 | New Poems by George Crabbe |  |
“Leopards and Tygars! Brethren! I have been
“Wrapt in a dream for some delicious hours,
“In our loved haunts of ever living green,
“With Limbs unchained and all my native Powers.
“Wrapt in a dream for some delicious hours,
“In our loved haunts of ever living green,
“With Limbs unchained and all my native Powers.
“Man was not there, or he had quickly found
“What Strength was his to match the Lion's paw,
“When, had I roared, he would have fled the sound,
“My very look had kept the slave in Awe.
“But Man has Arts that, to his weakness lent,
“Can wither strength, stay flight and out go speed.
“So was I caught, and to this Prison sent,
“Longing for freedom, hopeless to be freed—
“What Strength was his to match the Lion's paw,
“When, had I roared, he would have fled the sound,
“My very look had kept the slave in Awe.
“But Man has Arts that, to his weakness lent,
“Can wither strength, stay flight and out go speed.
“So was I caught, and to this Prison sent,
“Longing for freedom, hopeless to be freed—
“And here consigned, to this accursed place.
“Yon freeborn birds in Fellowbonds I see,
“While idle crowds with many a foolish face
“Stare at a Lion for a paltry fee—
“Yon freeborn birds in Fellowbonds I see,
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“Stare at a Lion for a paltry fee—
“O! that I had them in my former den,
“I would deal death with one effectual blow,
“I would not thus dishonour free born men,
“Nor treat young Lions with a slavish show.
“I would deal death with one effectual blow,
“I would not thus dishonour free born men,
“Nor treat young Lions with a slavish show.
“Lo, yon poor Ostrich with that long raw neck
“And simple looks, a melancholy sight,
“But nought the mirth of cruel man can check,
“Who has in Misery such intense delight.
“And simple looks, a melancholy sight,
“But nought the mirth of cruel man can check,
“Who has in Misery such intense delight.
“But view yon coward Elephant; for him
“I feel no pity—he obeys—Commands,
“Bends his long trunk at man's capricious whim,
“And takes the offered bread from baby hands.
“I feel no pity—he obeys—Commands,
“Bends his long trunk at man's capricious whim,
“And takes the offered bread from baby hands.
“I saw him take small silver from the Ground,
“The idiots shouting at the wondrous sight,
“While his huge ear flapt idly at the sound,
“And his small eyes grew drunken with delight.
“The idiots shouting at the wondrous sight,
“While his huge ear flapt idly at the sound,
“And his small eyes grew drunken with delight.
“Monkeys and Apes may shew their simple tricks,
“They are Man's friends, Companions and allies,
“'Tis not unfit in them with men to mix,
“For men they are but of inferior size.
“They are Man's friends, Companions and allies,
“'Tis not unfit in them with men to mix,
“For men they are but of inferior size.
“But who, Sir Leopard, saw a son of mine,
“Thy valiant brethren, or the Tygar brave,
“Who ever saw them crouching at a sign
“From their subserviant Wretch, of Staves a Slave?
“Thy valiant brethren, or the Tygar brave,
“Who ever saw them crouching at a sign
“From their subserviant Wretch, of Staves a Slave?
“See! from his Sleep my royal brother wakes,
“His wide, long yawn proclaims a troubled breast;
“In this cold clime his noble nature shakes,
“In this vile den how broken is his rest!
“O! that these vilain fetters we could crush,
“And down our green Savannahs freely run,
“Or from the Cragy Steep at pleasure rush,
“Or roll in sands beneath the flaming sun,
“Then for the cloud capped Hill, the far stretched plain,
“The pathless wilderness, the tangled wood,
“The distant roaring of the stormy Main,
“The sparkling Rapids of the Mountain flood.
“His wide, long yawn proclaims a troubled breast;
“In this cold clime his noble nature shakes,
“In this vile den how broken is his rest!
“O! that these vilain fetters we could crush,
“And down our green Savannahs freely run,
“Or from the Cragy Steep at pleasure rush,
“Or roll in sands beneath the flaming sun,
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“The pathless wilderness, the tangled wood,
“The distant roaring of the stormy Main,
“The sparkling Rapids of the Mountain flood.
“Is this a life for free born Bird or Beast,
“Born far from man—and O, how out of Place!
“All from yon huge, tame being to the least
“Groan in the bondage of that cruel race.—
“Born far from man—and O, how out of Place!
“All from yon huge, tame being to the least
“Groan in the bondage of that cruel race.—
“ Hark through the dusty Twilight of these bounds
“The Yawn! the Hiss! the Roar! the Groan! the Sigh!
“A mingled din of melancholy sounds
“From hopeless beings, hopeless e'vn to die,
“Who, borne by robbers from their native Grounds,
“Send to the Lord of all th' appealing Cry.—”
“The Yawn! the Hiss! the Roar! the Groan! the Sigh!
“A mingled din of melancholy sounds
“From hopeless beings, hopeless e'vn to die,
“Who, borne by robbers from their native Grounds,
“Send to the Lord of all th' appealing Cry.—”
| New Poems by George Crabbe | |