soon ſhall the Slave find ſhelter in thy Laws,
Thoſe equal Laws that grace thy pregnant Iſle
Where all the Bounties and the Bleſſings ſmile,
[106] Where rich and poor, and high and low obey
Their gentle rule and amicable ſway,
Where Sovereigns view their lofty roofs aſcend,
While LAW and LIBERTY the Throne defend,
Where Subjects ſee their manſions firmly ſtand,
Nor fear the Rapine of the ſtrongeſt Hand,
Where the poor Peaſant knows his Cot ſecure,
Humble in ſize, but on foundations ſure;
Where boldly fenc'd his little Garden grows,
And not a King can rob him of a Roſe.
Thus in the crouded Hive, tho' all agree
To chooſe a Monarch, all the reſt are free
Plebeian Cells, as ſacred as the great
And both contribute honey to the State.
Oh launch the Bark, unfurl th' impatient Sails,
Swell ye kind Seas, and blow ye foſtering Gales,
Oh haſte ſome Angel thro' the realms of air
To Afric's Sons the rapt'rous tidings bear!
Thrice happy he who firſt ſhall reach the ſtrand
And ſpread the joys of Freedom thro' the Land,
[107] His the glad welcome of an Heavenly gueſt,
His the rich bliſs to ſee "his fellows bleſt."
And lo! methinks on Fancy's wing convey'd
The MUSE already gains the palmy ſhade,
Herſelf the meſſenger, to Afric's plains
Ardent ſhe flies to break the tyrant-chains,
Her voice already hails the lift'ning croud,
And thus ſhe ſpeaks her Embaſſy aloud,
"I come, I come from ſweet HUMANITY
"To ſooth the Sad, and ſet the Captive free
"Heirs as ye are to all that Nature gave,
"Congenial Nature, who ne'er made a ſlave,
"Whoſe Minds can reaſon, and whoſe Hearts can move,
"With all the joys and agonies of Love,
"Sublime on Nature's ſcale ye Beings riſe
"Equals on Earth, as equals in the ſkies
"All, all are Men, in Life and Death the ſame,
"And Virtue only can diſtinction claim,
"Where Freedom bids, now take your blithſome way
"Yours the fair morn, and yours the cloſing day,
[108] "Yours is the jocund eve, its ſports command
"Or on the cooling wave or barren ſand,
"If in your breaſts the Patriot paſſions burn
"To your lov'd Country, to your Homes return,
"Free, unconfin'd, where'er your courſe ye bend,
"Still, ſtill ſhall LIBERTY your ſteps attend!"
They hear with dumb ſurprize, till raptures riſe,
And theſe bleſt ſounds re-echo to the ſkies,
"Negroes are Men, and Men are Slaves no more,
"Fair Freedom reigns, and Tyranny is o'er!"
And now they trace each ſcene of former love,
Explore each favour'd haunt, hill, vale, and grove,
And ſoon the well-remember'd huts they find,
Where faithful Friends and Loves were left behind,
Sudden before her ſable lord appears,
Th' enfranchis'd wife adorn'd with faithful tears,
Mothers again their kidnapped babes behold,
Sons claſp their Sires in ſlavery grown old,
Here their own Niger riſes to the ſight,
And there their Nile's prolific banks invite;
[109] Far as extend theſe parent floods they range,
Feel all at large and triumph in the change.
Yet mov'd by generous deeds their boſoms burn,
To merit freedom by a kind return,
Methinks I ſee them leave their native plain,
And touch'd by honour ſeek their lords again;
Methinks I ſee them, now no ſcourge is there,
In willing Tribes to ſcenes once curs'd repair,
Led on by gratitude they ſtoop to toil,
Double their induſtry, and bleſs the ſoil,
They quit the whizzing dart and twanging bow,
Collect the graſs and reaſſume the Hoe,
Ev'n troops of ſable Children brave the ſea,
To kiſs the hands which ſet their fathers free.
