Page:Slavery, a poem.pdf/16

Rh I see, by more than Fancy's mirror shewn, The burning village, and the blazing town: See the dire victim torn from social life, The shrieking babe, the agonizing wife! She, wretch forlorn! is dragg'd by hostile hands, To distant tyrants sold, in distant lands! Transmitted miseries, and successive chains, The sole sad heritage her child obtains! Ev'n this last wretched boon their foes deny, To weep together, or together die. By felon hands, by one relentless stroke, See the fond links of feeling Nature broke! The fibres twisting round a parent's heart, Torn from their grasp, and bleeding as they part.
 * Hold, murderers, hold! nor aggravate distress;

Respect the passions you yourselves possess;