 | Poems on several occasions |  |
Thus have I seen pale Famine's meagre cheek
Use Riot's turbulent relief to seek;
Unbinding Property's most sacred laws,
Nor could it rescued be from Hunger's jaws;
But when stern Justice rear'd her upright head,
Self-judging Guilt them told that Hope was fled:
Tho' pleading famish'd Want's unhappy state
Compassion mov'd, but Justice seal'd their fate.
And shall those then abound, who pay their court
To Rapine's lawless shrine, and daily sport
With poor men's ancient rights? Shall such vile crimes
Receive the sanction of these virtuous times?
Shall Famine's sons their lives to Justice yield;
And those remain, who joining field to field
Distress increase, regardless of that woe
Pronounc'd on those who thus with mischief flow?
Shall Vengeance now retard her winged flight,
While such vile maxims vicious men delight?
Oh! Patience haste, thy balmy influence shed,
And stop Destruction's all-devouring head:
Send Hope to comfort the now wretched poor,
Dying thro' want in midst of plenteous store.
Say that Calamity here soon shall end,
Nor be dismay'd, for they have yet a friend,
Who instant can their foes to ruin send.
Use Riot's turbulent relief to seek;
Unbinding Property's most sacred laws,
Nor could it rescued be from Hunger's jaws;
But when stern Justice rear'd her upright head,
Self-judging Guilt them told that Hope was fled:
Tho' pleading famish'd Want's unhappy state
Compassion mov'd, but Justice seal'd their fate.
And shall those then abound, who pay their court
To Rapine's lawless shrine, and daily sport
With poor men's ancient rights? Shall such vile crimes
Receive the sanction of these virtuous times?
Shall Famine's sons their lives to Justice yield;
And those remain, who joining field to field
77
Pronounc'd on those who thus with mischief flow?
Shall Vengeance now retard her winged flight,
While such vile maxims vicious men delight?
Oh! Patience haste, thy balmy influence shed,
And stop Destruction's all-devouring head:
Send Hope to comfort the now wretched poor,
Dying thro' want in midst of plenteous store.
Say that Calamity here soon shall end,
Nor be dismay'd, for they have yet a friend,
Who instant can their foes to ruin send.
| Poems on several occasions | |