Bleſt expectation! here the MUSE ſhall pauſe
And watch, HUMANITY, thy righteous cauſe,
But ſoon again ſhall ſhe the globe ſurvey,
And dare the dangers of her promis'd lay,
While in proceſſion paſs the human race,
Shall boldly view each tinge of mind as face,
[110] With curious eye the gradual change ſhall mark,
As wond'rous Nature ſhifts from light to dark,
Shall viſit tribes beneath the polar ſkies,
Of ſhape uncouth, diminutive of ſize.
Paſs to the Tartar of an Olive ſhade,
Untam'd, untutor'd, and robuſtly made;
Next move to Aſia's duſky-tinctur'd race,
Of foſter form, nor deſtitute of grace;
Then the ſwarth African and yellow Moor,
Which ſpread their ſable hues along the ſhore,
Laſt, wild America's eventful clan,
And European cultur'd into Man.
Theſe to deſcry the Muſe her courſe ſhall bend,
Far as diſcover'd earth and ſeas extend,
Thro' the wide univerſe ſhall vent'rous roam,
Nor till the Globe be meaſur'd ſeek her home.
But not content the ſurface to diſplay,
Hues, habits, manners, cuſtoms to pourtray,
[111] Her future ſong a bolder flight ſhall try,
And trace the magic powers of clime and ſky,
Track Education, and Religion's hand,
And note the law that governs ev'ry land;
Obſerve, if Elements that cloud with ſtrife,
Or ſmile in peace, moſt rule the ſprings of life;
See how from each, at work upon the mind,
Springs the diverſity of Human Kind.
Next varying modes of LIBERTY ſurvey,
From where ſhe thrives to where ſhe melts away,
Now proud to claim the independent ſoul,
Now her tame Spirit paſſive to controul,
For ever weak where tyranny aſſails,
For ever ſtrong where milder rule prevails,
There like vile oxen ſtooping to the yoke,
Here gaining ſudden freedom at a ſtroke.
Still will ſhe find, compact in ev'ry part,
Is form'd the chain that faſtens heart to heart,
[112] Millions of links but all arrang'd are ſeen,
The rivets clos'd and not a chaſm between;
And where they diſproportion'd meet our eyes;
Or ſeem of different form, or different ſize,
Here, if more poliſh'd, there more rude they ſhew,
Or colour'd various as the ſhow'ry bow,
Still one bright zone girds ocean, earth, and ſky,
Thy beauteous zone, oh ſweet HUMANITY!
Lo, the chain lengthens as the Links are plac'd,
Amid'ſt the flow'ry dale or barren waſte,
Some with the whit'ning Billows froth around,
Some bathe in ſtreams that never paſs their bound,
Some redd'ning flame on Aetna's burning brow,
And ſome are cover'd with Siberian ſnow,
Some with th' brooding Mine in darkneſs hide,
And ſome in dazzling floods of light reſide,
Some reach the clouded Regions of the North,
Where tawny Zembla pours her Children forth,
Some where keen Lapland bids the freezing train
Chaſe the fleet rein-deer o'er the icy plain;
[113] Some ſtretch to milder climes remote from ſtorms,
Where nature riſes in her gentler forms,
Still, ſtill thro' ev'ry clime may we behold
The chain but brightens as the links unfold,
Where'er diſpers'd they ſpread to ev'ry ſoul,
And God, tis God alone that links the whole.
Theſe ſhall the Muſe with ardent wing explore,
Nor give, at fear's vain threat, th' enquiry o'er.
An awful Taſk! yet hope the Lyre ſhall ſtring
And aid the Muſe to ſpread the daring wing.
