I'J^t. FRAGMENTS. — THE SAILORS. 209 



3. And they went cheerfully along converfing toge- 

 ther, unful'picipus of harm, — when lo ! a band of ruf- 

 fians fell fuddenly upon them in broad day, in the light 

 of all the people. 



4. And they beat them with clubs, and bound them 

 /with cords, and dragged them along to a darkfome 

 dungeon, into which they were thruft among many 

 others who had been treated after the fame man- 

 ner. 



5. And they faid to the ruffians who attacked them, 

 what evil have we done ; but they got no anfwer, ex- 

 cept oaths and curfes, and fevere ufage. 



6. And they called out to the people for affiftance, 

 faying, we have done no harm ; but no one regarded 

 them. 



7. And they paffed forrowfuUy along through crouds 

 of people ; and they fmiled at their fate, while they 

 Ihouted inceiTantly, " Liberty ! liberty for ever 1 — 

 " This is the land of freedom I" 



8. And thefe men were forced to go down again di- 

 redly into the fea in fhips, without having feen their 

 wives, their children, and their friends. 



9. And their wives and their children were fore 

 diftrefled by poverty, and hunger, and nakednefs. 



10. Neither could the men afford them any relief, 

 for they were conftrained to go out to battle agaiuft 

 their enemies. 



11. And many of them fell in battle, and perilhed ; 

 and their names were fergotten among the people. 



12. And their children were reduced to beggary, 

 and were defpifed becaufe they were poor. 



13. Behold fuch is the liberty that mariners enjoy, 

 and fucli is the proteftion that the Iiw affords to their 

 beft defenders in this landof f7-eedom. 



Vol. III. f D d 



