On Slavery

The power that created the night and the day, Gave his image divine to each model of clay: Tho' on different features, the God he imprest, One spirit immortal pervades ev'ry breast. And Nature's great Charter the right never gave, That one mortal another should dare to enslave.

The same genial ray that the lillies unfold, Gives the diamond its lustre, its brightness to gold— That which Europe's proud sons to rapture inspire, Warms each African breast with as genial a fire. And Nature's great Charter, &c.

May the head be corrected, subdo'd the proud soul, That would fetter free limbs, and free spirits controul: Be the gem or in ebon, or iv'ry enshrin'd, The same form of heart, warms the whole human kind. And Nature's great Charter, &c.

May Freedom, whose rays we are taught to adore, Beam bright as the sun, and bless every shore; No Charter that pleads for the rights of mankind, To invest these with gold, those with fetters can bind. And Nature's great Charter, the right never gave, That one mortal another should dare to enslave.