Ye ſilken Bards repoſe in beds of flowers,
And in ſoft ſonnets court the ſylvan powers,
Neptune, Diana, Wave, or Wood-nymph woo,
Bid Thruſhes ſweeter ſing, Doves fonder coo,
The lazy Poppy nodding o'er your Brows,
While at your feet the languid water flows
Silent along, as if afraid to creep,
Leſt its unguarded lapſe ſhould rouſe from ſleep,
Ah, ſweetly ſlumber, undiſturb'd by ſenſe,
Then gently wake to tuneful Indolence,
[114] Crop the pale ſhrub that e'en in plucking dies,
But leave the plant that bloſſoms in the ſkies:
Nor raſh, nor diffident, the Muſe ſhall ſweep
From Clime to Clime, and dare the giddy ſteep;
Still to the Sun aſpiring, try the height
Cleave the denſe air and hope to gain the light.
Mean time to ſoothe her ſpeeds a generous throng,
To cheer her labour, and aſſiſt her ſong;
Theſe, while ſhe tries the unattempted way,
Shall bid her ſoar and animate her Lay;
And tho' the fiends who dread the Muſe ſhould riſe,
With Serpent malice hiſs her as ſhe flies,
Full many a laurell'd Bard to Science dear
Compoſe her Terrors, and her Spirits cheer,
And while ſhe droops beneath the growing Toil,
Her Song approve, and give th' inſpiring ſmile.
FINIS.
Appendix A ERRATA.
[]Book I.
- Page 40 l. 16 for hands read hand,
- p. 51 l. 6 for haſte read hate.
- p. 51 l. 16 for maintains read maintain.
- p. 51 l. 18 a mark of admiration after a common cauſe!
- p. 53 l. 12 for acquires read requires.
- p. 58 l. 5 a comma after touch, none after awak'd
Book II.
- p. 63 l. 3 for Thee read To deſolated Aſia.
- p. 67 l. 2 for long life read a long life.
- p. 77 l. 4 for hand read power.
- p. 81 l. 1 for ſpirit read ſpirits.
- p. 82 l. 16 read for hiſtory inſtead of which.
- p. 84 l. 7 for Than Man more kind but Death read But Death more kind than Man.
- p. 85 l. 14 for progreſſion read proceſſion.
- p. 86 l. 17 for bondage read bonds.
- p. 91 l. 14 for pen'ry read penury.
- p. 93 l. 17 for their pamper'd ſloth read there.
- p. 96 l. 9 for grain read gain.
- p. 99 l. 1 for rights read rites.
Notes
*
I am glad, however, to have it in my power to obſerve, that we have not ſuffered the HUMANITY of the French and other nations to ſurpaſs our own, at leaſt in one of our iſlands, a [...] the following authentic extract from the Jamaica Councils will atteſt, dated November 20th, 1787.
"This day the Houſe of Aſſembly went into a Committee on the Conſolidated Slave Bill, and continued ſitting upwards of three hours; we underſtand, that by this Bill the whole ſyſtem of the law reſpecting Negroes, is entirely changed, a Council of Protection is eſtab⯑liſhed in each pariſh, and many humane proviſions are introduced for rendering their con⯑dition eaſy and happy; it is alſo made felony, without benefit of clergy, to murder a Slave, a clauſe, which, to the great honour of the Houſe, paſſed without a ſingle diſſenting voice.
*
Promoters of that glorious Inſtitution the HUMANE SOCIETY.
*
Vide his Bill for the Relief of the Poor.
†
This Lady is Author of a Benevolent Project on the ſame Subject.
‡
The excellent Tranſlator of ESCHYLUS, EURIPIDES, and now of SOPHOCLES, took an active Part in inſtituting and regulating an Houſe of Induſtry in his own County.
*
The lines with inverted commas are from the Triumph of Benevo⯑lence, written by the author of this Poem, in honour of Howard.
*
‘In pride, in reas'ning pride, our error lies. POPE.’
*
Snelgrave.
- Citation Suggestion for this Object
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4000 Humanity or the rights of nature a poem in two books By the author of Sympathy. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-61A3-E