191 Has God then giv'n it's sweetness to the cane, And sooth the sorrows of so sad a state. A Briton knows, or if he knows it not, 200 The Scripture plac'd within his reach, he ought, That souls have no discriminating hue, Alike important in their Maker's view; That none are free from blemish since the fall, And Love divine has paid one price for all. Has one that notices his silent grief. He, from whose hands alone all pow'r proceeds, Ranks it's abuse among the foulest deeds, Considers all injustice with a frown; 210 But marks the man that treads his fellow down. O'tis a godlike privilege to save, And he that scorns it is himself a slave. Inform his mind; one flash of heav'nly day 220 Would heal his heart, and melt his chains away. "Beauty for ashes" is a gift indeed, And slaves, by truth enlarg'd, are doubly freed. Then would he say, submissive at thy feet, Whose bounty bought me but to give me light, 230 Sin forg'd, and Ignorance made fast, the chain; For Africa's once lov'd, benighted shore; At my best home, if not exil'd from thee. 240 Some men make gain a fountain, whence proceeds A stream of lib'ral and heroic deeds; The swell of pity, not to be confin'd Within the scanty limits of the mind, Disdains the bank, and throws the golden sands, A rich deposit, on the bord'ring lands; 'T'hese have an ear for his paternal call, Who makes some rich for the supply of all; O could I worship aught beneath the skies, Thine altar, sacred Liberty, should stand, With fragrant turf, and flow'rs as wild and fair The peep of Morning shed a dawning light, Drew the grey curtain of the fading west, 250 260 My soul should yield thee willing thanks and praise, For the chief blessings of my fairest days: But that were sacrilege-praise is not thine, But his who gave thee, and preserves thee mine: This triple realm adores thee-thou art come 271 While Conscience, happier than in ancient years, Owns no superior but the God she fears, Propitious spirit! yet expunge a wrong Thy rights have suffer'd, and our land, too long. Teach mercy to ten thousand hearts that share The fears and hopes of a commercial care. Prisons expect the wicked, and were built To bind the lawless, and to punish guilt; 280 But shipwreck, earthquake, battle, fire, and flood, |