Page:Tale of Paraguay - Southey.djvu/91

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Often had Kings essay'd to check the ill By edicts not so well enforced as meant; A present power was wanting to fulfil Remote authority's sincere intent. To Avarice, on its present purpose bent, The voice of distant Justice spake in vain; False magistrates and priests their influence lent The accursed thing for lucre to maintain: O fatal thirst of gold! O foul reproach for Spain!

O foul reproach! but not for Spain alone But for all lands that bear the Christian name! Where'er commercial slavery is known, O shall not Justice trumpet-tongued proclaim The foul reproach, the black offence the same? Hear, guilty France! and thou, O England, hear! Thou who hast half redeem'd thyself from shame. When slavery from thy realms shall disappear, Then from this guilt, and not till then, wilt thou be clear.