A MADAGASCAR SONG, J|J 



Ms eminence. And this was the beginning of the pro- 

 digious fuccefs of this prudent young man. 



Colbert died the 6th of September, 1683. in the 

 64th year of his age ; and, to the difgrace of huma- 

 nity, fp great was the hatred of the populace of Paris 

 againft this truly great man, that it was found expe- 

 dient to bury him at midnight, and the corpfe was only 

 attended by the night-watch of the city. 



Voltaire, in toudhing on the injuftice of the public to- 

 wards this minifter, concludes with the following lines : 



Cet homme unique, & Tauteur & Tappui 

 D' ane grandeur d'ame ou nous n'olions pretendre, 

 - Vit tout Fetat murmurer contre lui, 

 Et le Francois ofa troubler la cendre 

 J)ii bienfaiteur qu'il revere aujourd'hui. 



A MADAGASCAR SONG*. 



A Mother was dragging her only daughter to the 

 beach, in order to fell her to the white men. 



O mother, thy bofom bore me ? I was the firfl: fruit 

 of thy love ; what crime have I committed to deferve a 

 life of flavery ? I alleviate the forrows of thy age. For 

 thee I labour the ground ; for thee I gather flowers ; 

 for thee I enfnare the fifh of the flood. I have de- 



* This is not feigned, but perfectly genuine. The chevalier 

 de Farny, who refided a long time at Madagafcar, tranflated 

 it, with others ? into french, and from that tranflation the pre- 

 sent is made. 



7 fended 



