Humanity, or the rights of nature, a poem in two books. By the author of sympathy [i.e. S. J. Pratt] |
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| I. |
| II. |
 | Humanity, or the rights of nature, a poem |  |
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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
And bath'd the Master in the Servant's blood.
| Humanity, or the rights of nature, a poem | |