Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/494

 Oh! Freedom

(Negro Slave Song)

Oh! Freedom, oh! Freedom, Oh! Freedom, over me; And before I'll be a slave I'll be buried in my grave, And go home to my God And be free.

Fredome

(English poet, Fourteenth Century)

A! fredome is a nobill thing! Fredome mayse man to haiff liking! Fredome all solace to man giffis: He levys at ese that frely levys; A noble hart may haiff nane ease, Na ellys nocht that may him plese, Gyff fredome failythe: for fre liking Is yearnyt ow'r all othir thing Na he, that ay hase levyt fre, May nocht knaw weill the propyrte, The angry, na the wretchyt dome, That is cowplyt to foule thyrldome. Bot gyff he had assayit it, Than all perquer he suld it wyt; And suld think fredome mar to pryse Than all the gold in warld that is.