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[[start page]]Yet the first spark that lit the mighty flame From some lone hand--perhaps from Franklin came. The hoary sage, on policy intent (As erst on lightning) ne'er foresaw th' event. Oh! may the sacred ardour spread amain Through bigot Portugal and gloomy Spain, Shake the fierce councils of the dark Divan, And bid the Ruffian rise, with "I'm a man." Nay, may the abject sons of Afric feel Shot through their veins the patriotic zeal-- The conqu'ring sword has ravag'd far and wide Through human race; there, other means be try'd: A just and gentle commerce would unfold Maxims to Afric worth her sands of gold. From small beginnings mightiest works proceed; This trade abolish'd may to freedom lead. And thou, my country, sure 'twould honour thee To be the first to help to set her free. Thou seest her thraldom and her many woes: May'st thou no longer number with her foes, But bid thy sons a dreadful traffic cease, And spread, by one more fair, the arts of peace-- Long o'er the globe have thy proud thunders hurl'd, Now raise thy views to civilize the world! ------------------------------------------------- THE HAMLET: BY T. WARTON. ------------------------------------------------- THE hinds how blest, who, ne'er beguil'd To quit their hamlet's hawthorn-wild, Nor haunt the crowd, nor tempt the main, For splendid care and guilty gain! When morning's twilight-tinctur'd beam Strikes their low thatch with slanting gleam, They rove abroad in aether blue, To dip the scythe in fragrant dew: The sheaf to bind, the beech to fell, That nodding shades a craggy dell. 'Midst gloomy glades, in warbles clear, Wild nature's sweetest notes they hear: E [[end page]]
Transcription Notes:
Transcription edits:
Line 26: changed "the" to "THE"
Line 27: added hypen between "hawthorn" and "wild"
Line 31: changed "flaming" to "slanting"