Chivalry, Slavery, and Young America (The Black heritage library collection)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866. Excerpt: ... CHIVALRY AND SLAVERY. IN EIGHT CANTOS. CANTO I ANALYSIS. Capture of negroes in Africa. No need of fiction. Slavery at home. Slave piracy as it now exists. American ports at which slaves are landed. Diseases on board slavers. Inexpressible horrors. Death-scenes. Conclusion of Canto I. I. Who from a slave-ship dares to borrow Its history of human sorrow, Or touches on the first assault, The flight, the rout, the conquest, halt--The dragging from the land to shore Of all they loved or could adore--From freedom, children homes, and wives, To woe and slavery and gyves--Of trembling captives; how they sink To earth, as, on the very brink Of utter ruin, they implore Mercy from those who ne'er before, Or then, to cries of mercy listened, Or marked the tear-drops as they glistened In eyes that ne'er again may see The glorious sun of liberty! Or who home slavery essays To make the subject of his lays, May well a heavenly muse invoke, As one involved in mist and smoke Would pray for an unerring light, His stumbling steps to plant aright, His heart to warm, his spirit fire, And quicken every good desire, That while, in all his soul's revealings And all his sympathetic feelings, Such dreadful records pass before him, He may not, from the truth abating, Or, for effect, a fact misstating, One jot or tittle add; and see, For thus infringing verity, The sword of vengeance hanging o'er him! Ii. Ah me! what need is there of fiction, When it is found past contradiction That on this point no fiction reaches What the most truthful record teaches Of horrors multiplied on horrors, In all their dark and hideous colors? Horrors enough there are at home, Where'er in Southern States we roam; But what in Africa we trace To the dishonor of our race, Be first our song. By law abolished...