THE PINEAPPLE AND THE BEE. Tux pineapples, in triple row, Were basking hot, and all in blow The silly unsuccessful bee. The maid, who views with pensive air 1 Think, ye masters iron-hearted, Lolling at your jovial boards; Think how many backs have smarter For the sweets your cane affords. Is there, as ye sometimes tell us, Speaking from his throne, the sky? Ask him, if your knotted scourges, Matches, blood-extorting screws, Are the means that duty urges Agents of his will to use? Hark! he answers-wild tornadoes, Strewing yonder sea with wrecks; Wasting towns, plantations, meadows, Are the voice, with which he speaks. He, foreseeing what vexations Afric's sons should undergo, Fix'd their tyrants' habitations Where his whirlwinds answer-no. By our blood in Afric wasted, Ere our necks receiv'd the chain; By the mis'ries that we tasted, Crossing in your barks the main ; By our suff'rings, since ye brought us To the man-degrading mart; All sustain'd by patience, taught us Only by a broken heart; Deem our nation brutes no longer, Worthier of regard, and stronger Z 2 PITY FOR POOR AFRICANS. Video meliora proboque, I own I am shock'd at the purchase of slaves, knaves; [groans, What I hear of their hardships, their tortures, and Is almost enough to draw pity from stones. I pity them greatly, but I must be mum, What, up our desserts, our coffee, and tea! Besides, if we do, the French, Dutch, and Danes, If foreigners likewise would give up the trade, Much more in behalf of your wish might be said; But, while they get riches by purchasing blacks, Pray tell me why we may not also go snacks? Your scruples and arguments bring to my mind A youngster at school, more sedate than the rest, He was shock'd, sir, like you, and answer'd-"Oh no! What! rob our good neighbour! I pray you don't go; Besides the man's poor, his orchard's his bread, Then think of his children, for they must be fed." "You speak very fine, and you look very grave, They spoke, and Tom ponder'd-"I see they will Poor man! what a pity to injure him so! [go: Poor man! I would save him his fruit if I could, But staying behind will do him no goo. [tree; "If the matter depended alone upon me, His scruples thus silenc'd, Tom felt more at ease, And went with his comrades the apples to seize; He blam'd and protested, but join'd in the plan: He shar'd in the plunder, but pitied the man. |