Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Poetry.
POETRY .
WRITTEN ON THE COAST OF AFRICA , IN THE YEAR 1776 . £ t J . F . SfANFlELD .
REMOV'D from the temperate clime Where science first open'd my views ; I burn where the day-star sublime Points to scenes might awaken the Muse . But the glance ofthe poet is vain— - . . , The Muse must her visions forego — Can fancy renew the lov'd strain , When the heart throbs to accents of woe ?
In vain the rich scen'ry invites , Science opens in vain her full store , Hor thebeauty of Nature delights , Nor Philosophy joys to explore . For , alas ! desolation , I find , , Loads with horror each object around ; Mis'ry broods o'Sr the views , of the mind ; Observation in anguish is drown'd .
When we first spread our sails to the wind , ,, And the blue wave embrac'd our glad prow , Elated with hope , my young mind . . Out-flew ev ' ry breeze that could blow . What stores intellectual appear'd In these far-favour'd regions of day ! What treasures to wisdom endear'd ! What themes for the soul-soothing lay !
Rash youth hurries heedless along , Nor sees till too late conscious sha ' nie ~ s I rush'd on the shore with the throng ; And felt not the guilt of our aim . . But soon youthful ardours gave way—My pow ' rs , how they wither'd , declin'd ! When I found fellow-mortals our preys And our traffic the blood of our kind .
From the first glowing tinges of light To the latest suffusions of day , What outrages wound the sad sight ! What shrieks strike the soiil with dismay ! For Oppression ' s gone forth thro' the land — See his minions burst forth on the plain 1 Freedom sinks 'fore the murderous band , And Slav ' ry extends the dire chain .
The sun in his genial career With horror beholds the dire plain — May he lend swifter wings to the year , And his winds waft me far o ' er the main ! VOL . IV . N n
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Poetry.
POETRY .
WRITTEN ON THE COAST OF AFRICA , IN THE YEAR 1776 . £ t J . F . SfANFlELD .
REMOV'D from the temperate clime Where science first open'd my views ; I burn where the day-star sublime Points to scenes might awaken the Muse . But the glance ofthe poet is vain— - . . , The Muse must her visions forego — Can fancy renew the lov'd strain , When the heart throbs to accents of woe ?
In vain the rich scen'ry invites , Science opens in vain her full store , Hor thebeauty of Nature delights , Nor Philosophy joys to explore . For , alas ! desolation , I find , , Loads with horror each object around ; Mis'ry broods o'Sr the views , of the mind ; Observation in anguish is drown'd .
When we first spread our sails to the wind , ,, And the blue wave embrac'd our glad prow , Elated with hope , my young mind . . Out-flew ev ' ry breeze that could blow . What stores intellectual appear'd In these far-favour'd regions of day ! What treasures to wisdom endear'd ! What themes for the soul-soothing lay !
Rash youth hurries heedless along , Nor sees till too late conscious sha ' nie ~ s I rush'd on the shore with the throng ; And felt not the guilt of our aim . . But soon youthful ardours gave way—My pow ' rs , how they wither'd , declin'd ! When I found fellow-mortals our preys And our traffic the blood of our kind .
From the first glowing tinges of light To the latest suffusions of day , What outrages wound the sad sight ! What shrieks strike the soiil with dismay ! For Oppression ' s gone forth thro' the land — See his minions burst forth on the plain 1 Freedom sinks 'fore the murderous band , And Slav ' ry extends the dire chain .
The sun in his genial career With horror beholds the dire plain — May he lend swifter wings to the year , And his winds waft me far o ' er the main ! VOL . IV . N n