Our flesh and blood too long have been A staple of their food, And now 'tis time that we begin To seek each other's good; To rescue from the iron heel Of tyranny our brothers, To make our vile oppressors feel That we are good as others. For this most holy cause we're met, In this secluded place, To take some measures requisite These ugly, sprawling monsters weave Their webs in every hole, Where they suspect or half believe A fly is like to crawl; Then in some corner lie in wait, Till one comes peeping in, When, oh! 'tis horrid to relate, The bloody monsters spin Their tangled webs around him fast, Regardless of his groans; Then with a fiendish grin at last, They pick his quivering bones. Arise ye patriots, break your chains, And say we will be free! A vict'ry shall reward our pains; To arms 'tis fate's decree!" The stamping of countless feet declar'd That willing hearts were found, While a wondrous buzzing fill'd the air Speaker. "They say they have a natural right That justice, always yields to might: (A voice.) "The villains lie." Speaker. "They say we're all such pilfering things, Because we dip our filthy wings," (A voice.) "In their molasses." Speaker. "They say the Fates did not design That they have organs more refined, They think us low and worthless curs, Brothers, my blood with anger stirs, Their boasts are all a pack of lies, Therefore, I offer, noble sirs, A list of resolutions, With which my heart in full concurs, "PREAMBLE. "Inasmuch as liberty is not an especial but common right, Not an inheritance, but a universal birth-right,— Neither a creature of chance, nor confer'd by fate, Since from man to the beetle, and from the cricket to the mite, night, Are made of the same free elements increate. Thirdly and lastly, resolved, that we force Our blood-thirsty tyrants to this wise resource; Once more the pattering of countless feet And general acclamation, Declared all plans were now complete, At this, a troop of dragon-flies, With loud vociferation, Arose, and looking wondrous wise, Denounced all agitation. "We may not hope to change," said they, "What nature hath decreed, That some were formed for slavery, Is evidenced indeed." Another gang, with galaxies Of eyes like constellations, Stook up and said: "tis better, sirs, To stop these agitations. They'll only lead to civil strife, And more insidious trappings, By which we'll lose more precious life, Besides, 'tis not the better class, We shudder at the thought of war, And dread of dissolution. We, therefore, cannot recommend So hazardous a position; Our boast of equal rights would end The weak should always yield to might, The spider, therefore, deems it right Let those whom nature's hand hath fitted, To serve this humble end, Be not by fiery zealots pitted; To impiously contend Against ther fate, in bold defiance Worthies refrain from all alliance Brings life and warmth with day, Shine o'er our paths, where'er we run, And rule our destiny." Thus spake this cow'ring, servile crew, 'Gainst freedom's holy cause; And then exultingly withdrew, 'Mid rapturous applause. Resistless roll'd this mighty flood Of suasive eloquence, While from the assembled multitude, May gentle peace, while yonder sun, 'Twas plain the wind had tuned her pipes, To quite a different air; And they who would not dance to stripes, Must follow the tune, 'twas clear. E'en liberty's most ardent friends, And at last, to gain some private end, "The public weal demands," said they, "Some honorable concession: Let's give at least to tyranny A peaceable possession. Our only sacrifice will be A weak and worthless tribe, And by this compromise, you see, Without respect to grade or caste : Its tendency has ever been, The captive's bonds to tighten. By precept we may hope to win,— Let each discordant note be tuned, Time oft hath healed a deeper wound, A wider breach hath mended. |