J79^' poetry, i^l 



Benign inquirer, thou ftalt know, 

 Why here my lonesome moments flow : 

 'Tis said, thy countrymen (no more 

 Like rav'ning Jhirks that haunt the lliore) 

 Return to raise, to blefs, to chear, 

 j\nd pay Compafbion's long arrea*; 

 'Tis said the num'ious captive train. 

 Late bound by the degrading chain, 

 Triumphant come with swelling sails, 

 TvIiJ smiling Ikies and westerii gales, 

 Thsy come with festive heart and glee, 

 Tlieir hands unlhackled — minds are free; 

 They come at mercy's great command, 

 To repofs;ls their native Und. 



Ihe gales that o'er ti.e ocean stray, 

 And chacc the waves in gentle play, 

 Methinks they whisper as chey fly, 

 Juellen soon will meet thine eye ; 

 'Tis this that soothes her little son. 

 Blends all his wi/hes into one. 

 Ah I were I clasp'd in her embrace, 

 I could forgive her past disgrace ; 

 Forget the memorable hour. 

 She tell a prey to tyrant pow'rj 

 Forget her lost distracted air, 

 Her sorrowing voice, her kneeling pray'r. 

 The suppliant tear that gall'd her ciieek, 

 And last her agonizing Ihriek ! 

 Lock'd in her hair, a ruthlefs hand 

 Trail'd her along the flinty strand ; 

 A ruffian train, with clamours rude, 

 Th' impious spectacle pursu'd j 

 Stili as /he mov'd, in ucccnti wild 

 She cry'd aloud " My child ! my child !" 

 The lof'.y bark (he now ascends. 

 With streams of wee tlie air flic rends ! 

 The yefscl Its'niiig from the fl^iore. 

 Her piteous w^>ls I heard no more! 

 I Now as 1 strctch'd my lait survey, 



H;r distant form difsolv'd away. 

 That day is past! — I cease to mourn, 

 Succeeding joy fhall have its turn, 

 beside tiic hoarse res,.unding deep, 

 A plejsing anxious watch 1 keep : 

 For when the morning clouds ihall bve.ilc. 

 And darts of day tlic darknefs streak 

 Perchance along the glitt'ring. main, 

 (Oil ! may this hope liot throb in vain), 

 'i meet tiiese Io:ig-desiring cyti 

 Juellen and the tun tnar ris«. - 



