Humanity, or the rights of nature, a poem in two books. By the author of sympathy [i.e. S. J. Pratt] |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
 | Humanity, or the rights of nature, a poem |  |
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;
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 fight for hire,
And those whom Freedom's genuine passions sire,
Nay more, when victors in the hardy fight,
Restor'd by Conquest to their native right,
Their wrongs are buried when the battle's o'er,
And former 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.
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
And Nature's warriours sped where armies fail'd;
The difference mark t'wixt those who fight for hire,
And those whom Freedom's genuine passions sire,
Nay more, when victors in the hardy fight,
Restor'd by Conquest to their native right,
Their wrongs are buried when the battle's o'er,
And former 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.
| Humanity, or the rights of nature, a poem | |